In the pursuit of skin perfection, I’ve tried many a remedy in the past. From my teenage days of dabbing on gobs of Clearasil (remember that stuff?!) on acne flare-ups to using one of those little spinning face brushes to dig deep into my skin to get the “deepest clean possible” to washing several times a day with those popular celebrity-touted washes (make your own chemical-free acne wash with this guide, please!), I’ve done my fair share of primping and pruning to get that clear, luminous skin we all covet.

Since becoming a Green Monster, however, I have had to leave behind my old ways of buying into conventional (and typically toxic) store-bought methods in favor of a more natural (and, not to mention, cheaper) way of getting great skin. In the past, we’ve covered the ways in which diet can help improve your skin (or even tea!) and shared some great skin-brightening scrub recipes. But, get this: we can even tighten up our pores (or at least give the appearance of smaller ones; large pores are usually genetic, and you can’t actually shrink them, but you can help with their appearance) if we wish we all-natural methods, too!

If the appearance of smaller pores is something you’d like to cash in on in a chemical-free manner, read on! Here are all the details you need for tightening them up the chemical-free way:

1. Get Icy

Believe it or not, simply rubbing ice cubes over your pores will temporarily give the appearance of tighter pores. Simply throw a few ice cubes into a washcloth and rub this over your face every morning and/or night. This is especially fun in the warm days of summer!

2. Tomato It Up

Plain old tomato juice will do wonders for the appearance of large pores. The astringent quality of the tomato juice will really tighten things up quickly! Put a mask of it directly on the skin (you could use a makeup brush to apply it evenly if you wish) and let it sit for 20 to 30 minutes. Then, rinse the juice off, and you will see slightly smaller pores as a result!

3. Cool It With Aloe

Fresh aloe gel isn’t just for sunburns; apply it to the face in a light layer, let it sit for a while, and then rinse off for noticeably improved pore size. Another fun remedy for the upcoming warmer months!

4. Lessen With Lemons

Lessen those pore perimeters by rubbing a slice of fresh lemon across your face. The natural enzymes in the lemon juice will tighten those pores like there’s no tomorrow!

5. Almond Aid

Make an almond paste from soaked almonds and a food processor, and apply this paste to your face for about 30 minutes. You’ll rinse off the mask to find tightened pores — and, plus, if you end up getting a little in your mouth, you’ll have some extra protein for the day! A great side effect of natural remedies is that you don’t have to call Poison Control if you accidentally ingest the stuff you’re using!

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