When it comes to pores, most of us look in the mirror and wish we could shrink those dots down a few sizes. While it’s impossible to legitimately change the size of the pores on our face, or open and close them, we can utilize the array of fantastic skincare products for large pores at our disposal to make them appear smaller- and thus less visible.
Having overly-visible pores is a skin concern that definitely doesn’t discriminate. It’s a common misconception that only oily and acne-prone types can have pores that are particularly-prominent. Any skin type can have pores that appear to be enlarged. I personally have combination skin that leans on the drier side, with big pores all over my upper cheeks and nose. No matter how frustrating our pores may be though, they are vital to our skins structure and function. The skin is the largest organ on the body, and our pores are what allows our skin to breathe.
What Causes Large Pores?
Over time however, our pores can become clogged with excess oil, dead skin cells, debris, and makeup. This can cause them to have a stretched out and enlarged appearance. And in case you need yet another reason to not skip SPF, not wearing sunscreen also contributes to pores appearing enlarged because it breaks down the collagen that supports our pore structure. To some degree, our pore size is based on our genetics and age, and there’s nothing we can do about that. But the good news is that most of the time we can take action to reduce the appearance of them by using the right products and incorporating them correctly into our routine.
Below you will find some of the best skincare products for large pores- serums, cleansers, exfoliants- you name it. All of which will help to reduce the look of large pores and aid in achieving smoother, more even complexion overall.
This post is all about skincare products for large pores.
Best Skincare Products For Large Pores
1.) Cleansers For Large Pores
When it comes to a cleanser for large pores, just being sure that you’re cleansing your face properly each day is more important than what type of cleanser you use. Really, any cleanser that doesn’t dry out your face will do just fine. The crucial part is that you’re not skipping cleansing, because a proper cleanse is necessary for all the other products in your routine to do their jobs. That said, here are a few stellar picks that will leave you prepped and ready for the rest of your routine without drying you out.
In my mothers words, “this face wash is heavenly”. Skinfix’s barrier+ Foaming Oil Cleanser gets gentle yet effective cleansing right. It dispenses as a luxurious, smooth and milky gel, then transforms into a hydrating, non-stripping lather. Non-stripping is key because no matter what skin concern you are trying to tackle, if you’re starting with a face that feels tight and dry you’re setting yourself up for failure. And yes, this goes for oily skin folks too. Skin that is overly dry actually perpetuates the look of large pores, so making sure your face is adequately cleansed while not wrecking your moisture barrier is essential.
RHOTO Hada Labo’s Gokujyun Oil Cleanser is another fantastic option as a cleanser for large pores. As aforementioned, no cleanser alone is going to actively minimize the appearance of your pores, but starting out with a one that imparts hydration while still effectively removing sunscreen, dirt, and debris will set you up for success.
It’s also pretty common to assume that using an oil cleanser as a first cleanse ( or even second cleanse) on already oily skin will just increase the shine factor, thus contributing to enlarged looking pores. This is not true, and actually, oil dissolves oil, so implementing an oil cleanser into your routine is one of the best things you can do for large pores. This one leaves no residue behind, removes waterproof sunscreen and mascara effortlessly, and is only $15.
CeraVe’s Hydrating Cream to Foam Cleanser is another fantastic option in a routine focused on minimizing the appearance of large pores. After cleansing with this, you’re left with everything you want and nothing you don’t. It’s simple and gets the job done well. Do we really expect anything less from CeraVe? With ceramides, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid to attract moisture and protect the skin barrier, it removes dirt, excess oil and debris while effectively hydrating.
2.) Toners For Large Pores
When choosing a toner for large pores, one that has chemical exfoliants in such as BHA’S and AHA’S, is going to be the most effective at dissolving the dead skin cells and removing the excess sebum that are contributing to the stretched out and enlarged appearance of your pores. Essentially, clean pores are less visible pores, and chemical exfoliants are a surefire way to get in there and get the gunk out.
Naturium’s BHA Liquid Exfoliant 2% is one of my top 5 skincare products ever, and it’s a top-tier toner choice for large pores. The star is 2% salicylic acid( BHA), which really gets into your pores to breakdown and remove all the buildup thats accumulated. The less buildup in your pores there is, the less “open” they are going to look.
