Most Foundations Make Large Pores More Noticeable—These 10 Are the Exception

I love talking about the best foundations. It doesn't matter if it's a flawless, full-coverage formula or a lightweight, natural-looking one. As a beauty editor, it's one of my favorite makeup products to discuss because it's so foundational (pun intended) to a makeup routine. The best ones blend easily, don't crease or smudge, provide long-lasting coverage, and disguise pores rather than accentuate them.

Anyone who has enlarged pores knows that the last part is critical. I, for one, have visible pores in my T-zone, and I get beyond irritated when a new foundation sinks and settles into them. Why even wear foundation in the first place if it's just going to make my problem areas look worse?

To prevent this from happening, I reached out to two professional makeup artists to get the lowdown on the best foundations for large pores. Then I tested them to see how well they held up for me and my skin. At the end of it all, I had a list of formulas that are guaranteed to make large pores look better, not worse.

The Best Foundations for Large Pores, at a Glance

• Best Overall: Gucci Éternité de Beauté 24 Hour Full Coverage Foundation
• Best Affordable: Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Liquid Foundation
• Best for Dry/Mature Skin: Westman Atelier Vital Skin Full Coverage Foundation and Concealer Stick
• Best for Oily Skin: Nars Soft Matte Complete Foundation
• Best Powder Formula: Chanel Ultra Le Teint Foundation

The Best Foundations for Large Pores in 2025

Best Overall: Gucci Éternité de Beauté 24 Hour Full Coverage Foundation

This foundation surprised me. When I pumped it out of the bottle and onto the back of my hand, it was runny. I immediately feared that it would sink and settle into my pores, but I was wrong. After buffing it into my skin with my trusty Beautyblender ($20), I found that it actually—get this!—disguised my pores and made my skin look smooth and seamless. My only tip? Make sure your skin is adequately moisturized before applying it. If it's too dry, it can look a bit powdery.

Best Affordable: Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Liquid Foundation

Best for Dry/Mature Skin: Westman Atelier Vital Skin Full Coverage Foundation and Concealer Stick

Best for Oily Skin: Nars Soft Matte Complete Foundation

Best Powder Formula: Chanel Ultra Le Teint Foundation

Best Matte Finish: Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation

Best Lightweight Formula: Rare Beauty Liquid Touch Weightless Foundation

Best Blurring Formula: Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Liquid Foundation

Best for Mature Skin: Tarte Amazonian Clay 16-Hour Full Coverage Foundation

Best Sweat-Proof Formula: Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Powder Foundation

How to Reduce the Look of Pores

Step 1: Skin Prep

Both makeup artists say skin prep is essential when trying to disguise enlarged pores. "The best way to disguise enlarged pores, in my opinion, is to focus on proper skin prep by cleansing, exfoliating, moisturizing, using a pore-minimizing primer, and considering mattifying products," Seropian says.

Guerra agrees, saying each skin-prep step you do will get you closer to a smooth, seamless base. "Start by thoroughly cleansing the face to remove any dirt, oil, and makeup," Guerra says. "Choose a gentle cleanser based on your skin type. Look for products that are noncomedogenic. Some are made with ingredients specifically formulated for pore refinement." From there, he recommends exfoliating since "regular exfoliation helps to remove dead skin cells, unclogs pores, and improve the overall texture of the skin."

A pore-minimizing toner can help too. "After cleansing and exfoliating, using a toner can also refine your pores," Guerra says. "Toners can help balance the skin's pH, remove any remaining impurities, and tighten the pores. Look for toners with ingredients like witch hazel or tea tree oil, [which are] known for their astringent properties."

Sunscreen is the last step. "Sun damage can worsen the appearance of enlarged pores, so it's crucial to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 or higher," Guerra says. "Sunscreen helps protect the skin from harmful UV rays and prevents premature aging, which can contribute to pore enlargement."

Step 2: Primer

"For clients with large pores, scars, or other indented skin textures, I use primers that create a smoothing effect," Guerra says. "Since primers are designed to create a smooth and even surface for makeup application, they can help fill in fine lines and pores—giving the skin a more refined texture. A pore-minimizing primer can help blur the appearance of pores and create a smoother makeup application."

Guerra says to avoid any primers that provide a sheen to the skin (and definitely avoid any that contain shimmer or sparkle), as these can actually make pores more visible. "I choose primers that contain ingredients like silica, which help mattify and blur texture on the skin," he says. "It helps to absorb excess oil, minimize shine, and create a soft-focus effect that instantly reduces the visibility of pores. It really (temporarily) creates an optical illusion of blurred, pore-less skin!"

You also need to know how to apply primer. "To make pores 'disappear' on the skin, the technique is just as important as the products used," Guerra says. "Using a dense, synthetic-fiber foundation brush, apply the primer in a circular motion—gently buffing the product onto the skin and into the pores."

Step 3: Makeup Applicaton

A common mistake is applying too much foundation in the hopes of concealing pores better. Guerra says this can backfire, so you should use a light touch instead. "Less is more when concealing large pores. Powder foundations can mix with sebum on the skin's surface and lead to oily creasing or separation, which makes the look of large pores much worse. Liquid foundations with too much coverage can also enhance the visibility of larger pores. Cream- or wax-based formulas can get greasy and separate on oily skin throughout the day, which can lead to clogged pores and make them more noticeable."

So instead of gooping it on, try applying foundation in thin layers. You can build coverage from there. Guerra recommends using the same circular, buffing motion for makeup application as for primer application.

How We Chose

First, I asked two celebrity makeup artists for their top recommendations. From there, I personally tested and/or vetted each formula, referencing online reviews for diverse opinions and experiences. I also considered several factors, including coverage, finish, shade range, and size. At Who What Wear, we are aware of how important these factors are for a wide range of needs and preferences, so I made sure to list out all the helpful details. In the end, I had 10 pore-disguising selects.

Why Trust Us

Not only do we go straight to the experts—in this case, celebrity makeup artists—to ask about the products that they use and recommend to their high-profile clients, but we also conduct our own testing. We have years of experience researching, analyzing, and evaluating beauty products, foundation included.

Since 2006, Who What Wear has been a digital fashion, beauty, and lifestyle publication and community where people can discover the latest brands, trends, and must-have products to help define and evolve their personal style. Think of Who What Wear as your most trusted style and shopping resource.