Dramatically improve the appearance of your skin with our top 5 amazing pore reducers, and learn how to find the best pore minimizer with these easy steps.
Don’t you just hate having large pores? Every time I look in the mirror, I feel like they’re staring right back at me and laughing. Recently I’ve really started to fight back and have had some actual success. And you’re in luck, because we’re going to kick yours in the ass too! Let’s review the best pore minimizers on the market!
Contents
I’ve done a ton of research and wrote this guide to assist you in choosing the best pore minimizer product out there (because let’s face it, there are like a hundred billion of them to choose from). So go ahead and sit back and let me help you become the confident, radiant person you really are without letting your skin hold you back!
Best pore minimizers in 2018
You’re probably most familiar with pore minimizing primers, but there are other great pore reducing products too. We’re going to look at a bunch of them and show you how to find the perfect product(s) for your needs. The battle against enlarged pores is a tough one, and it depends on your skin whether a light primer will do it or if you need to combine a few different tactics.
Let’s get to it then!
Things considered in these pore minimizer reviews
In order to evaluate different pore shrinking products on the market, I considered the following factors:
- Consumer reviews
- Quality of the product
- Active ingredients
- Value for money
Organic, natural and cruelty-free products were given preference.
I chose my favorites from a number of different types of products to ensure I’ve covered the best options for all major skin types and needs.
Top 5 pore reducers
1. Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Extra Strength Alpha Beta Peel
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Extra Strength Alpha Beta Peel is an easy-to-use two-step at-home peel for all skin types. It contains multiple active ingredients, including five alpha and beta hydroxy acids and a concoction of antioxidants.
A lot of people swear by this peel, as it reduces the appearance of many skin issues, such as enlarged pores, fine lines and acne scars. It’s a bit of a luxury item because of its price, but it’s very effective and you can easily make it last longer.
Check out more reviews and the current price here.
2. Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster
Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster is a skincare product you’ll want to use daily for maximum effect.
It’s loaded with antioxidants, including vitamin C, which helps with collagen production and improves the elasticity of your skin. This, in turn, will assist in tightening those pores of yours. Unfortunately the packaging could be a little better, and the product a little cheaper.
It does look really yummy though, and makes your skin soft as satin!
See more reviews and the current price here.
3. Perricone MD Intensive Pore Minimizer
Perricone MD Intensive Pore Minimizer has to be one of the best toners out there. It’s loaded with DMAE, alpha lipoic and salicylic acids, and a bunch of beneficial minerals.
It tightens the skin, balances oil production and cleanses the pores while exfoliating gently. It is quite efficient in removing oil so those with a super dry skin may want to avoid this or get a sample to try first.
Especially great for oily and combination skin though.
Check out more reviews and the current price here.
4. NYX Pore Filler
NYX Pore Filler blurs pores and smoothens uneven skin texture. It’s silicone-based, and so creates a thin, oil blocking layer on top of your skin, giving it a nice matte finish.
You can wear it alone or with makeup, but those with an extremely dry skin may want to choose a different product, as the Pore Filler can leave your foundation looking cakey. However, if you’ve got an oily or combination skin you will probably be happily surprised.
It’s also rather inexpensive and lasts for a long time, which makes it great value for money.
Check out more reviews and the current price here.
5. e.l.f. Poreless Primer
e.l.f. Poreless Face Primer is very affordable and still a great quality product. It minimizes the appearance of pores and fine lines, and contains some anti-aging ingredients like vitamin A and E, and acne-fighting tea tree oil.
It makes your foundation look nice longer but because of the oil it contains, it doesn’t control shine as well as some other products do. Not so awesome for those of us with an incredibly oily skin but others should be very happy.
See more reviews and the current price here.
Comparison
| Product | Price | Skin type | Type | Cruelty free | Vegan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Extra Strength Alpha Beta Peel | $$$ | All skin types | Peel | x | x |
| Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster | $$ | All skin types | Serum | x | x |
| Perricone MD Intensive Pore Minimizer | $$ | Oily, combination, normal | Toner | x | |
| NYX Pore Filler | $ | Oily, combination, normal | Primer | x | |
| E.l.f. Poreless Primer | $ | Combination, normal, dry | Primer | x |
Not what you’re looking for or need more information? Then let’s get back to the basics and see how you can yourself find the very best products for your unique needs.
What are pore minimizers?
Pore minimizers are products with one of 3 different main functionalities:
- Cleaning the pores by removing oil and dirt
- Exfoliating the skin and getting rid of dead skin cells that could clog and enlarge the pores
- Hiding the existing pores and leaving the skin smoother and less oily
While these qualities are what matter the most for these types of products, the products themselves typically differ in other ways depending on what ingredients they consist of. To find the best pore minimizer for your needs you need to keep that in mind too.
What are the benefits of using one?
