Enlarged pores are a fact of life for some — like breakups and taxes. But just because it's a fact of life doesn't mean you can't do something about it. While it's not technically possible to permanently reduce the size of pores, you can make them look smaller in appearance with a few tips and tricks. Read on if you want your pores to shrink in fright!

Method 1 of 3: Get Facial Care Right
  • Always use an oil-free cleanser and rinse with cold water. An oil-free cleanser will wash away dirt, oil, and makeup without robbing your skin of essential moisture. Cold water closes your pores.
  • Use a clay mask. Clay masks tend to strip the skin of oil and water, temporarily making the appearance of your pores smaller. Look for clay masks that contain bentonite and kaolin clay.
  • Try other facial masks. A homemade mask might look something like this: mix two whole eggs, four tablespoons sugar, and a few drops of any acidic liquid (such as vinegar or lemon, lime, orange, or grapefruit juice). Spread the goo all over your face and wait 15 minutes. Rinse with icy cold water. The dried mask pulls dirt and oil out of your pores, which allows them to close.
  • Use physical skin exfoliation to clear up clogged pores. Exfoliation means to wipe away the dead layer of skin on top of the epidermis, called the stratum corneum. You can physically exfoliate your skin by wiping a cleanser onto your face with a buf puf (don't wipe too vigorously) or by using a gritty scrub, such as one that has ground-up peach cores in it. Exfoliate at most two times a week.

Method 2 of 3: Use Makeup to Conceal Larger Pores
  • Don't forget to use a primer underneath your makeup. If you "prime" your skin before it accepts the final layer of makeup, that makeup will tend to look smoother and more even. As many makeup artists say: "Not to prime is a crime." Be sure you incorporate this into your morning routine for visibly smaller-looking pores.
  • Use a concealer. Concealers are used to make skin a more uniform color, hiding blemishes and deeper pockets of pores. Go for concealers that last for 12+ hours.
  • Wash your makeup off every night. What good is your makeup if using it is what's causing your clogged, larger-looking pores? Not very much good, is it? Be sure to wash your makeup off before you go to sleep. Incorporate this into your regular skin-care routine. Remember that clogged pores appear bigger than unclogged pores.

Method 3 of 3: Pay Attention to Other Factors



  • Drink plenty of water throughout the day. Water is the lifeblood of your organs: they need it to stay alive and look healthy. Some doctors recommend drinking at least 2 liters of water a day, while others recommend that you drink water whenever you're thirsty or parched. Drinking water — and cutting sugary soft drinks, juices, and energy drinks from your regimen — may help your pores look smaller.
  • Pay attention to your diet. Although there hasn't been a proven scientific link yet, many people believe that unhealthy diets can contribute to larger pores. That's because poor diets can contribute to excessive sebum production, which gets caught in pores and keeps them from looking lovely and lithe.
  • For a quick fix, apply an ice cube to pores in order to shrink them. We learned earlier that ice can shrink pores by constricting blood vessels and tightening the surrounding skin. If you're in a pinch and need visibly smaller pores for a short period of time, try this trick.