.png?w=696&resize=696,0&ssl=1 "The Best Pore Minimizers for a Smoother, Clearer Complexion")
Blurred is the buzzword du jour for covetable skin, and the best pore minimizer serums and treatments are more in demand than ever—not that pores are the enemy. “Nothing can, or should, erase your pores,” stresses Dr. Whitney Bowe, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Dr. Whitney Bowe Beauty. “When patients present with typical-looking pores and ask me to ‘erase’ them, I reassure them that pores are normal and then I suggest they throw away their magnifying mirror!” However, “Some people are prone to more visible, pronounced pores, and it can significantly affect their confidence,” she allows.
Vogue’s Favorite Pore Minimizers
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The trick is not to shrink pores (not possible!), but rather, clear away any congestion that’s emphasizing their appearance. It’s simple, clogged pores draw more attention. Once debris is gone, skin appears more smooth and even toned, making large pores fade into the background.
Dr. Bowe explains that several factors—ranging from genetics to the natural aging process and oil production linked to hormones—can cause the appearance of enlarged pores. “Once you understand what causes your pores to appear large, you can then strategically introduce skin-care products that will work together, in a complementary fashion, to minimize their appearance of pores,” she says. Ahead, a look at the best pore-minimizing products that experts say works overtime to reduce sebum buildup, speed cellular turnover, and stimulate collagen.
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Best with Vitamin C: SkinCeuticals Silymarin CF
- Why We Love It: SkinCeuticals’ oil-free formulation is a staple in Vogue shopping writer Kiana Murden’s routine. “As an oily-skin girl, SkinCeuticals Silymarin CF is perfect for me,” Murden says. “It uses L-ascorbic acid, silymarin, ferulic acid, and salicylic acid to reduce excess oil production, refine pores, and protect against free-radical damage.” Incredibly lightweight on the skin, this formula also helps to fade dark spots and improve overall skin tone. ‘
- Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, silymarin, ferulic acid, salicylic acid
- Skin Type: Oily, combination, blemish-prone
- Size: 1 fl oz
Best Peel: Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel
- Why We Love It: Peels are highly effective at removing dead skin cells, thus keeping the pores unclogged and tightening their appearance. Dr. Dennis Gross’s easy-to-use system, formulated by the renowned dermatologist himself, involves two steps using treatment pads infused with AHAs and BHAs. “AHAs exfoliate the skin’s surface, while BHAs penetrate deeper into pores, removing excess oil , hyperpigmentation, and debris,” Lindsay Holdorf, Dermstore’s resident esthetician explains. “This dual-action exfoliation unclogs pores and refines their appearance, resulting in smoother, clearer skin with minimized pores over time.”
- Key Ingredients: Glycolic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, resveratrol, green tea extract
- Skin Type: All skin types
- Size: 30 treatments
Best Salicylic Acid Serum: La Roche Posay Effaclar Face Serum With Salicylic Acid
- Why We Love It: La Roche-Posay’s lightweight treatment contains a triple-acid complex that reduces the appearance of pores in two weeks. How does it achieve this lightning-fast feat? “Its blend of salicylic acid (BHA) and lipohydroxy acid (LHA) exfoliate the skin and penetrate deeply into pores to remove oil, dead skin cells, and debris,” Holdorf explains. “By unclogging pores and promoting cell turnover, this treatment refines the appearance of pores, resulting in smoother, clearer skin over time.” Allergy-tested and non-comedogenic, the serum is also infused with niacinamide and thermal water to prevent irritation.
- Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, glycolic acid, lipo-hydroxy acid, niacinamide, La Roche Posay thermal water
- Size: 1.0 fl oz
- Skin Type: All
Best for Blackheads: CosRx BHA Blackhead Power Liquid
- Why We Love It: TikTok-famous CosRx, a Korean skincare brand, went viral for its Snail Mucin Essence, which uses its namesake ingredient to deliver that “glass skin” effect. In its Blackhead Power Liquid formulation, the brand takes on pore-minimizing once again, this time calling on betaine salicylate acid, niacinamide, and willow bark water to get the job done. “This minimizes pores due to its high concentration of beta hydroxy acid (BHA), specifically salicylic acid,” Holdorf explains. “BHA penetrates deep into the pores, effectively dissolving excess oil, dead skin cells, and other impurities that can contribute to enlarged pores and blackheads.”
