Our top overall pick is the Paula’s Choice Resist Daily Treatment
Pores are just a fact of life, and no product or procedure will effectively get rid of their appearance.1 That said, we know of some standout skincare formulations that can make them a bit less glaring.
“Ingredients that are ‘pore minimizers’ simply help pores appear smaller by exfoliating your skin, unclogging pores, and preventing sun damage,” says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Marie V. Hayag. Whether it’s a toner, serum, moisturizer, or mask, she recommends products containing retinoids, niacinamide, AHAs (alpha-hydroxy acids), and salicylic acid (beta-hydroxy acid or BHA).
“Salicylic acid exfoliates the skin and also penetrates the pores to dissolve the dead skin cells and debris that may be clogging them,” Dr. Hayag tells Byrdie. “It also reduces excessive oil production, preventing clogged pores in the first place.”
To find the very best in pore minimizing, we conducted hours of research on the best pore minimizers and tried out some of the top-rated products on the market, from toners to exfoliating treatments. We used these products for weeks at a time, taking note of how well each clarified their skin and improved overall pore appearance. We considered dozens of products and board-certified dermatologists helped narrow down our selection.
Best Overall: Paula’s Choice Resist Daily Pore-Refining Treatment with 2 Percent BHA
Paula’s Choice is a fan-loved brand for many reasons, one being its exceptionally effective BHA toner. Containing 2 percent salicylic acid, plus peptides and allantoin, the Pore-Refining Treatment sloughs away dead cells and replenishes the skin barrier.23 It also soothes stressed complexions.4
In addition to clearing debris from your pores and strengthening your dermis, this clever concoction plumps your skin, boosts collagen production, and creates a smoother complexion over time. Byrdie contributor and makeup artist Ashley Rebecca noticed that her pores looked smaller after just one use, and that her skin was radiant and glowing.
Best Budget: Insta Natural 7% Glycolic AHA Toner
This toner from InstaNatural dissolves sebum with AHA all-stars like glycolic acid and lactic acid.5 It then calls on witch hazel to balance oil production and vitamin C to tackle dullness.67
Best Drugstore: Bioderma Sébium Pore Refiner Cream
Bioderma’s Sébium Pore Refiner dissolves dead skin cells with salicylic acid, then soaks up excess oil and sebum with silica powder.28 Thanks to the formula’s mattifying effect, this French pharmacy favorite works well under makeup.
Best Splurge: SkinBetter Science AlphaRet Clearing Serum
This fancy BHA serum is one of Dr. Hayag’s favorites. “It improves skin tone, texture, appearance of pores, and clears skin,” she tells Byrdie. “It also has multiple antioxidants alongside niacinamide (vitamin B3) and other moisturizing ingredients to prevent irritation.”
Best Night Cream: RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream
RoC Retinol Correxion is your best bet for a night cream. As Dr. Hayag explains, “Retinoids have many functions, including clearing clogged pores, exfoliating dead skin cells, and improving the look of pores.” Byrdie contributor Leigh Weingus also loves the cream, noting that she saw a reduction in fine lines within a week.
Best Cleanser: The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser
If you’re just dipping your toes into the world of BHA skincare, this budget-friendly cleanser from The Inky List is a great place to start. The mild foaming formula dislodges dead cells from your pores and minimizes excess sebum, all while washing away the day and soothing irritation.
Best Toner: Perricone MD Intensive Pore Minimizing Toner
After cleansing, reach for this pore-minimizing toner, which promises to exfoliate, refine, and control oil production while prepping your skin for the next step. Though some folks balk at its pungent smell, this almost makes us trust the no-nonsense formula even more.
Best Serum: Glossier Super Pure
Formulated with zinc and niacinamide, Glossier Super Pure is said to combat sebum production and balance your complexion. “Niacinamide also helps the appearance of pores,” says Dr. Hayag.
Best Multitasker: Fenty Skin Fat Water Pore-Refining Toner Serum
Who says you can’t consolidate skincare steps? Fenty Fat Water is a toner-serum hybrid that balances oil production, fades dark spots, and fights shine. We like that it contains niacinamide, which Dr. Hayag says “increases ceramide biosynthesis and helps restore the skin’s moisture barrier.”
Best Exfoliator: Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment
When it comes to effective at-home skincare treatments, ExfoliKate is one for the books. Containing naturally exfoliating fruit enzymes, plus AHA and BHA, it pulls out all the stops to loosen up pore-clogging debris.52 It also tackles sebum production.9
Best Lotion: Clinique Pore Refining Solutions Stay-Matte Hydrator
Whether you use it as a moisturizer, serum, or makeup primer, you can count on Clinique’s Stay-Matte Hydrator to soak up sebum and keep excess oil under control for up to eight hours. We love it as a base for makeup, too.