What makes this product particularly impressive is that it genuinely hydrates alongside the exfoliation it provides.This is hard to get right in a leave on BHA product simply because salicylic acid is an ingredient that can be a bit drying. But this formula nails it. Minimizing the appearance of pores is not a fast game, but within two weeks of incorporating this into my routine, I can see a noticeable “tightness” in my T-zone area.
{ RELATED POST: 15 Game-Changing Salicylic Acid Products That Fit Into Any Routine }
Youth To The People has a slew of fantastic skincare products to choose from, but their Mandelic Acid + Superfood Unity Exfoliant is your best bet in terms of a product that will work hard to reduce the appearance of pores while still being gentle. Armed with a trio of 2% BHA, 3% AHA, and 1% PHA, this toner goes hard on pore buildup and easy on your moisture barrier. It’s a one-two-punch of a product that removes dead surface cells and gets deep into your pores to remove the gunk.
Pixi is famous for its Glow Tonic, but I think their Clarity Tonic deserves more attention- especially in the name of pores. This tonic also exfoliates with a trifecta of acids. Salicylic, glycolic, and lactic acid slough away dull skin cells on the surface and remove the debris deep within the pores that can contribute to their expanded appearance. The formula also includes glycerin, centella asiatica extract, and hyaluronic acid to mitigate any potential drying effects from the potent acid trio.
3.) Moisturizers For Large Pores
Moisturizing skin is crucial- period. But if your skin has enlarged pores, it’s absolutely essential that you do not skip this step. Lots of people tend to think that if they have enlarged pores, they should cut down or pass on moisturizer totally because it exacerbates the excess oil that might be contributing to their large pores. While it is true that excess oil does contribute to the appearance of large pores, skipping moisturizer will only cause your skin to create more oil in an attempt to make up for the lack of moisture, thus making the issue worse. Skipping moisturizer also runs the risk of putting your skin barrier in jeopardy, which makes any skin concern ten times harder than it already was. Looking for lightweight lotions and creams that aren’t too heavy or occlusive that still provide adequate moisture to the skin is the way to go.
CeraVe has something noteworthy for every skin concern. Even though this moisturizer is not specifically marketed towards it, it’s one of the best skincare products for large pores. Their Facial Moisturizing Lotion PM Ultra Lightweight might be the most ideal nighttime moisturizer for large pores you can get. And it doesn’t hurt that it’s only $10.
The texture is what it claims to be. An ultra lightweight lotion that disappears into the skin while supporting and moisturizing the skin barrier with glycerin, three different ceramides, and hyaluronic acid. It’s also got the classic niacinamide that not only calms irritation, but also balances oil production. And p.s.- this is marketed as a nighttime product but there’s no reason you can’t also use it during the day! Just be sure to follow with sunscreen, of course.
The texture smoothing cream from Cocokind is a unique formula that works immediately and overtime to diminish the appearance of enlarged pores. It uses a celery superseed complex to refine the appearance of pores and uneven texture. There’s also tsubaki seed oil, squalane, and shea butter to hydrate and replenish the skin barrier. The result is a lightweight but hydrating formula with a soft-focus blur effect that delivers instant results and long-term ones.
Green Tea extract, believe it or not, is an ingredient that also helps to decrease excess oil production from occurring in the pores. The Green Tea Aqua Soothing Gel Cream from COSRX is a cooling, soothing, and inflammation-reducing pick to pat into your skin in the am or pm.
And don’t be deceived by the jello-like texture, this product is more hydrating than it appears in the jar. The green tea extract helps to minimize oil production while D-panthenol combats dehydration. Some reviewers also claim that this has helped with their active breakouts, as well as providing a more “taut” appearance to their skin after applying.
4.) Serums For Large Pores
Serums are some of the most concentrated skincare products on the market. They’re able to deliver potent, effective formulas in small doses. This often makes them star products for focusing on targeted skincare concerns. Most serums that are geared towards specific goals like combatting breakouts or brightening the complexion are already helping your pores appear less noticeable to some degree. And just because a serum might not be marketed towards it doesn’t mean that it can’t contribute to the pore-unclogging cause. That said, here are three fantastic serum picks for doing just that.