- Key Ingredients: BHA, niacinamide, willow bark water
- Best For: Acne-prone, oily, and combination skin
- Size: 3.38 fl oz
Best Scrub: Blue Lagoon Lava Scrub Mask
- Why We Love It: For a fast-acting fix, Murden turns to this charcoal-infused scrub. “I’m not even a facial scrub proponent (I was scarred, almost literally, from the early aughts St. Ives days), but I gave this one a try on a whim. And, um, I’m so glad I did,” she says. “I have never had a physical exfoliant work so quickly! Utilizing superfine lava, silica, and seawater sourced straight from the Blue Lagoon, this removed all the gunk from my nose pores in a 10 minute treatment. 10/10 would recommend.”
- Key Ingredients: Lava powder, sea water, glycerin, charcoal powder, silica
- Skin Type: All skin types, congested T-zone
- Size: 2.5 oz
Best Exfoliating Pads: YSE Your Favorite Ex Exfoliating Pads
- Why We Love It: YSE’s clean exfoliating pads feature mostly botanic-derived ingredients—all of which are non-comedogenic, making this pick safe for acne-prone complexions: just swipe onto where you notice extra congestion. “These pre-soaked pads combine glycolic acid (AHA), gluconolactone (PHA), and ectoin, offering a layered exfoliation approach that resurfaces skin, improves texture, and reduces pore congestion,” board-certified dermatologist Dr. Noah Gratch tells Vogue. “Glycolic acid removes dead surface cells and supports collagen, gluconolactone provides gentle exfoliation with moisturizing and antioxidant benefits, and ectoin strengthens the skin barrier to minimize irritation.” Dr. Gratch notes that with regular use, this helps to clear pore blockages, and thereby reducing the perceived pore size.
- Key Ingredients: Glycolic acid, grape extract, sodium polyglutamate, gluconalactone, ectoin, lemon peel extract, apple extract
- Skin Type: All skin types
- Size: 45 pads per jar
Best Niacinamide Serum: The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
- Why We Love It: “Niacinamide has so many uses—anyone can benefit from adding it to their daily routine,” board-certified dermatologist Dr. Ashley Magovern previously told Vogue. To wit: the vitamin B3 derivative works powerfully to regulate sebum production and relieve pore congestion. The Ordinary’s oil control serum, formulated with oil-taming zinc and a high concentration of niacinamide, can visibly boost skin’s brightness and smoothness in eight weeks. It’s also a key part of Olivia Rodrigo’s skin-care regime.
- Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, Zinc PCA
- Skin Type: Oily, acne-prone
- Size: 1 oz
Best for Mature Skin: Skin Design London Retexturising Serum
- Why We Love It: The gold standard in anti-aging ingredients, retinol speeds cell turnover to keep the pores unclogged and the skin looking smooth and fresh. Skin Design London added a retinol complex to its Retexturising Serum, which also contains lactic and glycolic acids, niacinamide, and botanical ingredients like olive squalane and arnica extracts for smooth skin. “These ingredients work synergistically to exfoliate the skin, unclog pores, regulate sebum production, and promote cell turnover, resulting in smoother, clearer skin with reduced pore visibility,” says Holdorf. “Additionally, antioxidants help protect the skin and support its overall health for long-term pore refinement.” Skin Design London was founded by London facialist Fatma Shaheen, whose clients include Naomi Campbell and Suki Waterhouse.