Best Primer: Dr. Brandt Skincare Pores No More Pore Refiner Primer
It can be tricky to minimize the look of pores when wearing a full face of makeup, but this mattifying primer is up for the task. Red clover extract helps balance oil production to shrink the appearance of pores, while a BHA derivative gently exfoliates to create a smooth canvas.210Rebecca loved how lightweight it was, and she noted that her skin stayed smooth all day and she didn’t feel the need to touch up her makeup.
Best Moisturizer: Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Pore Perfecting Moisturizer
Dr. Dennis Gross is a brand you can trust when it comes to minimizing the look of pores. Thanks to a blend of farnesol, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, and squalane, this brilliantly lightweight, non-comedogenic moisturizer encourages cell turnover.511 It also prevents breakouts and supports the skin barrier.212
Best for Mature Skin: BeautyStat Universal C Skin Refiner
As skin matures, pores tend to appear more visible. This gel-cream serum contains 20 percent pure vitamin C for a brighter skin tone13, but it also works to unclog pores and reduce their appearance through the use of tartaric acid14
Best Sunscreen: Exuviance Daily Corrector SPF 35 Moisturizer
This non-comedogenic face sunscreen boasts broad-spectrum SPF 35 protection while balancing oil production, boosting your complexion, and reducing the appearance of pores.712
Best Mask: Temi Botanical Masque
This anti-inflammatory mask calls on kaolin clay and maca to draw out impurities from your pores, then soaks up excess oil, sloughs off dead skin cells, and soothes with chamomile.1516
Best Peel: Wishful by Huda Beauty Rose Quartz Lift & Glow Peel-Off Face Mask
If you’re more of a peel person, go with Lift & Glow. This pretty-in-pink mask goes on like a gel and dries into an iridescent finish. When it peels off, it takes dirt, oil, and pore-clogging sebum along with it.
Best K-Beauty: CosRx BHA Blackhead Power Liquid
We’re also big fans of CosRx Blackhead Power Liquid, which contains generous doses of salicylic acid and niacinamide. “These factors help your skin achieve a ‘tighter’ look, reducing the appearance of pores,” says Dr. Hayag.
Best Exfoliating Pads: Bevel Exfoliating Toner
If you prefer to exfoliate with single-use toner pads, we recommend these from Bevel. Its star ingredients are glycolic acid and niacinamide, which are two of Dr. Hayag’s favorite ingredients for reducing the appearance of pores. This formula also has aloe vera to soothe and hydrate, which is a must if AHA’s tend to dry out your skin.1718
Final Verdict
Our number one pick is Paula’s Choice Resist Daily Pore-Refining Treatment 2 Percent BHA, a fan-favorite toner containing exfoliating BHA, replenishing peptides, and soothing allantoin. For folks on a budget, we recommend InstaNatural’s 7 percent Glycolic AHA Toner. And if you’re open to splurging, your best bet is the dermatologist-approved SkinBetter Science AlphaRet Clearing Serum.
What to Look For in a Pore Minimizer
Exfoliating Ingredients
This is by far the most important criterion. “When dead skin cells build up in the pores, they make them appear much larger,” says dermatologist Dr. Amy S. Ross. “Choosing a pore minimizer that contains chemical exfoliants like fruit acids or physical exfoliants like jojoba beads will help minimize that build-up,” she explains. A lot of our favorites include exfoliators, such as the Paula’s Choice Resist Daily Pore-Refining Treatment and the InstaNatural 7% Glycolic AHA Toner
Hydrating Ingredients
“Your pores will also be much less prominent if your skin is well-hydrated,” points out Ross. Look for lightweight hydrating ingredients—glycerin and hyaluronic acid—in a pore minimizer to help impart an extra hit of hydration even before you apply moisturizer. The Fenty Skin Fat Water Pore-Refining Toner Serum and the Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Daily Moisturizer.
FAQ
How do you minimize pores?
“The size of your pores is genetically determined, so there is no way to make them physically smaller,” explains Ross. “However, you can make them look smaller by keeping your skin hydrated, exfoliating regularly, protecting yourself from the sun, and using a dedicated pore minimizing product,” she says.
When should you apply a pore minimizer?
“Pore minimizers should be used after you wash your face, but before you apply any moisturizer or sun protection,” says Ross. Moisturizers that work as pore minimizers can be used as the last step of your routine at night and before SPF in the morning.
How often should you use a pore minimizer?
According to Ross, “they should be used twice daily, morning and night, immediately after cleansing.”
