Pores are tiny holes in your skin that allow oil and sweat, produced from the glands deeper below the skin, to bubble up to the surface of your skin. Sounds gross, right? Yes, but without oil and sweat, your skin would dry out, wrinkle, and have no luster or sheen. Want that dewy look of fresh, young skin? Your pores play a vital role in that process. The best pore minimizers on the market can help.

There are two types of pores – oil pores (or hair follicles) and sweat pores. While sweat pores are too small to be seen, oil pores can be visibly noticeable. Just how noticeable is largely due to genetics, but there are ways to reduce the size of unsightly pores while keeping them clean and healthy. While you don’t want to stop pores from doing their job, which is allowing oil to be secreted to lubricate your skin, you need to keep them healthy and clear to avoid problems like acne, which happens when pores are blocked. That's why we've rounded up 10 of the best pore minimizers and given them thorough reviews.

Estee Lauder Idealist Pore Minimizing Skin Refinisher boasts that pores will be instantly reduced to a third of their size and by 69% in four weeks. We’ve found that it actually does that, and also evens skin tone, clears pores, and smooths out the texture of your skin. The serum is pearly, light, and airy and has additional benefits of healing dry skin and improving the appearance of uneven skin tone. If you have visibly large pores or dull skin, this may work wonders, both visibly masking them and reducing their size. Applying before using foundation makes product go on smoothly and leaves skin looking airbrushed and spotless. It’s definitely a high end product, but a little goes a long way. One bottle will last quite a while. Estee Lauder Idealist Pore Minimizing Skin Refinisher is a product with boho ingredients dressed to the nines. It’s made with chestnut extract, which rounds up and kicks dead skin and bacteria out of your pores as well as encouraging the production of new, healthy cells. Marine algae and saw palmetto extracts help control oil production. It smells wonderful and goes on smoothly, without leaving residue. While it may take time to feel the full pore reduction benefits, your overall

complexion will improve much quicker. Skin looks fresh and renewed and the added benefit of helping foundation go on
extra smooth makes your skin look polished and photo ready all day every day. 

Estee Lauder Idealist Pore Minimizing Skin Refinisher boasts that pores will be instantly reduced to a third of their size and by 69% in four weeks. We’ve found that it actually does that, and also evens skin tone, clears pores, and smooths out the texture of your skin. The serum is pearly, light, and airy and has additional benefits of healing dry skin and improving the appearance of uneven skin tone. If you have visibly large pores or dull skin, this may work wonders, both visibly masking them and reducing their size. Applying before using foundation makes product go on smoothly and leaves skin looking airbrushed and spotless. It’s definitely a high end product, but a little goes a long way. One bottle will last quite a while. Estee Lauder Idealist Pore Minimizing Skin Refinisher is a product with boho ingredients dressed to the nines. It’s made with chestnut extract, which rounds up and kicks dead skin and bacteria out of your pores as well as encouraging the production of new, healthy cells. Marine algae and saw palmetto extracts help control oil production. It smells wonderful and goes on smoothly, without leaving residue. While it may take time to feel the full pore reduction benefits, your overall complexion will improve much quicker. Skin looks fresh and renewed and the added benefit of helping foundation go on extra smooth makes your skin look polished and photo ready all day every day. 

Estee Lauder Idealist Pore Minimizing Skin Refinisher boasts that pores will be instantly reduced to a third of their size and by 69% in four weeks. We’ve found that it actually does that, and also evens skin tone, clears pores, and smooths out the texture of your skin. The serum is pearly, light, and airy and has additional benefits of healing dry skin and improving the appearance of uneven skin tone. If you have visibly large pores or dull skin, this may work wonders, both visibly masking them and reducing their size. Applying before using foundation makes product go on smoothly and leaves skin looking airbrushed and spotless. It’s definitely a high end product, but a little goes a long way. One bottle will last quite a while. Estee Lauder Idealist Pore Minimizing Skin Refinisher is a product with boho ingredients dressed to the nines. It’s made with chestnut extract, which rounds up and kicks dead skin and bacteria out of your pores as well as encouraging the production of new, healthy cells. Marine algae and saw palmetto extracts help control oil production. It smells wonderful and goes on smoothly, without leaving residue. While it may take time to feel the full pore reduction benefits, your overall complexion will improve much quicker. Skin looks fresh and renewed and the added benefit of helping foundation go on extra smooth makes your skin look polished and photo ready all day every day. If you can afford to splurge, Estee Lauder Idealist Pore Minimizing Skin Refinisher is well worth a try.

