Anywhere you have oil glands on your skin, you’ll find pores, tiny openings around hair follicles and sweat glands that help gasses and liquids move through the surface of your skin. We all have them, but some find that their pores are more pronounced on areas of the face like the chin and nose. When they’re clogged, that means dead skin cells, oil, or dirt gets trapped, and can sometimes lead to acne flare-ups. Keep reading to learn more about minimizing pores, clearing up your skin, and putting your best face forward.

Tips to Minimize Pores

You might not be able to shrink your pores, but you can definitely keep them from becoming clogged by implementing a solid cleansing routine. Here are a few tips to try.

Wash your face with a gentle cleanser daily, and don’t skip removing your makeup before bed.
A few times a week, take a few extra minutes to exfoliate. We like this simple DIY facial scrub that clears your pores of dirt and sweat, and can help them appear smaller.
After cleansing or exfoliating, it’s time to tone. This step tightens your skin and keeps your freshly cleaned pores small.
Another way to encourage deep cleaning is to take a hot shower and allow the steam to open and clear your pores.

Top Pores Brands

Pore perfection starts with our best skin care brands.

Thayers

Thayers’ toners and sprays aren’t distilled, and contain added tannins—naturally occurring substances found in the bark and skin of some plants—to balance your skin.

Alcohol-Free Witch Hazel Toner

Made with proprietary witch hazel extract and aloe vera, this member-loved toner is gentle on sensitive and combination skin. Brandy from Missouri uses it morning and night and reports that the formula “doesn’t dry out my skin and is very refreshing.”

Hero Cosmetics

Hero Cosmetics makes gentler alternatives to conventional acne treatments that clear congestion without the use of parabens, alcohol, or sulfates.

Mighty Patch

For pimple emergencies, Mighty Patch has you covered. The fluid-absorbing gel pad gently pulls gunk from your pores overnight so you can wake up with clearer skin.

Acure

ACURE infuses its creams, oils, shampoos, and cleansers with good-for-you ingredients like vitamins and minerals while keeping sulfates, phthalates, and harsh chemicals out.

Acne Spot Treatment

With maximum strength 2% salicylic acid, this treatment fights zits at the source and helps lighten the appearance of scarring. Kristy from Florida says “if you catch a zit right before it forms and apply daily, you can stop it from becoming fully visible.”

Skin Care Tips from Thrive Market

Head to the blog for skin care tips that’ll tackle pores and help you achieve that sought-after glow.

10 Ingredients to Clear Acne

Heal your skin from the inside out with these 10 supportive ingredients. From healthy fats to probiotics, plan your meals around these nourishing foods and reap the benefits.

The Benefits of Gua Sha

Give your skin some love with gua sha, a type of facial massage that’s been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine to increase circulation. It only takes a few minutes, and can easily slide into your weekly wellness routine.

The Ultimate Skin Care Ingredient Glossary

Read up on all the helpful ingredients you’ll find in our clean skin care products. We go over everything from AHAs to rosehip oil, and everything in between.