How to Minimize Pores
You can’t change the size of your pores, but you can make them look a lot smaller.
Up next in Skin Care 101 (64 videos)
Everything you ever wanted to know about how to achieve a flawless face is in this video series.
You Will Need
- A facial cleanser containing salicylic acid
- An oil-free moisturizer with retinol
- SPF 30 Sunscreen
- A facial primer containing silicone
- Matte makeup
- A gentle exfoliant
- Redness-reducing eye drops (optional)
- A dermatologist (optional)
- An at-home chemical peel (optional)
- A do-it-yourself dermabrasion kit (optional)
Steps
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Step 1
Wash your face twice daily
Wash your face twice a day with a cleanser that contains salicylic acid, which can minimize the appearance of large pores by unclogging them.
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Spread a few squeezes of redness-reducing eye drops onto clean skin. They’ll constrict your pores temporarily, making them look smaller.
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Step 2
Use an oil-free moisturizer
Make sure your daily moisturizer is oil-free—especially if you have greasy skin—because facial oil can make pores look larger. Use one that contains retinol. It boosts collagen, making pores look smaller.
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If you have sensitive skin, alternate using a moisturizer with retinol and one without.
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Step 3
Use sunscreen daily
Slather on the sunscreen. Sun damage can make pores look larger—permanently. Use a sunscreen that provides both UVA and UVB protection and has a minimum SPF of 30.
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Using a moisturizer or foundation that contains sunscreen is an easy way to add UV protection to your daily routine.
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Step 4
Prime your skin
Before applying makeup, prep your face with foundation primer containing silicone, which fills in the pores, creating a smooth surface for your foundation.
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Step 5
Use matte makeup
Use matte foundation. It makes pores look smaller than cream- or oil-based ones, whose shine only highlights pores.
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Step 6
Exfoliate weekly
Exfoliate your face weekly with a facial scrub or loofah. Exfoliating helps keep pores free of the dirt and oil that cause them to look larger.
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Look for the word 'gentle' when buying an exfoliant. If you over-exfoliate, your skin will dry out, responding by producing even more oil, and leading to larger-looking pores.
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Step 7
Consider dermatological treatments
Ask a dermatologist if you’re a good candidate for a topical retinoid cream, or for treatments like a chemical peel, laser-skin resurfacing, intense-pulsed-light treatment, or dermabrasion.
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Drugstores carry at-home chemical peels and microdermabrasion kits.
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Step 8
Consider the upside
Consider the upside: Prominent pores often result from oily skin, which looks less wrinkled than dry skin as you age.
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One dermatologist calls women who obsess over their pores 'porexics.'
