“Shrinking” enlarged pores can be an uphill battle at times. The truth is, you can’t really change the shape of your pores with one specific product. Your pore size is determined by a bunch of different factors, like genetics, age, sun exposure, and skin type. But the good news is you can disguise or hide them if you use the right products.
Some ingredients to look for that are good for hiding pores are AHAs and BHAs, which can exfoliate, and retinoids, which can work to unclog the pores. Sunscreen will also protect your skin from sun damage, preventing your pores from seeming enlarged.
You also want to make sure you’re in a good routine with cleaning your face and exfoliating—unclogging the gunk and oil will make your pores appear smaller. But don’t forget to go gentle here—you don’t want to scrub so hard or wash your face too much that you cause inflammation and redness.
But if you’re looking for products that can make your pores seem smaller, we’ve compiled some highly rated options below. Just remember that at the end of the day, we all have pores. So don’t stress too much if you think your pores look huge—having them is completely natural!
This toner contains niacinamide to minimize the appearance of pores, hyaluronic acid and ceramides to restore the moisture barrier, and chamomile and burdock root extract to soothe sensitive skin.
With 0.5% pure retinol, SkinCeuticals’s nighttime treatment not only improves the appearance of pores, but it also promotes cell turnover and targets fine lines, wrinkles, discoloration, and blemishes. And if you’re normally sensitive to retinol, you’ll be happy to know that this one is formulated to minimize irritation.
This pore-refining cream is especially helpful for those with oily and combination skin. It contains salicylic acid to exfoliate and silica powder and anti-reflection particles to mattify.
Estée Lauder’s product has a Pore Diminishing Technology which “shrinks” the look of enlarged pores and promotes smoothness and luminosity. Many reviewers comment on how quickly it improves the skin texture.
Use this gentle toner to exfoliate away dead skin cells, smooth the skin, and reduce the appearance of pores. It’s a combination of witch hazel and alpha and beta hydroxy acids.
This lightweight toner just sounds so refreshing—it’s oil-free and infused with coconut water. In addition to dealing with pores, it’s also formulated with kaolin clay to control oil and shine.
The watermelon extract in Glow Recipe’s toner hydrates and soothes the skin, while hyaluronic acid and cactus water seal in moisture, and PHA and BHA exfoliate and clean pores.
Prep your skin (and pores) before makeup with this fan-favorite primer. It blurs pores and creates a smooth, matte surface.
The Ordinary’s liquid exfoliant is a blend of acids: glycolic and lactic to exfoliate the outer layers of the skin, and salicylic to unclog the pores.
Dr. Dennis Gross’s two-step peel is so iconic. (Seriously, it’s got so many fans.) It improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, acne scars, pores, and shine.
Biossance’s toner is alcohol-free so you know it will be gentle on the skin. It’s formulated with white willow bark extract, which is similar to salicylic acid, unclogs pores, minimizes excess oil, and exfoliates. Plus, it has caviar lime extract to clear away dead skin cells and sugarcane-derived squalane to moisturize and soothe.
Perricone MD’s toner has so many benefits. Not only is it a pore minimizer, but it also lifts the skin and improves firmness and elasticity.
This serum mildly exfoliates the skin to clear and smooth the skin. It contains LHA and AHA glycolic acids to tighten enlarged pores, reduce the appearance of wrinkles, clear blemishes, and promote glowy skin.
This pore-refining treatment is formulated with exfoliating ingredients like mandelic acid, papain, rice powder, and pumice, plus kaolin and bentonite clays to draw out impurities and clear pores, and bisabolol to calm the skin.
Here’s another popular makeup primer designed to shrink pores. It’s silky, lightweight, and mattifying.
Leave this mask on for 10 minutes and you’ll get tighter pores and clearer skin. It’s infused with grape-seed polyphenols (for antioxidant benefits), sustainably sourced clay (to clear impurities and excess sebum), and natural caffeine (to illuminate the skin).
The Amazonian white clay in this mask absorbs excess oil and detoxifies. It also won’t leave your skin dry or irritated since the formula contains aloe to soothe.
The key ingredient here is witch hazel, which removes and rebalances oil. It’s just a super-refreshing product to cleanse and condition the skin.
Clinique’s product is a three-in-one: it can act as a daily cleanser, scrub, and deep-cleansing mask. No matter what way you use it, though, you’ll be able to reap the benefits like smaller-looking pores and oil control.
This scrub has both chemical and mechanical exfoliants: lactic acid, salicylic acid, and silica. Other ingredients include papaya, pineapple, and pumpkin enzymes to enhance skin exfoliation, plus aloe vera, honey, and vitamin E to smooth and soften.
