Pores Can't Shrink—Sorry—But These 20 Products Still Perform Some Major Wizardry

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(Image credit: @juliesfi)

Pores that are large and in charge aren't most people's cup of tea—myself included. If you're also one of those people, you may be looking for a solution that will help your pores politely sit down. 

Smoother skin is just around the corner, folks. I turned to the pros for advice on the situation. It's important to note that while you can't actually shrink your pores permanently, you can at least find products that minimize them handsomely. Why can't they shrink, you ask? Audrey Kunin, a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of DermaDoctor, states that "while we can't actually change the natural diameter of our pores, we can improve their visibility. Over time, pores become stretched with debris such as dead skin cells, excess oil, makeup, and pollution. Add in the loss of dermal collagen with age, and this allows pores to expand and become more visible."

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(Image credit: @juliesfi)

On the other hand, celebrity esthetician Renée Rouleau believes there's one magical ingredient that can actually help reduce the size of your pores: retinol. "A retinoid peel is a great DIY option [to help] shrink pores if you have access to a prescription retinoid. To do this, simply apply the product with a heavier hand than normal (roughly, a dime-sized amount)," Rouleau says. 

If you're interested in adding a few pore-minimizing products to your skincare routine, both Rouleau and Kunin say you'll want to consider a physical exfoliant like a scrub and a chemical exfoliant with AHAs and BHAs to help remove debris. "This allows pores to snap back to their natural size," says Kunin. "The use of rejuvenating skincare with vitamin C and peptides can also help improve the appearance of pores." That being said, take a peek below and find the best products to help reduce large pores. You'll find everything from exfoliators to toners and cleansers.

Exfoliators That Minimize Visible Pores

Cleansers That Minimize Visible Pores

Toners That Minimize Visible Pores

Serums That Minimize Visible Pores

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Associate Beauty Editor

Shawna Hudson is a beauty, wellness, lifestyle, and travel writer with over 10 years of experience. She graduated from California State University, Fullerton, with a degree in journalism and has written for other publications such as Bustle, The Zoe Report, Byrdie, Elite Daily, and more. She is currently a beauty writer at Who What Wear and hopes to continue feeding her (completely out-of-control) beauty obsession as long as she can. Stay up to date on her latest finds on Instagram @shawnasimonee.