Ask the Expert: Can You Get Rid of Pores?

If you’ve ever happened upon a magnifying mirror and taken the opportunity to peer into it, you know that getting up close and personal with your skin can be a bit intimidating. Namely because of pores. You may be able to pretend they don’t exist from far away, but a magnifying mirror quickly takes that ability away. Suddenly, you’re aware of tiny spots all over your skin. And with that realization comes the age-old question: Can you get rid of pores? We turned to dermatologist, and Skincare.com consultant, Dr. Dhaval Bhanusali to let us in on the truth about pores.  

What Are Pores?

Before diving into the big questions, you should know what pores really are. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), pores are the tiny holes you see in your skin and are what hair grows out of. Part of their job includes secreting the natural oil that keeps your skin soft and smooth, otherwise known as sebum.

We all have pores, even your best friend with skin that looks near flawless. Just because you can’t see their pores doesn’t mean they don’t exist; some people’s pores are simply more visible than others.

Can You Get Rid of Pores?

The short answer to the question everyone’s asking is no, you can’t get rid of your pores. Everyone has them and they exist for a reason. Despite the fact that your pores are here to stay, it doesn’t mean they’ll always appear exactly as they do now. You can help to reduce their appearance using pore-minimizing products. “Pore minimizers can temporarily tighten the appearance of pores,” Dr. Bhanusali says. “Retinoids can also lead to tighter-looking pores and better skin texture and tone.”

According to Dr. Bhanusali, in addition to minimizing the appearance of your pores, you can also take measures to prevent enlarged-looking pores in the first place. Over time, pores tend to stretch out due to accumulation of oil and impurities. To avoid this occurrence altogether, Dr. Bhanusali recommends regular exfoliation.

Our Best Pore Minimizing Products

Don’t let your lack of ability to get rid of your pores (they really are important) get you down—try one of our favorite pore minimizers from the L’Oreal portfolio of brands instead.

L’Oréal Paris Pure-Sugar Purify & Unclog Face Scrub: You saw what Dr. Bhanusali said about exfoliation. Not only is regular exfoliation with a face scrub essential for preventing pores from getting bigger, but the right one can even help already enlarged pores appear tighter. The L’Oréal Paris Pure-Sugar Purify & Unclog Face Scrub can be used 3x a week to exfoliate, immediately polishing away dull skin. With continued use, over time pores will look tighter, unclogged, and less visible. 

Garnier SkinActive Super Purifying Charcoal Face Mask: If you’re searching for a way to combat stress and large, clogged pores at the same time, we’ve found it. Your ticket to a relaxing, stress-free night is popping on a sheet mask and kicking up your feet. As for tackling your pores too, opt for the Garnier SkinActive Super Purifying Charcoal Face Mask, which is formulated with charcoal and algae extract and can draw out pore-clogging impurities in 15 minutes. Make masking part of your routine 3x a week and pores will start to look tightened and less visible, along with skin appearing healthier and less shiny.

Kiehl’s Precision Lifting & Pore-Tightening Concentrate: Sometimes the name of a product says it all. The Kiehl’s Precision Lifting & Pore-Tightening Concentrate certainly lives up to its name, by visibly lifting the skin and helping to re-define the appearance of facial contours, while noticeably tightening the appearance of enlarged pores.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Mat: Chances are your current moisturizer isn’t doing anything to minimize your pores, which means there’s an easy swap to make in your skin care routine. Switch out your regular old moisturizer for one that addresses a major complexion concern, like the La Roche-Posay Effaclar Mat. The anti-shine, anti-enlarged pores product is a daily moisturizer meant for oily skin. Smooth it on under makeup, or wear it alone to give skin a flattering matte finish.