The 8 Best Pore Minimizers For Silky-Smooth Skin, Backed By Experts

I am such a Paula’s Choice stan, but their toner is by far their most beloved formula (it’s their No. 1 product worldwide!). The hero ingredient is salicylic acid, which breaks through oil buildup to unclog pores and help balance the skin's sebum levels, but it also includes anti-inflammatory green tea to soothe and balance skin tone. It’s a leave-on treatment, meaning you apply post-cleanser with your fingers or a reusable cotton pad, and it dries so quickly, you’ll barely even notice it’s there—well, until you wake up with a fresh, clarified glow.  

What customers say: 

Multiple users use the words “holy grail” and “magic in a bottle” to describe this Paula’s Choice formula. Just take this rave review: “It really is like magic. I've been using this every evening for just over a week...my skin looks so much younger already…helped my pores so much, skin tone is a lot better.” mbg’s deputy commerce editor, Braelyn Wood, even swears it’s the secret to her smooth, blemish-free skin: “I feel like my skin absorbs other products better, likely due to the reduction in excess oil. My tinted moisturizer also glides on easier, and I don't have to powder away the appearance of my pores,” she notes.

To minimize pores, you want a cleanser that effectively removes excess dirt and grime without stripping the skin dry—otherwise, your pores will produce even more oily to compensate, which can result in a larger appearance. Choose an alcohol-free gel cleanser that won’t strip the skin of precious moisture, like this purifying formula from Three Ships Beauty. It’s formulated with 26% pure aloe vera extract, so you know it’s ultra-nourishing. 

What customers say: 

Despite its purifying properties, this gel-cleanser remains gentle on the skin, and users agree. “My skin is extremely dry, and this cleanser did not dry my skin out at all. It left it soft and hydrated. I am hooked!” one shopper notes, and another specifically notes a reduction in clogged pores. “This is a gentle cleanser that doesn't strip. I also noticed a reduction in sebaceous filaments!” they write. 

Don’t let the term “oil-free” confuse you: This pore-blurring primer is ultra-hydrating, even without the help of occlusive oils. It features a base of aloe vera, so it makes your skin feel bouncy and juicy, along with prickly pear extract and blue spirulina to comfort and soothe your complexion. Finally, there’s niacinamide to simultaneously balance oil production. It’s so mattifying, in fact, that it even doubles as a setting powder: Simply layer it on top of makeup to nix excess shine without drying out your skin.

What customers say: 

Reviewers love the weightless texture and how it seamlessly blends with their makeup. “Feels great under the foundation, no creasing. Feels great on my sensitive skin,” one customer writes, and another comments on the hydrating and lightweight jelly texture. Prepare for a “sheer-like glow,” another user mentions. 

I cannot say enough good things about this foundation (the your skin is glowing! compliments alone make me want to snag another bottle). With niacinamide, peptides, and vitamin B5, this foundation balances oil and minimizes texture while you wear it. It has a skin-like finish—not dewy, not matte, but the perfect natural payoff that truly smoothes over pores and fuses to your complexion. 

What customers say: 

I’m certainly not alone in my Kosas obsession. After all, customers practically begged for this product after so many used their cult-favorite Revealer Concealer as their base. And the foundation version does not disappoint: “This is the most beautiful, dewy, skin-like foundation I have ever used,” one reviewer writes. “I have dry, sensitive skin and I don't think I will ever go back to a different foundation for everyday wear. Not only is this beautiful [but] it is one of the most consistent products I've used—even if you don't prep your skin perfectly (although it helps if you do), this foundation will still look so beautiful and effortless.” 

In addition to clearing pores, lactic acid has been shown to help thicken and tighten the skin, making it a wonderful ingredient for a smoother skin texture. In this cult-favorite serum, you’ll also find licorice and lemongrass extracts to brighten tone and fade hyperpigmentation, plus prickly pear extract to soothe any inflammation. And the brand has the clinical results to back up their claims: 100% of women said their skin looked and felt significantly smoother and more radiant after application. 

What customers say: 

Over 5,000 reviewers sing the praises of this beloved Sunday Riley Serum—and the majority agree that the hype is very much real. “I got a sample of this months ago and at first, I was very skeptical about the product,” one reviewer writes. “I thought it was over-hyped and too pricey for what it was, but when I finally tried it, I was in awe. I have combo skin with very large, clogged pores. This instantly plumped my skin and gave it a beautiful radiance. I use it at night so that when I wake up in the morning, my pores look clean and visibly smaller because they aren't as clogged.” How’s that for a glowing review? 

There’s a reason this formula went viral on TikTok: Like its name suggests, it works pretty much instantly. You can even see the mask at work as it sucks up all the gunk from your pores (a slightly gross but satisfying image), and it promises tighter pores in as little as 10 minutes. We can thank kaolin and bentonite clays for their oil-absorbing properties, as well as grape seed polyphenols and caffeine to encourage a brighter glow. 

What customers say: 

This rave review says it all, so I’ll just leave it here: “The results after washing this clay mask off was certainly shocking. First of all, the fragrance is minimal, expected of a face mask, and the texture is smooth and thick, which makes for an easy spread. After 10 to 15 minutes when it dries, it turns from an orange shade to a milky sage color and becomes hard to the touch. It's easy to take off, and when the face is pat dry, the smoothness of the skin and lack of noticeable porous texture is pretty stunning. Now, this isn't going to take away texture, but what I found was that on my cheeks where the pore is quite visible, had looked to be cleaned and therefore not as noticeable.”

Toners come in many different forms. Some are meant to balance pH, others add another layer of hydration, and some are designed to further purify the skin post-cleanse. If you want to tighten pores, look for the latter. This Glow Recipe toner purifies and hydrates (a double whammy!), with a blend of willow bark and a naturally derived PHA (or polyhydroxy acid) to gently exfoliate and cactus water, watermelon extract, and hyaluronic acid to infuse the skin with moisture.

What customers say: 

While some reviewers are not a fan of the scent (if you don’t like watermelon, this is not the product for you), countless customers appreciate the toner’s glow-inducing properties. “I just purchased my third bottle of this,” one shopper says. “It really does a great job of moisturizing but very gently exfoliating and keeping your pores clear. It does help add a glow to your skin.” 

Since pores do tend to get larger as you age, you might want to find a treatment targeted for breakout-prone and aging skin, like this acid-infused serum from celebrity esthetician Renée Rouleau. With lactic acid, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, niacinamide, and allantoin, the formula smooths skin texture, softens fine lines, clears clogged pores, lifts hyperpigmentation, and soothes the skin barrier in one fell swoop. 

What customers say: 

Rouleau is known for her potent, high-quality formulas that work almost instantly, and this perfecting serum certainly fits the bill. Comb through the pages of reviews, and you’ll be sure to find numerous love notes, like this blurb: “This changed my skin for the better. I can definitely say this has helped my skin more than anything. My pores are cleared up and my texture is almost not existent. I definitely make sure I always have a backup of this.”