Well okay, it's impossible to shrink the size of your pores, literally. You can thank your parents for them. However, by maintaining (or attaining at this point) clean and unclogged pores, it's possible that no one will be able to tell how sizeable they really are, hopefully even you (although we tend to be much tougher on ourselves).

The simplest homemade recipes can help to eliminate the oil, bacteria and grime that make even smallish pores look hefty and unsightly. Getting rid of blackheads - which are simply clogged pores - has never been so easy, cheap and natural.  And utilizing the yummy humectant that is honey, we're ensuring you don't shrivel up, especially as the heaters start to crank up. Honey also opens up the pores so that these natural acids can sweep in and do a thorough clean up.

Begin by using our Pore Minimizer scrub every other day:

• 1 tablespoon of warm honey
• 1 tablespoon of brown sugar
• 3 drops of lemon juice

After cleansing your skin, massage into pore-plentiful areas for 3 minutes. Keep those circular motions going until your fingers cramp up, or the 3-minute buzzer goes off. Then rinse with lukewarm water, emphasis on the "luke" as hot water opens up pores.

Now, it's time for our Awesome Apple Astringent:

In a container of your choosing, preferably something with a cap, add...

• 1/2 cup of purified water
• 1/3 cup of apple cider vinegar 
• It's optional, but you may also want to add a couple drops of lavender essential oil to get past that whole vinegar smell
• And for extra power, you can include a squeeze of lemon

Refrigerate this, and whenever you need it (or at least twice a day post cleanse), shake up and tone with an organic cotton ball or piece of soft fabric. Apple cider vinegar is anti-bacterial and helps dry up excess sebum, removing dirt and debris from your pores. It also balances your skin's pH level.

Can't get enough of homemade skin care? Check out 8 Great Beauty Uses for Plants and this all-purpose salve we love.

image: Mutednarayan