Pores: We all have them, but sometimes they’re a little more noticeable than we’d like. Though you can’t shrink the size of your pores — they’re predetermined by genetics, sorry — you can help reduce their appearance with the help of pore minimizers. While it’s not an overnight fix, the American Academy of Dermatology notes you can give them a tighter, significantly less obvious look by following a few skincare rituals like washing your face twice per day, using a retinol-based skincare product if your skin can tolerate it, exfoliating regularly, and most importantly, using sunscreen.
But if you're in need of some more pore-minimizing guidance, then you came to the right place. We chatted with beauty experts to find out which products are truly the best pore minimizers for banishing pesky enlarged pores once and for all.
Opt for pore minimizers featuring ingredients that help regulate oil production, advises certified nurse practitioner Maegan Griffin, MSN, NP-C of cosmetic clinic Skin Pharm. Here, we listed a few standout ingredients lauded by Griffin and Dr. Tina Alster, M.D., FAAD, board-certified dermatologist, and founder of skincare line The A Method.
Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) exfoliate your skin to help minimize the appearance of pores, plump up fine lines, and fade mild hyperpigmentation like age spots. There are three types of AHAs: glycolic, lactic, and mandelic acids. Notably, lactic acid is fantastic for minimizing the look of pores, with the added bonus of treating hyperpigmentation and age spots.
Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHAs) are common in pore-minimizing products because they do everything from boosting skin cell turnover and dissolving oil to banishing breakouts and preventing premature signs of aging.
Salicylic acid is the most common form of BHA, and for good reason: It’s the perfect ingredient for zapping away acne and decongesting pores, which helps minimize the look of large pores.
Retinol is a form of vitamin A that is highly regarded among skincare experts for its ability to promote skin cell turnover, revealing a brighter complexion with the look of minimized pores.
How We Chose
We know firsthand just how annoying clogged and enlarged pores can be. That’s why our vanities are filled with what feels like millions of pore-minimizing products, so we can help you find the best ones. We consulted skincare experts for their guidance, including key ingredients to look out for in products, plus a few of their go-to pore minimizer recommendations. Here are 12 of the best pore minimizers worth investing in right now.
By combining alpha lipoic acid to exfoliate the skin and normalize oil production, salicylic acid to scrounge up dead skin cells and dirt, and a proprietary mineral complex to tighten the complexion, Perricone MD's pore-minimizer formula kills two birds with one stone by reducing the visible appearance of enlarged pores while keeping them clean.
Sometimes, you have to fake it till you make it. When the going gets tough with your pores, use a primer to try and minimize the look of them in a hurry.
This Tatcha primer is a crowd favorite for its ability to blur, prime, and protect skin from enlarged pores and breakouts, even if your makeup is on the heavier side.
Plus, it's noncomedogenic and nonirritating, so oily and sensitive skin types can use this pore-minimizing primer, too.
For keeping your pores on the smaller side, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Morgan Rabach, M.D. says you need to wash your face at least twice a day and exfoliate at least once a week.
If you're looking to get an exfoliation boost from your next cleanse, she recommends using this powerful exfoliating cleanser and pore minimizer because it contains AHAs and BHAs to help “unclog pores and rebuild collagen and elastin.”
Level up your next face exfoliation session with one of the most well-loved products from Paula’s Choice. This award-winning, lightweight exfoliator uses salicylic acid to unearth gunk from your skin and reduce the look of massive pores. It also contains soothing green tea extract, a popular antioxidant that also helps minimize signs of aging.
This face mask is compatible with all skin types, but if you appreciate when products feel refreshingly cool on your face, you’ll want to add this to your routine stat.
Use a skincare brush or your fingers to apply this fun, bright blue pore minimizer, and let its pore-refining ingredients work their magic. Expert-recommended lactic and salicylic acids are combined with oil-absorbing clay to help purify congested pores.
Plus, this mask boasts four impressive botanical extracts — green tea, algae, Irish moss, and eucalyptus — that will shrink the look of your pores. There’s also alpine willowherb and snow lotus, two mattifying botanicals that are chock full of antioxidants.
“Retinols are the end all be all when it comes to pore minimizers,” says Rabach — which is why you should grab this moisturizer from Neutrogena ASAP.
It contains retinol to shrink pores and target fine lines and wrinkles for a smoother appearance. But its magic doesn't stop there — it also contains hyaluronic acid, which works to plump the skin and give it a dewier, more radiant glow.
Is your skin too sensitive for retinol products? Then you might want to sub your retinol treatments for its all-natural and milder skincare cousin, bakuchiol.
This serum is a great place to start, since it’s crafted with a botanical blend of bakuchiol, gentle chemical exfoliants, blueberry stem cells, and more to give your skin a pore-minimizing effect without any harsh consequences.
8
Best Night Treatment
Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Anti-Aging Night Cream
To really give your pores an extra retinol fix, Rabach suggests whipping out this night cream. It's formulated with pure RoC retinol and an essential mineral complex to give your skin an overall more youthful appearance (and yes, that includes shrunken pores).
Plus, this oil-free formula instantly reduces the look of fine lines and wrinkles without causing sensitivity, so it's a good place for beginner retinol users to start.
In case you’re looking for an under-$10 pore minimizer, this cleanser will be your best bet. It goes deep into pores to cleanse and remove buildup, all while hydrating your skin with its ultra creamy formula.
Your skin will feel cleansed and refreshed, without being tight or over-stripped. It's also a great pick for anyone with sensitive or dry skin types.
“Chemical peels are also magical for pores,” says Rabach. And while we’d all love to take a trip to the dermatologist’s office to get a professional chemical peel, that can get pretty costly and time-consuming. So, opt for this at-home pore minimizer instead.
It's gentle enough for daily use, yet gives your skin the ultimate exfoliation treatment through its blend of AHAs and BHAs for more refined and refreshed pores. It'll add a radiant glow to your complexion.
Looking to give your pores an added exfoliating boost? Swap your usual serums for this salicylic acid-infused one.
The star of this skincare savior is clearly the exfoliating properties of salicylic acid, but it also contains grape seed polyphenols to protect and prevent skin from pesky blackheads. It even boasts antibacterial essential oils like rosemary and lemongrass to reduce the risk of future breakouts.
With weekly use of this Origins mask, pores go from clogged to sparkling clean in no time! A mix of charcoal and white China clay work together to pull out dirt and toxins so that pores appear tightened and less visible. As a bonus, it's great for spot-treating breakouts, too.
Nicole SaundersBeauty EditorNicole Saunders is the Beauty Editor at BestProducts.com, where she oversees coverage on all things beauty.
Jennifer HusseinBeauty EditorJennifer is the Beauty Editor for BestProducts.com, where she’s testing out everything from the latest lip gloss to the craziest skincare trend sweeping the online beauty-verse.
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