The 19 Best Pore Minimizers for Baby-Smooth Skin

“Pores are openings in the skin that are connected to sebaceous glands (oil producing glands) and hair follicles,” says Dr. Lal. “They play a major role in helping things get in and out of your skin. Depending on how oily your skin is you may have more prominent pores than others.” Depending on your skin type, your pores may appear enlarged. “Pores are larger in people who make more skin oils,” says Dr. Lal. “Men tend to have larger pores than women. The central face including the nose have more prominent pores. Congestion from skin products, pollutants, excess oil all make pores appear bigger.”

“While you can’t completely shrink pores, you can minimize the appearance of your pores,” explains Dr. Sobel. “Over time pores can be reduced in size,” says Dr. Lal.

“The first thing you can do is wash your face regularly,” explains Dr. Lal. “This will help decongest your pores especially if you use a cleanser with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. Using a toner with witch hazel or niacinamide can also help cleanse your pores.” For long-term solutions, a retinol can also help. “The best long term way to reduce pore size is by using a topical retinoid. Retinoids shrink your sebaceous glands and thereby reduce your pore size.

It’s also important to consistently remove any makeup. “Removing makeup at the end of the day before washing your face is essential at preventing your pores from being clogged with oils and dirt,” says Dr. Lal. “Gentle exfoliation will help remove excess oil from your pores as well. You must be consistent with your skincare.”