How To Minimize Pores: 10 Gentle, Natural Tips For Clear Complexions

Thankfully—or not depending on how you view the world—there are plenty of products that promise to clear your pores, shrink them, and make them less obvious on your face. But how many of them actually do the work, and are there any items you should be avoiding? Here, we dug into what skin care pros actually want you to do in order to take care of your skin and pores.

And some people might even notice them enlarge as they age. Unfortunately, this means you might be more prone to clogged pores too. As if that's not enough, environmental factors like weather and humidity, as well as lifestyle choices like diet can also affect how your pores look over time.

Before you resign yourself to a life with a less than ideal complexion, know that there are safe and natural ways to minimize your pores naturally. Just remember to not get carried away with treatments; Avoid mixing too many active ingredients or abrasive treatments that could aggravate your skin and create a new crop of problems, like a weakened skin barrier: 

Victoria Stiles, a celebrity makeup artist and creative director at ShikSona Beauty recommends "choosing a gel or water-based cleanser instead of a product that contains alcohol, [because it] is gentler on the skin and won't strip the skin of its natural oils." Keep in mind that if the skin is left too dry, it'll trigger more oil production—the opposite of what you want when trying to minimize pores. 

She notes that many safe chemical exfoliants are effective at removing dead skin: "Most OTC products use alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) or beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs—salicylic acid)," she notes about pore-minimizing topicals. These work to break down dead skin cells (as is the case with AHAs) or oils (BHAs) in order to clear out your pores. As is true with any amount of exfoliation, the key is finding your balance. Many derms recommend around one to three times a week, but you can adjust that frequency as needed.

Note that retinol can increase the skin's photosensitivity, and some people don't react well to it. Consider incorporating bakuchiol, which has been shown to offer similar efficacy as retinol and is usually well tolerated even by people with sensitive skin. 

The moral of the story? Don't skip the SPF step. Whether you use it as a stand-alone product or as an SPF-infused moisturizer or foundation, never leave home without it. 

Long story short, you're not a trained aesthetician who knows exactly which extraction tools to use and the proper techniques to avoid damaging your skin. At best, these tools won't be effective. But in extreme cases, you can end up scratching your skin or causing scars and wounds. 

Specifically, he recommends masks that contain "kaolin and bentonite earth clays to absorb excess oil." This is because the clay works to draw toxins out of your pores, which gently cleans them. 

Dry skin can make any complexion woes you have look significantly worse. Celebrity makeup artist Victoria Stiles always tells her clients to "moisturize both morning and night. Though your skin may be oily, keeping it hydrated will, in turn, aid in excess oil secretion to prevent pores from becoming clogged, reducing their appearance." 

Toners have come a long way from the harsh stinging alcohol-rich options that dominated shelves in the '80s and '90s. A good "toner is used to astringe the skin and therefore minimize the appearance of pore size," notes Marius Morariu the co-founder of skin care brand Tracie Martyn. Check out our favorite toners here, if you're in the market.

Probably one of the best tips to minimize the appearance of pores is to not go overboard with a pore-specific skin care routine. Celebrity dermatologist Tina Alster, M.D., FAAD, and the creator and co-founder of The A Method, notes that "scrubbing, excessive exfoliation, or overuse of alcohol or acid-containing toners is not recommended…" Not only do they irritate the skin but can encourage oil production, which "will stretch the pores and lead to their enlarged appearance." 

While they might give you the feeling that you're getting all that gunk out of the pores on your nose, pore strips are considered a big no-no by dermatologists. Hadley King, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist, reminds people that "the adhesive can traumatize skin." What's more, often the strips remove the top layer of dead skin but don't serve as a preventive treatment. 

If you're concerned about large pores or feel that at-home treatments aren't working, consider speaking with a licensed dermatologist to determine whether an in-office approach might be better.