Key Features
  • Pearly and lightweight texture
  • Leaves skin looking flawless
Specifications
  • Product Dimensions: 4 x 1 x 1 inches
  • Product Weight: 1.7 ounces
  • Vitamin Types: None listed
  • Brand: Estee Lauder
Pros
  • Dermatologist and opthalmologist tested
  • Non-comedogenic
  • Smooth application
Cons
  • Full pore-minimizing benefits take a few weeks

Skin loses its luster and build-up of dead skin cells can block pores, making them look larger. Exfoliating to remove that
surface layer of skin is necessary to keep your face looking bright and radiant, but sometimes can be a harsh process,
especially if you have sensitive skin. Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant is the antidote to all of the abrasive exfoliators you might be used to. Its soothing and gentle leave-on formula works for all skin types. BHA stands for betahydroxy acid, which is also known as salicylic acid, a powerful cleansing agent that works overtime to unclog pores, clean the skin, and minimize the size of pores. In addition to reducing the size of pores, Paula’s Choice Skin
Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant hydrates, boosts collagen development, and evens out your skin tone. It also makes skin smoother and younger looking. Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant is popular worldwide, and a favorite of beauty product testers and social media influencers young and old. If you commit to using it consistently you’ll see noticeable reduction in the size of your pores. Apply it with a cotton ball or pad, and smooth over the face after cleansing. Results are dramatically visible within only a couple of weeks, which is why this one was an easy choice for our roundup of the very best pore minimizers you can get right now. The Paula’s Choice formula can make skin drier, so finding a routine that makes sense for your skin type is key. And make sure you follow up with a sunscreen to protect that new baby soft skin that you’ve just uncovered.

Key Features
  • Gentle exfoliating formula
  • Fragrance free, no added dyes
Specifications
  • Product Dimensions: 1.9 x 1.9 x 6.6 inches
  • Product Weight: 4 fluid ounces
  • Vitamin Types: BHA (salicylic acid)
Pros
  • Not tested on animals
  • pH-balanced
  • Not irritating or abrasive
Cons
  • Packaging can be leaky
  • May leave behind a waxy residue on skin

For the deepest deep dive into your pores you need something that will reach down like a magnet and pull out all the grime. Dermatologists and aestheticians caution against squeezing out blackheads or clearing out pores with your fingers because this can damage your skin and leave scars or discolorations. But when you see that debris deep down into your skin, what choice do you have besides the aforementioned aggressive tactics? For the same satisfying results without the damage, Bioré Deep Cleansing Pore Strips do very nicely. If you’ve never used a cleansing strip, prepare to be wowed (and maybe a tad alarmed or grossed out). There’s nothing quite like removing a strip from your nose and inspecting all the stuff that it has just pulled from out of your skin. Pores are much less noticeable after just one use. The strips are activated with water, easy to use, and it takes only a few minutes to achieve results. You’ll wet the area with water, attach the strip, let it dry, kind of like papier-mâché, and then peel it off. No product works better to vacuum grime from patches of blackheads and whiteheads. All that buildup of dirt, makeup, and yuck are gone in an instant. Do be careful when you use the strips, you should avoid if you have significant blemishes or sunburn. And first time users, especially those with sensitive, easily damaged skin, should do a spot test before using an entire strip on your nose or face.

Key Features
  • Deep cleanses pores
  • Vegan
Specifications
  • Product Dimensions: 1.1 x 2.7 x 5.2 inches
  • Product Weight: 1.6 ounces
  • Vitamin Types: None
Pros
  • Hypoallergenic
  • Oil free
  • Dermatologist tested
  • Cruelty free
Cons
  • May leave some residue on the skin

Blocked pores means enlarged pores and the risk of breakouts. One of the best ways to prevent your pores from getting clogged with dirt and makeup in the first place is to create a barrier between your pores and all of the nasty stuff that the
outside world throws at you. Benefit POREfessional Face Primer Pore Minimizing Primer is a great way to put a firewall between your pores and everything that can clog them. A layer of it underneath makeup not only prevents your makeup from diving down into pores, it also can minimize large pores, reduce fine lines, and cover up scarring and imperfections.

Applying makeup after using Benefit POREfessional Face Primer is a silky smooth affair – your skin will absorb pigment and look dewy and flawless, covering up those unsightly large pores. It works hard to control oil for up to eight hours.

