The 14 Best Pore Minimizers That Are Like IRL Filters for Your Skin

By combining alpha lipoic acid to exfoliate the skin and normalize oil production, salicylic acid to scrounge up dead skin cells and dirt, and a proprietary mineral complex to tighten the complexion, Perricone MD's pore-minimizer formula kills two birds with one stone by reducing the visible appearance of enlarged pores while keeping them clean, earning it our best overall distinction.

This pore minimizer also utilizes a copper complex to improve skin hydration, firmness, and elasticity, which is always appreciated during the harsh winter season. It's no wonder this pore minimizer earned more than 900 positive Amazon reviews alone.

“Where did my large pores go? This is a miracle. Love, love forever,” says one 5-star Amazon review. They continue, “[The] shocking change within seconds of putting it on and gives me so much more confidence.”

More: Why Your Skin Needs Niacinamide ASAP

Sometimes, you have to fake it till you make it. When the going gets tough with your pores, use a primer to try and minimize the look of them in a hurry.

This Tatcha primer is a crowd favorite for its ability to blur, prime, and protect skin from enlarged pores and breakouts, even if your makeup is on the heavier side.

“This product is lightweight and goes on feather-smooth to hide any darkness or imperfections on your skin,” says one 5-star Amazon review. “This product provides a smooth canvas for my foundation, and it keeps the foundation from settling into my pores,” adds another Amazon reviewer.

Plus, it’s noncomedogenic and nonirritating, so oily and sensitive skin types can use this pore-minimizing primer, too.

Arguably Paula's Choice most legendary skincare product, Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant is a must-have pore minimizer. Not only does it utilize 2% salicylic acid to dramatically improve your pore size, greasy skin, and acne, but there's soothing and antioxidant-rich green tea extract to calm the redness.

One 40-something Amazon reviewer used this pore minimizer for six weeks and experienced some purging the first two weeks, but promises it's totally worth it because their pores are finally clear and look tiny.

To quote their 5-star review, “I can see a huge difference in my skin, especially in the pore size on my cheeks and nose. I’ve always had large pores and a few acne scars here and there since I was a teenager, and it’s made me self-conscious my whole adult life, but for the first time EVER, I look at my skin, and all I see is smooth, healthy skin.”

“Retinols are the end all, be all when it comes to pore minimizers,” says Rabach — which is why you should grab this moisturizer from Neutrogena ASAP.

It contains retinol to shrink the look of pores, plus it targets fine lines and wrinkles for a smoother appearance. But its magic doesn't stop there — it also contains hyaluronic acid, which works to plump the skin and give it a dewier, more radiant glow.

One Amazon reviewer even went as far as to call this a miracle worker after using it once daily for 6 days. “The results are remarkable. I have large pores that are almost completely unnoticeable, and my skin is smoother and evened out,” says their 5-star review.

Caring for sensitive skin care be tricky — you want to avoid irritation but still need something to minimize those pores. Enter CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser. Free of harsh microbeads, this foaming acne face wash harnesses the chemical exfoliant power of salicylic acid to remove makeup, dirt, and oil.

Several online reviewers say this sensitive skin-friendly pore minimizer is so effective they no longer need pore strips to achieve a clean and pore-free look.

Says one 5-star Amazon review, “I’ve been using this product twice a day for over a week. It’s made a huge difference in my skin and pores. I’m very happy, there is no smell, and [it] foams nicely.”

Kate Somerville is one of LA’s most-loved celeb estheticians, and her pore minimizer is worth incorporating into your skincare routine. This gentle exfoliating face wash combines glycolic acid, lactic acid, and three fruit enzymes to gently slough away dead skin cells, rebalance oily skin, and shrink the looks of pores.

One Amazon has used this 2-in-1 cleanser with her face-cleansing brush for 2 years and believes her skin has never looked better. “I wash my face for two minutes every day with this. Some of my large pores have gone away and the rest are much smaller. I can’t imagine being without this cleanser by Kate,” says their 5-star review.

Bonus: Since ExfoliKate Cleanser combines the best of a face wash and face scrub, it also helps save precious space in your cosmetics bag when you travel.

To really give your pores an extra retinol fix, Rabach suggests whipping out this night cream. It’s formulated with pure RoC retinol and an essential mineral complex to give your skin an overall more youthful appearance (and yes, that includes shrunken pores).