Naturium constantly nails high-qualify, accessible, and effective formulas at a reasonable price point. And you can’t go wrong with their Niacinamide Serum 12% Plus Zinc 2% when it comes to a pore-refining serum. I’ve recommended this to so many people I’ve lost count, and I’ve emptied several bottles on my own. It’s amazing because it yields incredible and rather quick results while still being gentle enough for daily use.
It claims to purify congested skin, reduce the look of enlarged pores, and balance oil production. And it genuinely delivers on all of them. This product also incorporates easily into an already-existing routine. It plays well with others and is suitable for even sensitive skin. The reviews speak for themselves with this one.
The Glow Maker from Maelove is a Vitamin C serum, and you might be thinking, “isn’t vitamin c for brightening”? Yes, vitamin C does work wonders for brightening the overall complextion, but it’s also an ingredient you should add to your arsenal for combatting enlarged pores. Here’s why:
Excess oil production, dirt, and sebum aren’t the only things that contribute to enlarges pores. The loss of collagen as we age, as well as not wearing SPF daily, both deplete the support structures of our pores. This causes them to “stretch out” or dilate, and not be as tight as they once were. As you can imagine, this contributes to pores looking larger than we’d like. Vitamin C is an ingredient that builds collagen. This means that it works to repair that dilation and help our pores appear smaller.
This vitamin c formula is one of the best I’ve come across. It imparts major brightening effects and absorbs quickly. It’s now a staple in my routine for addressing hyperpigmentation and for keeping my pores in good shape (literally haha).
Facetheory’s Porebright N10 Serum is another great skincare product for large pores at an affordable price point. The ingredient list is small but mighty, and clocking in at only $19 makes it even better. 10% niacinamide paired with salicylic acid balances oil production and exfoliates. Azelaic acid calms inflammation and reduces discoloration. Aloe Vera and hyaluronic acid help maintain the moisture barrier. It’s a formula that’s really going to tackle pores and more head on.
5.) Retinols For Large Pores
Retinol products work to reduce the appearance of large pores in the same way that Vitamin C does- by building collagen. Retinol though, is the gold standard ingredient for helping to rebuild collagen over time. With consistent use, retinol will effectively begin to “re-tighten” the support structures within your pores that might be stretched out, thus helping them appear less visible. With so many great options out there it can be hard to narrow down your choices. Here’s three great ones to consider.
I think the Pressed Night Cream with Retinol and Niacinamide is one of the best products that L’Oreal has ever created. Besides the hygienic and convenient push-down top, the formula is immaculate. The lightweight night cream combines retinol and niacinamide while still providing deep moisture.
The ingredient duo is a recipe for success in reducing the appearance of large pores. The cream is delivered in an elegant, beginner friendly way designed to mitigate irritation. Gentle enough for newbies, but powerful enough for more seasoned retinol users too. It’s still retinol, so start slowly, but this product gets a 10/10 in my picky, skincare-obsessd opinion.
CeraVe’s Resurfacing Retinol Serum is a home run for an affordable retinol product for pores. It utilizes encapsulated retinol, which is a time-release delivery system that allows your skin to receive the active slowly throughout the night as opposed to all at once. This cuts down on the potential for irritation and can allow for deeper penetration. Niacinamide balances oil production and calms irritation. Licorice root extract also works to reduce any post-acne marks, while ceramides support the skin barrier. And it has over 350 5-star reviews on Target- for only $17.
It’s hard to talk about effective retinol products without mentioning Differin. Differin Adapalene Gel was previously only available by prescription and is widely recommended for acne. But it also works wonders at reducing the appearance of pores by regulating cell turnover. Adapalene is a topical retinoid, which is stronger than retinol.
It’s a product that needs to be read up on and carefully considered before implementing into your routine. Most people experience an adjustment period, and typically use of all other actives has to end for at least some time when using this product. It might sound a little scary, but Differin is as popular as it is for a reason. With proper and consistent use, enlarged pores will be a thing of the past.
This post was all about skincare products for large pores.
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