No Product Can Totally Erase Your Pores, But These 17 Primers Come Super Close

I can vouch for this pore-minimising primer infused with plumping hyaluronic acid, calming green tea extract, and skin-protecting vitamin E. With all those skin-loving ingredients, you might think its ability to provide staying power and pore minimisation is limited. Not true! The gel formula helps absorb shine and smooth the pores without making skin feel tight or going too matte. 

If you want a product that can function as a primer, balm-to-powder setting powder over makeup, or a means to blot away excess oil throughout the day, this silica-infused option—from a brand that celebrities like Sofia Richie Grainge love—is for you. Reviewers have mentioned using the stick over makeup can remove some of the pigment, but for me, taking a small brush to the stick and then gently dabbing in places where oil is peeking through helps keep my complexion products in place while the formula absorbs oil. 

Formulated to minimise the appearance of pores and lines, this mattifying primer is ideal for use under makeup or on top post-application for a long-lasting, skin-blurring effect that also keeps shine at bay. Give the formula a few seconds to dry down before applying makeup. And for those with deeper skin tones, the beige colour of the formula might be off-putting, but the primer works well with all skin tones. 

This noncomedogenic 24-hour foundation primer provides a blurring and mattifying finish that reduces the appearance of pores and blemishes and helps smooth the skin's texture on days when you're wearing foundation or going makeup-free. 

This primer is aptly named considering it grips makeup to the skin while hydrating it with hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, blue agave extract and aloe water.

We can't talk pore-minimising primers without this Hourglass talc- and oil-free fan favorite. Formulated with micro-spherical powders that give the skin a soft blur, this primer smoothes imperfections, minimises the look of pores and fine lines, and absorbs excess oil, providing a canvas for makeup that will last well beyond its application. 

This water-based formula is enriched with a matte powder complex that hydrates for up to eight hours, absorbing excess sebum and creating a pore-smoothing base ready for long-wear, matte makeup application. This is also a great pore-minimising primer for mature skin as it hydrates while also blurring fine lines, too.

While you may have heard of e.l.f.'s original Putty Primer, this fluid version is my top pick for an affordable pore-minimising primer. Alongside being easy to apply thanks to the tube applicator, it also applies smoothly and seamlessly, blurring and mattifying the skin as it covers. For just £10, you won't find anything better.

Starring hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, this skin-loving primer can be worn under makeup and for no-makeup days. It visibly blurs and minimises pores while keeping the skin hydrated. Plus, a little goes a long way! Only a pea-sized amount is needed to get all the pore-minimising, makeup-gripping benefits.

For acne-prone skin, salicylic acid can be a great help for keeping breakouts at bay. In this case, YSL has crafted a gel formula infused with salicylic acid and limonette extract that reduces shine and minimises the look of pores, all without depleting the skin of moisture. You can use this as a mattifying base to control shine.

Made with 90% natural ingredients, this noncomedogenic, silicone-free cream primer is made with pore-minimising niacinamide, bakuchiol to smooth skin texture and even skin tone, and lentil extract to help reduce shine, all packaged in a recyclable tube.

This noncomedogenic, dermatologist-tested makeup-perfecting primer infused with silk extracts can be used for the face, eyes, and lips and is an excellent choice for anyone with mature skin who wants the staying power of a primer with pore-minimisation and the smoothing of fine lines.

Dermatologist- and allergy-tested, this water-balm formula is infused with hyaluronic acid and niacinamide to soak up extra oils without drying the skin. This will allow makeup to look blurred and last longer, preventing any flaking or unwanted dry patches.

If you're someone who doesn't like the feel of heavy makeup on their skin, Iconic London's Velvet Smooth Primer is for you. With a mousse-like texture, it melts into the skin, providing lightweight coverage with a blurring effect.

You either love mineral sunscreens or you don't. Many say they offer a finish sans a white cast, but they miss the mark. If you do enjoy a mineral option, this one from Supergoop! works well as a primer, boasts SPF 40 to protect the skin, and gives skin a mattifying, poreless finish. Reviewers note the formula can pill, so let it dry down on the skin before applying complexion products. Taking that extra time can often prevent pilling. I say this from experience!

Remember earlier when we told you there were some great silicone-free primers on this list? Well, Huda's Easy Blur Primer is one of the best. With an ultra-hydrating gel-like texture, it melts into the skin, smoothing and blurring pores while also controlling excess oil. Used in conjunction with the matching Easy Blur Foundation, it's the perfect duo for an air-brushed look.