Don't blame sebum for enlarged pores; there's another cause.

To cut to the chase, the fundamental cause of vertically enlarged pores isn't excess sebum, but the collapse of the skin's support layer due to decreased elasticity. This morning, after washing my face, I looked in the mirror and noticed that the pores in the butterfly zone next to my nose were noticeably oval and prominent. This prompted me to closely analyze the cause. While the increased skin temperature may be partly to blame, the underlying cause is a decrease in the density of the collagen and elastin that support the skin, causing the pores to sag in the direction of gravity. So, I completely revamped my formula, moving away from my previous moisture-focused routine and incorporating anti-aging ingredients. First, I introduced a serum containing a retinol derivative and a peptide complex to focus on boosting the dermal layer's natural regeneration. Analyzing the ingredient list, I noticed a noticeable difference in the density of wrinkle-reducing functional ingredients like adenosine, depending on the concentration. After monitoring the results for about three weeks, I confirmed that the width of my pores had narrowed slightly, thanks to the elasticity that builds up from within the skin, compared to when I simply used a cooling product that temporarily tightened the skin. I'd like to emphasize that thickening the dermis with high-functional ingredients is a much more logical and long-term solution than artificially extracting sebum. Accurately recognizing your skin's aging stage and selecting the appropriate active ingredients is the key to smart skin care.