One 28-year-old Amazon reviewer with sensitive skin says this pore minimizer has made a dramatic improvement to her pore size within a month. “My pores are practically invisible on the sides of my nose. Yay!!! The deep lines on my forehead are improving,” says her 5-star review.

Plus, this oil-free formula instantly reduces the look of fine lines and wrinkles without causing sensitivity, so it’s a good place for beginner retinol users to start.

“Chemical peels are also magical for pores,” says Rabach. And while we’d all love to take a trip to the dermatologist’s office to get a professional chemical peel, that can get pretty costly and time-consuming. So, opt for this at-home pore minimizer instead.

It's gentle enough for daily use, yet gives your skin the ultimate exfoliation treatment through its blend of AHAs and BHAs for more refined and refreshed pores. It'll add a radiant glow to your complexion.

To quote one 5-star Sephora review, "I really liked how these pads were so easy to use, so quick and refreshing, take all the extra dirties off, and I noticed [they] minimized my pores and made my skin smoother, too, in the process."

For keeping your pores on the smaller side, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Morgan Rabach, M.D. says you need to wash your face at least twice a day and exfoliate at least once a week.

If you want an exfoliation boost from your next cleanse, she recommends using this powerful exfoliating cleanser and pore minimizer because it contains AHAs and BHAs to help “unclog pores and rebuild collagen and elastin.”

Amazon reviewers are also obsessed with this high-end exfoliating face wash. “I used to have problems with clogged and enlarged pores. They are almost non-existent after 6 weeks of use 4X/week. My skin is also much more smooth and consistent in tone,” says one 50-something reviewer.

With weekly use of this Origins mask, pores go from clogged to sparkling clean in no time! A mix of charcoal and white China clay work together to pull out dirt and toxins so that pores appear tightened and less visible. As a bonus, it's great for spot-treating breakouts, too.

“Within a week, I had no more visible blackheads and my pores looked shrunken in size,” says one Ulta reviewer. They add if you really want to supercharge your pore-minimizing results, use pore strips after removing the mask with warm water and a washcloth.

Is your skin too sensitive for retinol products? Then you might want to sub your retinol treatment for its all-natural and milder skincare cousin, bakuchiol.

This serum is a great place to start since it’s crafted with a botanical blend of bakuchiol, gentle chemical exfoliants, blueberry stem cells, and more to give your skin a pore-minimizing effect without any harsh consequences.

“Zero irritation to my sensitive skin, a little goes a long way. Been using [it] twice a day for a month and see a significant difference in my fine lines, skin redness, hyperpigmentation, skin moisture. I will be rebuying, and worth the price for what you get IMO,” says one 5-star Amazon review.

In case you’re looking for an under-$10 pore minimizer, this cleanser is your best bet. It goes deep into pores to cleanse and remove buildup, all while hydrating your skin with its creamy formula.

Your skin will feel cleansed and refreshed without being tight or over-stripped. It’s also a great pick for anyone with sensitive or dry skin types. “This face cleaner works very well on my sensitive skin. I like that all I need is one pump, and I have enough cleanser to clean my face,” says one Amazon reviewer on their second bottle of face wash.

Looking to give your pores an added exfoliating boost? Swap your usual serums for this salicylic acid-infused one.

The star of this skincare savior is clearly the exfoliating properties of salicylic acid, but it also contains grape seed polyphenols to protect and prevent skin from pesky blackheads. It even boasts soothing niacinamide and antibacterial essential oils such as rosemary and lemongrass to reduce the risk of future breakouts.

“I have found since using this product [that] it’s like doing preventative care, and my skin very rarely breaks out in the same way now and my pores are visibly smaller,” says one 5-star Sephora review.

This face mask is compatible with all skin types, but if you appreciate when products feel refreshingly cool on your face, you’ll want to add this to your routine, stat. It has a soothing, spa-like effect on your tired, congested complexion, too. “My skin felt really soft after and I feel like my pores were clearer,” says one 5-star review.

Use a skincare brush or your fingers to apply this fun, bright blue pore minimizer, and let its pore-refining ingredients work their magic. Expert-recommended lactic and salicylic acids are combined with oil-absorbing clay to help purify congested pores.

Plus, this mask boasts four impressive botanical extracts — green tea, algae, Irish moss, and eucalyptus — that will shrink the look of your pores. There’s also alpine willowherb and snow lotus, two mattifying botanicals that are chock full of antioxidants.