Pores? We Don't Know Her! Our Top Primer Picks for a Smooth, Airbrushed Look (2024)

TL;DR

Our Top Picks

Key Ingredients: Dimethicone, vitamin E derivative tocopheryl acetate | Size: 1.5 oz. | Cruelty Free: Yes

As far as pore-minimizing primers go, this one from Benefit is a classic. It’s a tried-and-true beauty staple that mattifies skin on contact and acts like a real-life beauty filter. The formula contains dimethicone, a silicone-based polymer used to lubricate and condition skin, as well as a vitamin E derivative to help foundation go on smoother and last way longer. Plus, it’s translucent and beautifully complements all skin tones without flashback or white casts.

The only caveat: The brand doesn't test or claim that their products are non-comedogenic. If you’re prone to breakouts or irritation, you’ll have to check out the ingredient list yourself or tap your dermatologist to find out if it’s suitable for your skin.

Key Ingredients: Dimethicone, bitter cherry extract | Size: 0.67 oz.

The Maybelline New York Baby Skin Pore-Minimizing Primer proves that a great primer doesn’t need to cost a lot. Loaded with super-smoothing ingredients like dimethicone and bitter cherry extract, this primer offers pore-less, baby-soft skin with a natural skin finish. We love that it comes in a clear shade—so it’s ideal for all skin tones—and works to elongate the life of the makeup you put on top of it without messing up your color match.

Something to keep in mind: Some say it can feel slippery, especially on oily skin. If your skin is on the shinier side, skip this one and opt for something more mattifying, or keep a blotting paper on hand for touch-ups throughout the day.

Key Ingredients: Dimethicone, silicones, squalane, rice bran wax | Size: 0.74 oz. | Cruelty Free: Yes

To mitigate the look of pores and balance out your overall complexion, look to the popular skin-perfecting primer from e.l.f.. The velvety soft primer is infused with squalane (in addition to smoothing dimethicone, silicones, and rice bran wax) to grip makeup in place for flawless all-day wear. It comes in one translucent shade that works well on all skin types and tones.

The putty comes in a palm-sized pot that requires you to dip your fingers directly into the formula. The packaging isn’t ideal (there’s an opportunity for cross-contamination and bacteria from grubby fingers) but as long as you use clean hands or rely on the brand’s Putty Primer Applicator tool, you should be fine.

Key Ingredients: Titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, dimethicone, glycerin, wild butterfly ginger, bamboo extract | Size: 1.5 oz. | Cruelty Free: Yes

If you have prominent pores and acne-prone skin, you’ll love this sunscreen-slash-primer from Supergoop. It provides SPF 40 sun protection (sans white cast or shine) and helps makeup glide on smoothly by blurring texture and pores. The best part about this formula is that you can wear it on its own without makeup or as the final step in your skincare routine before layering on concealer or foundation. Either way, you’ll love how the product refines the look of uneven skin tone and texture, all while preventing sun damage.

Key Ingredients: Dimethicone, hyaluronic acid, green tea extract, vitamin E | Size: 0.94 oz. | Cruelty Free: Yes

Loaded with skin-soothing ingredients like hyaluronic acid and green tea extract, this primer from Selena Gomez’s Rare Beauty is great for those with large pores and blemishes. It’s hydrating and cushiony smooth upon application and works to blur the look of pores, fine lines, and more, while also helping to extend makeup wear and eliminate shine throughout the day. The primer works great by itself on clean skin or under makeup, but no matter how you use it, you’ll love how it blurs skin texture quickly, leaving it with a soft-focus (and almost airbrushed) effect. It’s ideal for everyday makeup and lighter looks, however it might not offer the grip needed for a full glam moment or all-day wear.

Key Ingredients: Dimethicone, buchu leaf extract | Size: 1 oz. | Cruelty Free: Yes | Cruelty Free: Yes

This primer from Bare Minerals is kind of magical—it starts off liquidy but dries down to a luxurious matte finish that hides the look of pores in an instant. It has a gel-like consistency and actually works like a filter to hide imperfections and prep the skin for a flawless foundation and concealer application. The formula contains dimethicone, like most of the other products on this list, and buchu leaf extract, which minimizes the appearance of pores and absorbs sebum. The only caveat is that it can feel oily on the skin after a couple of hours.

Key Ingredients: Dimethicone, ginseng | Size: 1 oz. | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty Free: Yes

If you find yourself reaching for blotting papers or powder after a few hours, chances are your pores produce excess oil. Though there’s not much you can do to change your skin type, there are a few products that can help you manage. This mattifying primer from Makeup For Ever is one of them. It’s been around for years and has graced the makeup bags of pro makeup artists and beauty-lovers alike because of how effectively it blurs shine and fills texture without pilling. If we could change anything about this primer, it would be to extend the shade range past one peachy-toned color. Once blended in, it works well for a wide range of skin tones, but we’d love to see more variety.

Key Ingredients: Dimethicone, vitamins E and C, green bean extract, mineral pigments | Size: 1 oz. | Cruelty Free: Yes

This primer does more than just prime—it blurs, fills, smoothes, and grips makeup for all-day wear while also containing good-for-skin ingredients. With one tiny dollop of product, you can expect the primer to double down on pores and texture, giving skin a focus so soft, it’s reminiscent of an Instagram filter. Plus, it’s loaded with skincare ingredients like antioxidant-rich vitamins E and C, pore-minimizing green bean extract, and mineral pigments to soothe and soften skin while you wear it. The only thing we don’t love about the ingredient list is that it contains hydrogenated vegetable oil, which is known to be moderately comedogenic (meaning it might clog your pores).

Key Ingredients: Dimethicone, vitamins A and E, safflower, grape and kola seed extracts | Size: 1 oz. | Cruelty Free: Yes

If you’re going to spend money on a pore-minimizing primer, you’re going to want it to last. This primer from Smashbox is widely known for its ability to lock in makeup for hours. You’ll notice a reduction in the appearance of fine lines and pores upon application, resulting in a flawless (yet natural) finish. Best of all, the formula contains antioxidants to help protect your skin from pollutants, damage, and stress. It’s available in two decently generous sizes (1.0 oz. and 1.7 oz.) that ensure you won’t run out for a while. Unfortunately, some say it causes breakouts, so be sure to try the primer out on a small patch of skin to see how it’ll react before applying it to your entire face.

FAQ

• Does primer help reduce the look of pores?

  A silicone based primer can help camouflage pore size temporarily but will not shrink the pore. Silicones (namely, dimethicone) helps to smooth over the surface of the pore, causing it to look smaller or even undetectable.

• What causes enlarged pores?

  According to Dr. Castilla, enlarged pores have four main causes: Oiliness of skin, age, sex, and genetics. “Pores are the passageway by which the sebaceous (oil) glands secrete sebum onto the skin to maintain skin moisturization,” she explains. “People who produce more sebum have oilier skin and, in general, larger pores.” She also adds that as we age, we lose the elasticity and collagen that supports the pore opening, and this allows the pore to dilate.

  “The male hormone, testosterone, increases oil production as well,” she adds. “Due to this increased level of testosterone, men generally tend to have larger pores than women.”

• Is it possible to shrink pores?

  Unfortunately, there’s no way to shrink pores completely. “Retinoids can theoretically help if used long term, but the results will be subtle,” Dr. Castilla says. “A series of laser treatments targeted to stimulate collagen production can be beneficial, too.”

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