And one pore-obsessed beauty editor.
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Pore minimizing is literally my favorite skincare thing to talk about. I know that pores are necessary for skin health and I know that they're a very normal thing to have on your face, but that doesn't change the fact that I've been obsessed with minimizing the appearance of my pores for as long as I can remember. I'm one of those people who is blessed with very oily skin and, as a result, I'm also blessed with pores that get filled up quickly and always seem to look larger than I'd like.
In my years-long quest for small, tighter-looking pores, I've tested and reviewed countless pore-minimizing products and treatments and reached out to top dermatologists (shout out to Shari Marchbein, MD, Arash Akhavan, MD, and Lindsey Yeh, MD) for their best tips and tricks for getting rid of clogged pores. Here's everything I've learned—plus a few important things you need to know about your pores, why they may look large, and the ways you can potentially reduce their size.
First, let’s talk about what pores are. “Pores are the visible openings of the hair follicles to their connected oil glands,” says Dr. Marchbein. The average adult has around 20,000 of them on their face and, unfortunately, “their size is genetically determined.” So if your biological parents have large pores, changes are so do you. And while you can't do much about your pores' predetermined size, it is possible for them to look larger if the collagen around them weakens (from, say, age, sun exposure, or picking at your skin) or if they become clogged (hi, blackheads) with dirt, oil, and bacteria. “Those with oily skin tend to have larger pores than those with dry skin,” says Dr. Akhavan, adding that “large pores are mainly caused by excessive sebum production.”
So you can’t actually get rid of your pores (remember, you need them for optimal skin function) or permanently change their size (you’d need a new set of DNA for that), but can minimize their appearance to a degree with certain at-home products and in-office procedures. Keeping scrolling for 14 best ways to make your pores appear smaller as well as the best pore-minimizing products and treatments to try.
As a rule, you'll want to wash your face twice a day since "not cleansing your skin properly or consistently can lead to buildup on and worsen the appearance of large pores,” says Dr. Yeh. In the morning, wash with a gentle cleanser and lukewarm water, and before bed, try a double cleanse with a cleansing oil or cleansing balm first and then follow up with the same gentle cleanser that you used in the morning. It made sound counterintuitive, but “oil-based cleansers effectively remove makeup and also help break down clogged pores and blackheads,” says Dr. Yeh. Checkout one of the four top-rated options here (P.S. Banila’s cleansing balm is Dr. Yeh’s personal fave).
The third face washing moment is for anyone who workouts during the day. Your pores are surrounded by blood vessels and can dilate with heat and sweating and therefore become more open and visible, says Dr. Marchbein. This makes it especially important to wash your face both before and after exercising so that makeup, dirt, and bacteria don’t get trapped inside your dilated pores. There is an upside though: Once you’ve washed the loosened debris and oil from your face, your open pores will allow for slightly deeper delivery of the topical medications and skincare products you apply afterward.
There's a good chance that you already use a toner after washing your face, but do you use one with exfoliating acids? If not, I beg you to reconsider because adding an exfoliating toner to my skincare routine has been one of the biggest game changers when it comes to minimize my pores.
The acids used in exfoliating toners usually fall into one of two categories—AHAs and BHAs—both of which are exceptional at reducing the appearance of pores. AHAs (like glycolic acid, mandelic acid, and lactic acid) and BHAs (like salicylic acid) help dissolve the glue that holds together pore-clogging dead cells on the surface of the skin. BHAs can even help dissolve oil and build-up that gets stuck inside pores and stretches them out too.
There’s a catch though—because your pores will eventually fill back up with dead skin cells, you’ve got to use your exfoliating toner of choice on a regular basis for the best pore-minimizing results. People with oily or combination skin can typically exfoliate with a gentle product on a regular basis, where those with sensitive skin should aim for once weekly, says Dr. Marchbein.
You can do all the things on this list, but if the products in your skincare routine are filled with potentially pore-clogging ingredients, or are considered to be "comedogenic", chances are your pores will always look stretched out and more visible than you'd like. My two favorite ways to check if a skincare product or makeup product has the potential to clog my pores are from facialists Biba de Sousa and Sofie Pavitt. Both experts have pore-clogger checker features on their sites where you simply copy/paste a product's ingredient list into a little box and within seconds you're able to see what ingredients, if any, can be problematic for your pores. Before I test a new product, I always run it through one of these checkers first and you should do the same.
As I mentioned before, when collagen weakens, so does the lining of your pores, which ends up making them look annoyingly large. To stimulate collagen production and strengthen the walls of the pores, Dr. Marchbein suggests using a retinol in your skincare routine. You can either get an Rx retinoid from your derm (like Tretinoin, Tazorac, and Retin-A Micro) or try an over-the-counter retinol (like one of the retinol creams and serums below). But be warned: Retinoids and retinols are pretty potent, so use them sparingly at first, increasing your frequency as your skin builds up tolerance.
Regular facials that focus on cleaning out your pores and eliminating congestion can go a long way in reducing the appearance of pores, says Dr. Yeh. Three great options that I swear by are HydraFacial, DiamondGlow, and Glo2Facial. These effective (yet totally non-invasive) facials are done in med spas and dermatologist offices and can temporarily improve the appearance of pores by exfoliating the top layers of the skin and extracting debris from pores.
