Pore Problems? These 8 Products Can Help Address Them

via Giphy

No need to stress; seeing large pores every time you examine your face in the mirror is completely natural and super common! Sometimes large pore size is the result of genetics, sometimes it’s just an issue around that time of the month, and sometimes it’s an ongoing oily skin problem. Whatever the case, if blurring the appearance of pores is something you wanna do, there are plenty of products that can help out. Steam ahead for eight of them.

1. C&C by Clean & Clear Chill Out Cooling Mint Pore Cleanser, $12

If oily skin and acne are enemies one and two, this Cooling Mint Pore Cleanser by Clean & Clear could be your choice weapon. It’s an oil-free, water-based formula that gently sweeps gunk and grime out of your pores while menthol cools and invigorates. It’s specifically intended for oily skin types, so if that’s you and you’re seeking a new cleanser then it’s def worth picking up.

2. Sand & Sky Porefining Face Mask, $50

One of the primary reasons why pores may appear large is because they’re filled with oil (once the oil is mixed with bacteria and dirt, acne can form). When you apply a clay-based mask, the clay draws out excess oil and, as a result, reduces the appearance of your pores. That’s precisely the goal of Sand & Sky’s Porefining Face Mask. It utilizes pink clay, along with astringent witch hazel, soothing and nourishing kelp, and vitamin C-rich Kakadu plum.

3. Etude House Wonder Pore, $17

This cult-favorite, pH balanced toner by K-Beauty brand Etude House is a godsend for those with large pores and/or oily skin. We recommend using it as a toner after cleansing. It rebalances your skin’s pH levels to help keep sebum production under control, which in turn helps shrink pore size. Best of all, it won’t leave your skin feeling tight or stripped the way some super astringent toners can.

4. Supergoop Smooth and Poreless 100% Mineral Matte Screen, $38

Sunscreen is one of those things you know you’re supposed to apply, but it often gets “forgotten” in your routine because you hate the way it makes your skin feel. This is especially true for those with oily skin or acne-prone skin, but you don’t have to live that life. Supergoop’s Smooth and Poreless Mineral sunscreen helps blur the appearance of pores while nixing oil for a matte finish, and it doesn’t feel greasy or heavy like many other SPFs on the market.

5. Bioderma Sébium Pore Refiner Moisturizing and Pore Minimizing Cream, $20

Bioderma is both a dermatologist and makeup artist favorite because of its gentle, high-quality formulations and low cost. You might already be familiar with their cult-favorite Sensibio Micellar Water, but the brand’s Sebium Pore Refiner Cream is def worth trying, too. Its patented “fluidactiv” complex biologically regulates sebum while agaric acid tightens pores and refines skin texture.

 6. Good Science Beauty 001-Pu Purifying Face Cream, $48

Good Science Beauty makes another pore blasting face cream, only it also helps target acne and deep congestion, too. It’s powered by what the brand calls “Good Silicon+” which is a micro-mineral silicon that helps improve the efficacy of the formula’s other ingredients. Those include willow bark (a natural astringent that cleans and tightens pores) and skin-strengthening amino acids to keep acne at bay. An independent clinical test saw a 28% reduction in pore size within a month’s time, which is pretty dang good if you ask us.

7. NYX Total Control Drop Foundation, $14

If you’ve already found your tried-and-true favorite foundation, no need to spend more money. But for those who are still on the prowl for a product that’ll tame oily skin and help reduce pore size, this under-the-radar liquid foundation from NYX might just be your hero. It’s a very thin (almost water-like) consistency that you apply with a dropper tool and blend into your skin. As it dries, it creates a slightly powdery finish for a matte, but not too matte, finish.

8. Hylamide Pore Delete, $10

You know Deciem’s The Ordinary, but have you met Deciem’s Hylamide? It also creates high-quality, low-cost skincare products, only it has fewer SKUs and (arguably) is easier to navigate. Pore Delete is part of Hylamide’s Finisher Series, and it’s really in a category of its own as far as skincare products go. If you’re not using makeup then it can be applied as the last step in your regimen, but if you’re wearing makeup then it’s meant to be patted onto your skin after liquid foundation (and before powder). It’s essentially a super concentrated blurring product that nixes shine and conceals pores and fine lines like a boss.