You can even re-apply throughout the day – target the T-Zone – it blends nicely over a layer of makeup. Benefit’s
POREfessional Face Primer employs an oil-free base and a Vitamin E derivative known to protect skin from free radicals that can cause enlarged pores to mask the look of large pores. There’s even an ever slight tint to make this perfect to wear
on those casual makeup free days. Although it’s not made with oil, it doesn’t necessarily control oil, which can be a big
contributor to enlarged pores. We totally love that you can use it before or after makeup – or both – for a photo ready and polished finish to your face. It's one of the best pore minimizers, to be sure.

Key Features
  • Natural finish
  • Works with most skin types
Specifications
  • Product Dimensions: 1.3 x 4.7 x 1.5 inches
  • Product Weight: .75 fluid ounces
  • Vitamin Types: Vitamin E
Pros
  • Not tested on animals
  • Translucent
  • Can be worn over or under makeup
Cons
  • Doesn't reduce oil

Perricone MD No:Rinse Intensive Pore Minimizing Toner is a herbal, natural product that delivers results without
synthetic chemicals or additives. Using it frequently will decrease the size of pores over time. It gently exfoliates skin,
making it feel and appear smoother. It’s patented Nrf2 Antioxidant Support Complex fights free radicals that cause large and visible pores. The active ingredient is dimethylaminoethanol, or DMAE, which is a dermatological agent that reduces wrinkles and improves the firmness of the skin. Although that sounds very sinister and chemical, it’s a molecule that
occurs naturally in the brain and is often obtained commercially from fish. Other ingredients include alpha lipoic acid, an exfoliant that firms fine lines and salicylic acid, which cleanses pores. It also contains a copper-peptide complex, which hydrates skin, and bilberry, green tea, and turmeric extracts, which help give skin a healthy looking sheen. After applying
your skin is adequately hydrated, but the product itself dries to a matte finish. It has additional benefits of minimizing
breakouts and keeping the size of pores small, though it works best with oily skin. It’s lightweight and you won’t need to use much with each application. Nearly 90% of users said their pores appeared smaller after consistent twice a day use
followed by a moisturizer. We recommend first trying it a few times a week to make sure your skin doesn’t get too dried out. It does contain alcohol so for some, it may be too harsh for daily use. Dr. Perricone’s apothecary bottle may not be as cute as some competitors, but it’s entirely appropriate given its medicinal effects.

Key Features
  • All natural
  • Easy dispensing spray bottle
Specifications
  • Product Dimensions: 2.8 x 2 x 5.5 inches
  • Product Weight: 4 fluid ounces
  • Vitamin Types: DMAE, salicylic acid
Pros
  • No sulfates, parabens, synthetic fragrances, or chemicals
  • Natural ingredients
Cons
  • Strong smell
  • Results can vary depending on skin type
  • Contains alcohol

What makes pores noticeable isn’t necessarily their size but what is lurking within them. Debris not only makes pores
wider because they are clogged, but also makes pores visible. But is there a non-invasive way of reaching deep down to remove all of those unappealing impurities? Bioré Charcoal Pore Minimizer is a pretty good tactic to use against everything that is contaminating your skin. It uses purifying activated charcoal and polishing microcrystals to draw out dirt and dead skin so that pores look smaller as soon as they are cleaned out. Bioré Charcoal Pore Minimizer is simple to use – just add water, work into a lather, and apply to your face for about a minute for a smooth finish after a warm water rinse. It is really one of the best pore minimizers we've found.

The dispenser gives you just enough of this thick, grainy, black gel for a perfect application every time. It will leave your face feeling taut, and you will notice smaller pores immediately, even pores that were once large and visible. The microcrystals polish your face, leaving skin soft and smooth to the touch. The activated charcoal formula pulls out twice as much residue from pores than the average cleanser. You will see marked improvement in cleanliness of pores after using Bioré Charcoal Pore Minimizer a few times a week. It’s gentle enough to use frequently, followed by a light moisturizer. And it’s really great for oily skin types. And it’s a budget friendly product readily available in drugstores and the beauty aisle of most discount chains.

