If you’ve landed on this page, we both know what you’re looking for: a way to minimize the appearance of the pores on your skin. We’d be remiss if we didn’t address the fact that pores are natural — especially on the face — and should not be something that you’re embarrassed or ashamed of. That said, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to keep your pores as healthy and clean as possible — that’s where pore minimizers come in.
Shop TODAY tapped dermatologists and estheticians to learn more about how pore minimizers work, who should use them, what to look for when shopping and how often they should be used to obtain the best results. Plus, we’ve shared expert and editor favorites that you can add to your cart ASAP.
What are pore minimizers? | Expert and editor faves | How we chose | Meet the experts
What are pore minimizers?
Pore minimizers are just what they sound like: products that can temporarily minimize the size of pores. While you may not see products with the words "pore minimizer" on the label, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Kunal Malik says you'll want to look for key ingredients such as salicylic acid, retinoids and retinols, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, kaolin and bentonite clay and peptides.
Best pore minimizers, according to experts and editors
Best budget-friendly: The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
- Helps with oil control
- Gentle
- May not be best for dry skin
Key ingredients: Niacinamide, zinc | Size: 1 fl oz
NBC News photo editor Vivian Le says she used this serum from The Ordinary for two years and it helped reduce both her acne and her pores. Priced at less than $10, it's an affordable foray into pore-minimizing products.
Best vitamin C: Baebody Vit C Facial Serum
- Absorbs quickly into the skin
- Many say it leaves skin glowy
- May be a little watery
Key ingredients: Vitamins C, B5 (panthenol) and E, jojoba oil, shea butter | Size: 1 fl oz
Licensed esthetician Rachel Lozina particularly likes this serum since it contains antioxidants. “This helps give oily skin the antioxidants it needs, helps improve skin’s overall texture and tone and removes redness for bright, glowing skin,” she says.
Best for mature skin: RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream
- Good starter retinol
- Best with other RoC products
- Not for deep wrinkles/sagging
Key ingredients: Retinol, glycerin, glycolic acid, squalane Size: 1 fl oz
If you’re looking for a quality budget-friendly option, consider using a retinol night cream like this one from RoC. Malik deems this product to be “an excellent cream safe for sensitive skin.” According to the brand, it works for everything from dark circles and crow's feet to uneven skin tone and dry skin.
Best toner: Face Reality Sal-C Toner
- Gentle on skin
- Helps with hyperpigmentation
- Some say it's a bit drying
Key ingredients: Salicylic acid, white willow bark, vitamins C and A, niacinamide, panthenol | Size: 6 fl oz
For a multifunctional toner that will do more than minimize pores, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Hadley King recommends this one from Face Reality.
“I like the Sal-C Toner from Face Reality which contains not only salicylic acid but also glycerin to hydrate the skin, niacinamide to help with tone and texture and vitamin C to provide antioxidant properties,” she says.
Editor-approved: Glow Recipe Strawberry BHA Pore-Smooth Blur Drops
- Smoothing results
- Oil control
- May have an unpleasant scent
Key ingredients: Salicylic acid, hyaluronic acid, strawberry leaf and fruit extracts | Size: 1 fl oz
"As somebody with sebaceous filaments that make me feel insecure, these 'blur' drops from Glow Recipe do a great job masking them when they're at their largest." says senior SEO editor Jess Bender. "While I can't speak on how they've refined my filaments in a long-term capacity, the immediate effects are pretty apparent with the satiny way it makes my skin feel to the smoother look it gives my makeup finish to the decrease of oil that lingers around my T-zone."
Best for sensitive skin: Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
- Evens texture
- Skin brightening
- Not for daily use for everyone
- May take time to see results
Key ingredients: Salicylic acid, green tea | Size: 4 fl oz
Malik says this liquid exfoliant from Paula's Choice is another suitable choice for sensitive skin. “It...contains salicylic acid which helps with unclogging pores and minimizing appearance,” he says. "And it has added green tea to calm skin irritation.”
It's also a favorite of associate editors Shannon Garlin and Kamari Stewart. "Some BHA exfoliants have been a little too harsh for my sensitive skin, but this one has been the only one I can use multiple times a week and [it] still feels gentle on my skin," says Garlin. "Since using, I've noticed a more even skin tone, clearer pores and overall improvement."
Best night cream: The Outset Restorative Niacinamide Night Cream
- Helps many skin care concerns
- Very moisturizing
- Can pill after application
Key ingredients: Niacinamide, bakuchiol, glycerin, licorice root extract, panthenol | Size: 1.7 fl oz
This night cream is another favorite of Le's. She says it's not only helped control her oiliness, but she's also found that her pores are less clogged and her skin is less textured since using it. According to the brand, it's also suitable for helping with dryness, fine lines and wrinkles.
Best splurge: Charlotte Tilbury Super Radiance Resurfacing Facial
- Pleasant smell
- Helps reduce pores
- Very gentle
- Pricey
Key ingredients: Glycolic acid, salicylic acid, glycerin, aloe vera leaf juice, hyaluronic acid, avocado oil, sunflower seed oil | Size: 3.38 fl oz
King recommends this Charlotte Tilbury exfoliating facial in a bottle because of its power-packed ingredient list. "It contains both salicylic acid and glycolic acid to gently exfoliate, as well as humectants like glycerin and sodium hyaluronate [hyaluronic acid] to hydrate the skin, emollients like avocado oil and sunflower seed oil to support the skin barrier and anti-inflammatory ingredients like aloe to help soothe the skin.”
Frequently asked questions
Pore minimizers work but no product is magic, so Malik recommends managing your expectations before trying one for the first time.
"Pore minimizers can work to reduce the appearance of pores, however, they do not change the permanent size/erase pores, which are determined largely by genetics,” he says.
While most people can use pore minimizers, it is especially recommended for those who struggle with acne, have oily skin and those with aging skin.
“Oily and acne-prone skin usually [are] prone to having larger pores due to increased oil production/clogging of pores,” explains Malik. “Aging skin can benefit from pore minimizers as collagen and elasticity loss can contribute to larger appearing pores.”
You'll always want to start by checking the directions on your specific product when determining how often to use it.
As a rule of thumb, King says, "Chemical exfoliants like salicylic acid can potentially be drying and irritating if overused, so I would recommend starting once or twice per week and see how your skin responds."
“Retinoid formulations may be used every night or every other night as tolerated and anti-aging peptides can be used on a daily basis, once or twice per day.” she adds.
Malik advises steering clear of pore minimizers if any of the following qualities apply:
- Sensitive skin
- Sun sensitivity
- Active eczema
- Pregnant
- Breastfeeding
For those with skin sensitivities, he says some of the ingredients in pore minimizers can potentially lead to irritation.
Experts previously told Shop TODAY that retinol, a vitamin A derivative that's also found in pore minimizers, should be avoided by those who are pregnant and nursing.
Lozina says you'll want to avoid pore-clogging ingredients such as coconut oil, shea butter and beeswax.
How we chose
The Shop TODAY editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We interview expert sources and even use our own personal experiences to make shopping easier for our readers.
Meet the experts
- Dr. Hadley King, MD, is a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist who specialized in medical and cosmetic dermatology.
- Dr. Kunal Malik, MD, FAAD, is a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist and assistant professor at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
- Rachel Lozina is a New York State-licensed esthetician, laser technician, oncology esthetician and owner of Blue Water Spa in Oyster Bay, New York.
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