People usually choose to use a pore shrinking product because they have large, open pores that they find unappealing. You may also suffer from other contributing problems such as oily or aging skin, blackheads, acne or uneven skin texture.
The advantages of using pore minimizers
- Creating a smooth, even base in preparation for a flawless makeup
- Improving the skin’s texture temporarily (primers) or for a longer period of time (exfoliation, serums etc.)
- Reducing the appearance of pores and acne scars
- Deep-cleansing the skin to make it healthier and brighter
- Managing oiliness of the skin
- Stimulating new cell growth and collagen formation
How do they work?
Pore minimizer products work in different ways depending on the type of product.
They can however be divided into two main categories:
- Products that cover them up – mainly primers
- Products that treat them – peels, creams, serums, cleansers etc.
Some products contain ingredients that do both, but most of them concentrate on one or the other.
Pore minimizing primers and pore fillers
Pore refining primers work by creating a thin layer of the product on top of the skin, evening out differences in skin texture and filling in open pores and fine lines. Priming products also help keep oiliness to a minimum as well as make any makeup on top of the primer stay in place for longer.
Should I get a tinted or clear primer?
Primers can be either tinted or clear. In most cases it doesn’t make much of a difference since there usually isn’t enough pigment to make a noticeable change in the color of the skin. However, some people with dark skin tones may find that clear primers work best for them.
Should I get a primer that’s water or silicone-based?
Most primers are either water or silicone-based. A small number of primers are oil-based, but those are a rare find. Generally speaking, water-based primers are considered better for dry skin, while silicone-based products fill pores more effectively and leave the skin feeling smoother.
Whatever type of primer you choose, make sure that your foundation has the same base ingredient in order to avoid pilling and unevenness. In other words, silicone-based primers work best with silicone-based foundation and water-based primers with water-based foundation.
Exfoliants
Exfoliating creams and peels chemically melt away dead skin cells and make your complexion appear brighter and clearer. Creams tend to be gentler compared to peels as they are meant to be kept on the skin for longer periods of time. However, peels can be very effective if used correctly.
Many pore minimizing exfoliators come in scrub form and when used, will mechanically rid the skin of old skin cells.
Cleansers and masks
Pore minimizing cleansers, masks and face washes help you get rid of all of the oil and other gunk stuck inside your poor pores. It’s important to keep the pores clear of dirt to effectively reduce their appearance.
Many cleansers designed to treat acne and blackheads are great for minimizing pores since all of these issues are often symptoms of the same problem.
Pore minimizing toners
Pore refining toners remove any remaining traces of cleansers and prepare the skin for other products. Toners often contain ingredients such as glycolic and lactic acids, which help with acne and blackheads, exfoliate the skin and clear up clogged pores.
Pore shrinking serums
Luckily for us the best pore minimizer for your skin can be almost any type of skincare product, as long as you pay careful attention to the ingredients they contain. Serums targeted for treating enlarged pores contain ingredients that purify and treat them when used regularly. The active ingredients used in these products may include gentle exfoliants and substances that stimulate new cell formation. They may also have calming and anti-inflammatory properties.
Choosing the best pore reducer for your skin
Factors to consider when buying a product:
Your skin type
Some products are better used on a dry skin, some on oily.
If you have a dry skin, look for:
- Beneficial oils that will treat your flaky complexion
- Ingredients that add moisture
- Gentle exfoliants. Avoid scrubbing and opt for chemical exfoliation instead
If your skin has the tendency to get oily, you’ll want to look for:
- Ingredients that dry out some of the excess oil
- AHA and BHA exfoliants to get deep into the pores, promote healthy skin and keep acne breakouts at bay
Other skin type factors that affect the type of product you need are:
- The main cause of the enlarged pores
- The size and number of pores
- Your age
- Any other problems you might have with your skin
- Skin sensitivities
- Your skin care and makeup routines
Active ingredients
You should absolutely pay attention to the ingredients of any product you’re about to apply onto your skin.
Again, the ingredients that will help you the most depends on your skin’s problems and type, but there are certain substances you want to look for in particular:
- Vitamins (A, E, C)
- Exfoliants (alpha and beta hydroxy acids)
- Oils (jojoba, tea tree)
Best pore minimizers are likely to contain a few of these as they work well together, contributing to the improved quality of your skin.
Price vs quality
The price range for different pore products is quite wide, and while the more expensive products are sometimes better, that is not always the case. Figuring out whether a pricey item is worth the money can be difficult, but fortunately it’s often possible to get sample sized products at a fraction of the cost or even for free if you purchase something else.
Conclusion
Finding the best way to minimize those pesky pores is a bit of a pain in the ass but it’s not rocket science. We’ve now gone through the different options for different needs, as well as talked about all the factors you need to consider when comparing products yourself. I hope you have enjoyed this Best Pore Minimizer Guide and learned as much as I did when searching for my holy grail pore products.