“HydraFacials allow for deeper delivery of active ingredients, like glycolic and salicylic acid, post-treatment, which can further contribute to glowing skin, a reduction in hyperpigmentation, and the appearance of smaller pores,” Dr. Marchbein says. While DiamondGlow (a gentle microdermabrasion device) uses a special exfoliating tip to resurface skin, pull debris from pores, and infuse skin with special serums to make your look super glowy. Glo2Facials use oxygen bubbles to exfoliate the skin and depending on the exact treatment your provider chooses, it can even help minimize oil production too.
The right foundation, tinted moisturizer, or skin tint—specifically one with oil absorbing powders and/or blurring pigments—can help temporarily minimize the appearance of your pores. It’s the perfect quick-fix for moments when you want your skin to have a super-smooth, filtered effect in seconds.
And speaking of makeup, don't forget to prep with a primer to help minimize the appearance of pores as well. Makeup often has a way of settling into your pores that amplifies their size, but using a makeup primer can help fill in your pores so that your foundation lays smoothly on top. Of course, this isn’t a long-term fix, but if your main concern is how your pores affect your makeup, a good primer is absolute gold.
NGL, I thought ice rollers and stainless steel cooling globes were super gimmicky, but after I added one to my skincare routine I was hooked. Not only does the cooling sensation feel amaaaaazing on skin and immediately reduce puffiness and redness, they can help minimize the appearance of large pores too. The effect is definitely temporary, but the cold from the roller can constrict your pores and make them look smaller for a few hours.
In-office chemical peels with exfoliating acids (like TCA, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, and lactic acid) and/or retinoids are clutch when it comes to minimizing the appearance of pores and uneven skin texture. These peels aren’t exactly cheap (expect to spend anywhere from $250 to $600 depending on where you live), but the skin-smoothing results are impressive.
Chemical peels are customizable too—the intensity of your treatment can be adjusted based on your skin type, skin goals, and how much downtime you’re willing to have (more intensity = more recovery time post-peel). I’m a big fan of VI Peels, PCA peels, and Skinceuticals peels for reducing the look of of large pores, but you can always talk to your doctor to find out what kind of pro peel is best for you.
RF microneedling treatments combine the properties of radiofrequency and microneedling make your skin look super smooth and firm, they help minimize pore size too. The treatment typically involves stamping ultra-fine needles that emit radiofrequency energy into the skin to create a controlled injury, which, in turn, prompts collagen and elastin production. The result? Fresher, newer, tighter skin with noticeably smaller looking pores. I've personally tried Morpheus8 and Vivace—two popular RF microneedling treatments—are was super impressed at the pore-minimizing benefits. Both treatments are pricey (like $1000+ per session) and take time to work though, so don’t expect any overnight miracles. Most results kick in a few weeks post-treatment and last for around six months.
Good news! Your self-care masking sessions can actually be beneficial for minimizing your pores. Dr. Marchbein says that clay and charcoal masks help to draw out buildup, bacteria, and oil—basically all the stuff that clogs pores and expands their size. Just like exfoliation, the effects of masking are only temporary, though, so these treatments need to be repeated at least weekly to maintain results.
Dr. Marchbein’s favorite laser to improve the appearance of pores is the Clear and Brilliant fractionated laser, which stimulates collagen, improves skin texture and discoloration, and, you guessed it, minimizes pore size. In my personal experience, the downtime is minimal (usually a day or two of mild redness) and you’ll need to do four to six treatments spaced six weeks apart for the best results. If you want more dramatic results with fewer treatments, you can try Fraxel—but be warned, the downtime is a solid week of looking like you got a serious sunburn.
Dr. Akhavan likes the PicoWay and ResurFx lasers treating patients with larger pores. “These lasers injure the skin just enough to activate a wound healing response, which promotes natural collagen production to form new healthy tissue and minimize the appearance of pores over time," says Dr. Akhavan.
Dr. Marchbein says exposure to UV light can break down and damage collagen in the skin, including the collagen that surrounds the walls of pores. In other words, UV exposure can lead to larger pores—another reason daily use of sunscreen with a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or above is a necessary step in your skincare routine every single day. If you don’t already have an SPF you love, try one of the options below—each one is oil-free, safe for acne-prone and oily skin, and won’t feel heavy or thick on your face.
Fun fact: Studies show that facial fillers can stimulate collagen production and reduce the size of pores. “By injecting hyaluronic acid fillers somewhat frequently, you can gradually build collagen, leading to better structural support for the walls of the pores and ultimately giving them a smaller appearance,” Dr. Marchbein says. And since we’re on the topic of injections…
Micro Botox is a microneedling technique where dilute amounts of neurotoxin (like Xeomin, Dysport, and/or Jeuveau) are introduced superficially into the skin. This doesn’t affect muscle movement the way injecting Botox would, but it does decrease sweat and oil produced by glands in the skin. The result? Smaller-looking pores and less oiliness.
And if you’re into it, you could even get a combo of filler and Botox to reap the benefits of both. Dr. Marchbein says some pro microneedling devices, like Aquagold, can “stamp” a combo of Botox and fillers superficially into the skin to improve texture and pores. Pretty cool, huh?
Lauren Balsamo is the deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan with a decade of experience researching, writing, and editing skincare stories that range from the best sunscreens for sensitive skin to the best lasers for acne scars. She regularly works with the industry’s top dermatologists and aestheticians to assess new skincare treatments, products, and trends.
Lauren Balsamo is deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan, where she writes, edits, and produces all types of beauty content—from product reviews to personal essays and trend reports. She has covered beauty for nine years at Cosmopolitan and has contributed to Women’s Health and Seventeen magazines as well. Follow her on Instagram.
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