Key Features
  • Formulated for oily skin
  • Oil free
  • Vegan
  • Helpful dispenser
Specifications
  • Product Dimensions: 1.9 x 1.9 x 6.6 inches
  • Product Weight: 3.11 fluid ounces
  • Vitamin Types: Activated charcoal
Pros
  • Cruelty-free
  • Pleasant fragrance
  • Hypoallergenic
Cons
  • Can dry out skin
  • Some reports of breakouts

Dermatologists love everything charcoal because it naturally absorbs toxins and impurities that can live in the depths of
pores. And that's why we love this one enough to call it one of the best pore minimizers around. Activated charcoal is processed at high temperatures, which gives it more surface area. It’s porous texture carries a
negative electrical charge so the positive molecules that impurities and debris are comprised of are attracted to the
charcoal. Activated charcoal is not absorbed by the body, so all of the toxins it attracts are washed away. Origins Clear
Improvement Active Charcoal Mask to Clear Pores used charcoal to do just that – it clears pores by drawing out all the impurities like a magnet. Cleaning out pores is also essential for preventing and mitigating breakouts. And echoing a
theme in some other product reviews of ingredients extracted from around the world, the Origins Clear Improvement formula also uses white China clay to absorb even more toxins so your skin feels fresh and renewed. The amazing thing about some masks, especially this one, is that your skin feels fresh and silky after just one use. Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask flushes out your pores, leaving them looking tighter and smaller. It works best if you cleanse your
face first, then apply a layer of the product, let it settle, and then rinse with warm water. It’s not a leave-on mask so you’ll want to thoroughly rinse or it could leave behind a film. It may dry out some types of skin so experiment to find the right routine. As toxins are released you may experience some breakouts after initial use.

Key Features
  • Pore minimizing mask
  • Activated charcoal removes toxins
Specifications
  • Product Dimensions: 4.4 x 0.2 x 2.7 inches
  • Product Weight: 3.4 fluid ounces
  • Vitamin Types: Bamboo charcoal, white clay
Pros
  • No parabens, sulfates, phthalates
  • No animal ingredients
Cons
  • Not effective for treating blackheads
  • Somewhat difficult to remove

For eons, people in Asia have employed the acidic properties of sake, or rice wine, to cleanse skin. Japanese geishas, traditional artisans and performers who cherished immaculate skin, routinely used sake in baths and spa treatments. Skin Food Peach Sake Pore Serum is one of the best pore minimizers because it uses natural ingredients like sake, peaches, soybean extracts, licorice roots, and chamomile to achieve results. The alcohol in the sake tightens up pores, making them visibly smaller. Peach extract and rice sake help tighten pores and regulate oil production. It also fights signs of aging. It’s lightweight, easy to apply, and has a mattifying effect. It promotes circulation and tightens skin. Peaches are rich in Vitamins A and C, which brighten skin and help repair the effects of sun damage, which can contribute to enlarged pores.

And fibrous peach pectin acts as a toning agent, making skin firm. Silica powder makes skin soft and makes pores appear
smaller. Soybean extracts have antioxidant properties and Vitamin E, which keeps skin supple and hydrated. Licorice root is an anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory, which helps with breakouts. Application is easy – just massage into your dry skin and rinse off with warm water. It’s tricky to get the right amount with the pump applicator. The smell is delightful and you’ll be amazed at the results. Skin Food Peach Sake Pore Serum is perfect for someone who wants to reduce the size of pores, but does not want a medicinal and clinical smelling product. Your skin will just feel pampered, loved, and rejuvenated.

Key Features
  • Made with peach extract, rice sake, and silica powder
Specifications
  • Product Dimensions: 2 x 0.8 x 0.8 inches
  • Product Weight: 1.52 fluid ounces
  • Vitamin Types: Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Vitamin E
Pros
  • Visible results
  • Pleasant fragrance
Cons
  • Peachy fragrance may not be for everyone
  • Contains parabens

As mentioned before, one way to reduce the size of pores is by keeping them free from debris. One way from keeping
them free from debris is the use a primer or base before applying makeup, or even when going makeup free, because a primer will create a barrier between your pores and all of the things that your skin will come into contact with throughout the day. Smashbox Photo Finish Pore Minimizing Primer is one way to get all of the above done. It lasts up to eight hours, controlling oil, and helping pores stay free of outside substances and impurities. It’s lightweight, oil-free, and works well on most skin types – normal, oily, combination, and sensitive. It also serves as a makeup primer, making your foundation
glide on as smooth as silk. A blend of vitamins and antioxidants create a matte-look, blurring flaws and blemishes, leaving a photo finish, just as advertised. It’s a water resistant gel formula that that reduces shine, but won’t dry out your skin.