- Key Ingredients: Retinol complex, lactic and glycolic acid, botanicals
- Skin Type: All
- Size: 1 fl oz
Best for Dull Skin: Kora Organics Turmeric Glow Drops Niacinamide Alternative Serum
- Why We Love It: Say you’re prone to irritation—or worse, you’re allergic to niacinamide—Kora Organics offers a brightening and pore refining serum that’s safe for sensitive skin types. “[This is powered by] plant-based niacinamide alternatives such as crowberry and birch bark extract to help brighten, even texture, and offer skin barrier support,” board-certified aesthetic injector Natia Rufolo tells Vogue. “Meanwhile, turmeric adds antioxidant-rich radiance and tone refinement. The formula is enhanced with hyaluronic acid and mineral-rich Atlantic sea water, enhancing hydration and helping to reduce pore appearance without irritation.”
- Key Ingredients: Crowberry extract, birch extract, turmeric, hyaluronic acid, Atlantic sea water
- Size: 1.01 fl oz
- Skin Type: Normal to sensitive skin types
Best for At-Home Resurfacing: La Mer The Resurfacing Treatment
- Why We Love It: With its one-two punch of AHAs and BHAs, La Mer’s Resurfacing Treatment stimulates cell turnover for a smoother, glowing complexion with less visible pores. “Antioxidants like Miracle Broth [a proprietary blend of sea kelp, vitamins, and minerals] protect the skin from environmental damage, while hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin help to improve skin texture and reduce pore visibility,” Holdorf says.
- Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, salicylic acid, glycolic acid
- Size: 3.4 oz
- Skin Type: Oily
Best TikTok Viral: Dr. Brandt Skincare Pores No More Pore Refiner Primer
- Why We Love It: For those seeking a seemingly diffused, matte look, Dr. Brandt’s Pores No More is the answer—one quick swatch on the nose makes pores seemingly vanish (with a number of viral TikTok videos showing exactly that). The velvety cream works instantly to minimize the appearance of pores for smoother skin texture thanks to ingredients like silica and salicylic acid that absorb excess oil and clear out clogged pores. Meanwhile, tea tree extract and lavender oil soothe inflammation, while clover flower extract provides antioxidant benefits and neutralizes free radical damage to improve overall skin texture. This works perfectly for no-makeup days, delivering a smoother complexion without a drop of foundation.
- Key Ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane, dimethicone crosspolymer, lavender oil, tea tree leaf oil, clover flower extract, titanium dioxide
- Size: 0.5 fl oz
- Skin Type: All skin types
Best with Mandelic Acid: PCA Skin Pore Refining Treatment
- Why We Love It: Formulated with mandelic acid, the enzyme papain, and rice powder and pumice, PCA Skin’s treatment makes the skin glow by exfoliating it in three different ways: chemical, enzymatic, and physical. When used one to three times a week after cleansing, the treatment absorbs excess oil in the pores for a mattifying effect, giving skin that blurred look Gen Z craves.
- Key Ingredients: Mandelic acid, papain, rice powder and pumice
- Size: 2.1 oz
- Skin Type: Oily
What is a pore minimizer?
First, the basics. “Pore minimizers are products or procedures that can minimize the appearance of pores, and some are more impactful than others,” Dr. Bowe says. Pores take on a stretched-out or enlarged appearance when they’re clogged with oil and debris, and the best pore minimizers can remove this obstacle to smooth, even skin. “Some skincare products can reduce sebum production, controlling the oil that builds up within the pores, while others can help dissolve and remove the debris that’s clogging the pores,” Dr. Bowe notes.
How quickly do these topical solutions work? “While some products can work as quickly as overnight to minimize the appearance of pores, if you want to actually change the structure of your pores, you can consider incorporating [in-office] procedures,” Dr. Bowe says. (More on those specific procedures below.)
What to Look for in a Pore Minimizer
Effective pore minimizers typically contain exfoliating ingredients like AHAs or BHAs, retinoids, niacinamide, and antioxidants to address the underlying causes of enlarged pores and improve skin texture,” says Holdorf. Here’s a closer look at these key ingredients for minimizing the appearance of pores:
- AHAs: Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), such as glycolic and mandelic acids, exfoliate the surface of the skin, removing dead skin cells that clog the pores.
