It is widely imagined, thanks to media exposure, that the pores open and close and require ‘cleansing’. This is of course complete nonsense. Our pores are completely static, and after adolescence never alter in size or shape, no matter what cosmetic is used. They do not breathe, feed nor require ‘deep cleansing’. Astringents, which usually contain alcohol, may remove excessive oil and make the pores temporarily less obvious. They may also cause irritation of the surrounding skin, so that it swells slightly around the pores, diminishing their apparent size for a very short time. Nothing, however, can change the number or size of ‘enlarged’ pores. Pore size is an individual characteristic which no product or treatment can alter.

It can thus be seen that there are a considerable number of untested and/or misleading claims made in the field of skin care and cosmetics.

It should be borne in mind, with relation to cosmetic advertising, that some cosmetic houses use suggestive advertising techniques alluding to flimsily-conducted experiments reported under the guise of scientific research. To further promote their products they infer that youthfulness and beauty are essential ingredients for a successful life. They imply that without the assistance of their products your skin will be inferior.

The external application of any nutriment, vitamin or other exotic substance will have no effect on the basic nature of a person’s skin. That is, the skin cannot be fed or nourished by any known cosmetic. The realistic person will accept the limitations of cosmetics as well as their benefits. Cosmetics cannot perform miracles. They can add colour to the skin and hair, help conceal minor blemishes, temporarily relieve excessive skin dryness or oiliness and, to an extent, reduce the drying of skin caused by environmental factors. In this way cosmetics help people to look and feel more attractive. But they accomplish this solely through such properties as colour, fragrance, and local physical action. They cannot, to date, rejuvenate or change the basic nature of the skin.

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