Smashbox Photo Finish Pore Minimizing Primer is vegan and free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates, talc, and fragrance so it’s completely soothing and gentle for your skin. In a study of a small consumer sample of 99 women, 97% experienced smoother skin and minimized pores. It’s not only free of oil, but also helps control oil throughout the day. What really makes this product one of the best pore minimizers you can buy right now is how long it lasts, to be sure. We're talking all day, looking fresh-faced and fabulous.

Key Features
  • Water resistant gel formula
  • Lightweight and oil free
Specifications
  • Product Dimensions: 4 x 5 x 4 inches
  • Product Weight: 1 fluid ounce
  • Vitamin Types: None listed
Pros
  • Free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates, talc, fragrance, and oil
  • Opthalmologist tested
Cons
  • Can feel greasy

Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay has thousands, nay, tens of thousands of glowing reviews, and is one of Amazon’s top
selling beauty products. It’s also on the top of several lists of best pore minimizers compiled by influencers, beauty
experts, and skin care gurus. What exactly is it? Well, the name doesn’t lie – it’s actually comprised of calcium bentonite clay, which comes from volcanic ash. For centuries people around the world have used clay compounds as purifying
cleansers – from the Rotorua thermal mud in New Zealand to clay from the Arabian Sea used by Cleopatra. This
particular product comes from the scorching hot deserts of Death Valley, California. Fair warning – the preparation isn’t easy and it can be messy. To use as a mask, you will mix it with apple cider vinegar, but wait until you feel it tingle – it

actually carries a slight electrical charge that brings up toxins embedded deep in the skin. The entire process can take up to 45 minutes, but the benefits are definitely worth it. The origins of Aztec Secret Indian Clay are somewhat mysterious.

It’s been around at least 20 years and may have gotten its start at health food stores. From there it popped up on message
boards and took off once beauty bloggers and YouTube and Instagram influencers started talking about it. Whatever its
humble beginnings, the benefits of Aztec Secret Indian Clay are undeniable. Your skin will feel smoother and tighter,
pores will shrink, and after consistent use acne breakouts are fewer and less severe.

Key Features
  • All natural
  • No additives, fragrances, or animal products
Specifications
  • Product Dimensions: 3.7 x 3.7 x 3.7 inches
  • Product Weight: 1 pound
  • Vitamin Types: Calcium bentonite
Pros
  • Prevents breakouts
  • Deep cleans pores
  • Not tested on animals
Cons
  • Not good for dry or sensitive skin
  • May cause breakouts after first use
  • Time-consuming and messy preparation

Keeping pores clean and clear is essential to keeping your skin healthy and free of unsightly blemishes. Nearly all pimples and blackheads originate because a pore is clogged with dirt, makeup, dead skin or other debris. When the oil that secretes from the sebaceous gland below the skin’s surface is trapped because a pore is blocked, it can create all kinds of havoc with your complexion. Reducing the size of pores not only makes your skin look better, but it also helps by creating less chance of dead cells and other icky stuff from getting deep down into your skin in the first place.

There are various remedies to help make pores look smaller or actually reduce their size. But beyond the products we recommend, most dermatologists agree on a few important points. First, keep your skin clean. By using a daily (actually it’s better to use at night to get rid of all the makeup and dirt that has accumulated throughout the day) cleanser, less gunk will settle into your pores. Steam is a great way to open pores and wipe them clear. Next, mixing in an exfoliating scrub once or twice a week will allow you to get closer to the core of your pores by scraping away that dull layer of dead skin cells that you may not even realize or there. Just don’t overdo it. Using a primer and protecting your face with sunscreen is also very important.

Some more aggressive options are out there too. Chemical peels are harsher and done in a doctor or skin specialist’s office, laser treatments are also an option if nothing else works. There are over-the-counter options that offer similar benefits to a chemical peel. Retinoid creams come in prescription and non-prescription strength and promote new skin growth, which can make pores smaller. Cleansing brushes also work well for exfoliating. Clay masks are an excellent way to unclog pores, which in turn makes them appear smaller by reducing oil build-up. Products and toners with glycolic acid, lactic acid, and salicylic acid also eat away dead skin cells and absorb oil. And if you are looking to minimize pores or have naturally oily skin, avoiding oil-based creams is advised because they help skin retain oil and debris, which can clog pores.

Resources— A Web to Know, Allure, Best Products, Business Insider, Byrdie

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