- BHAs: Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid commonly found in pore minimizers. “It’s oil-loving, or lipophilic,” Dr. Bowe explains. “This means it works within the pore to exfoliate and dissolve away the intercellular ‘glue’ clogging the pores, thus reducing the appearance of enlarged pores, and decreasing oil within the pore. For example, La Roche-Posay Effaclar SA Acne Treatment contains salicylic acid to gently exfoliate the skin and decongest the pores. Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant is another option that I’ve used successfully with my patients who are concerned with enlarged pores.”
- Retinol: “Retinoids are the trifecta when it comes to minimizing the appearance of your pores long-term,” Dr. Bowe says. “They reduce sebum production, speed skin cell turnover, and stimulate collagen synthesis to strengthen the scaffold or ‘basket weave’ which creates the structure of the pore. So, they don’t only work to prevent clogging and debris, but they are working long-term to maintain a tight structure beneath the surface of the skin to keep the pores looking minimized .” Since not all skin types can tolerate retinol—including Dr. Bowe’s—she points out an alternative: “Dr. Whitney Bowe Beauty’s Retinal Night is my go-to retinoid because my sensitive skin does not tolerate tretinoin, but retinal is thought to be 10 times more bioavailable than ordinary retinol,” she says.
- Niacinamide: A vitamin B3 derivative, “Niacinamide helps to reduce sebum, which helps to diminish the appearance of enlarged pores,” Dr. Bowe explains.
- Hyaluronic Acid: In topical products, hyaluronic acid keeps the skin hydrated, supports the skin barrier, and helps the skin appear firmer, smoother, and plumper. What’s more, when used in tandem with AHAs and BHAs it can reduce the risk of irritation from the chemical exfoliants.
In general, “Look for non-comedogenic formulas and be patient with results, as consistency is key in any skin-care routine,” Holdorf says.
What actually reduces the size of pores?
While topical products can clear out the pores, in-office procedures can actually alter them. “The pore is like a basket, woven with collagen strands,” Dr. Bowe explains. “As we mature and we have less collagen production, that ‘weave’ becomes less tight and the pore appears larger. However, if we can boost collagen synthesis, we can impact the structure of the pore, which will impact the appearance of pore size in the long term.” According to Dr. Bowe, fraxel resurfacing laser, microneedling, and radiofrequency microneedling procedures can all minimize the appearance of pores by stimulating collagen synthesis. “These are recommended in a series for best results, usually spaced approximately one month apart,” she says. (How many services will depend on a patient’s unique skin-care needs.) In terms of cost, Dr. Bowe says that each treatment can range from a few hundred dollars to around $1,400 per service, depending on the experience level of the practitioner, the geographic location of the office, and the device being used.
How can I shrink my nose pores fast?
Pores around the nose can be the most visible, giving some the itch to find a fast-acting solution. “While you can’t change the structure of your pores overnight, you can use products that can dissolve the debris clogging the pores, thus minimizing their appearance fairly quickly,” Dr. Bowe reiterates. “The most rapidly acting ingredients will be your exfoliating acids such as salicylic acid, but the ingredients that will take longer to work but give you lasting results will be your retinoids.
- Dr. Whitney Bowe, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, founding medical advisor for Dermstore, and founder of Dr. Whitney Bowe Beauty.
- Dr. Noah Gratch, MD, FAAD is a board-certified dermatologist who specializes in treatments for acne, eczema, hyperhidrosis, rosacea, psoriasis, and skin cancer.
- Lindsay Holdorf is the resident esthetician at Dermstore.
- Dr. Ashley Magovern, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist based in Manhattan Beach, California.
- Natia Rufolo, FNP, NP-C is the founder of INJX BY NAT aesthetics. Rufolo is both board-certified aesthetic injector and PDO thread specialist.