How to Make Pores Look Smaller: What Works, What Doesn't

If you’ve searched for how to shrink pores, here’s the honest answer: you can’t permanently shrink or close a pore, but you can make pores look smaller and less noticeable. Pore size is mostly set by genetics, and age and sun damage make pores look larger. Keeping them clear with gentle cleansing and salicylic acid, using a retinoid at night, choosing non-comedogenic products and wearing sunscreen every day are the steps with the best support. Below is why pores look large, what helps (ranked by evidence), which popular tricks to skip, and a simple routine.

The short answer

You can change how visible your pores look, not how big they are. Pores are the openings that let oil (sebum) and sweat reach the surface of your skin. A Cleveland Clinic dermatologist explains that pore size is mostly a matter of genetics, so you can’t permanently shrink them (Cleveland Clinic).

The good news is that a lot of what makes large pores stand out is changeable. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) says there is plenty you can do to make pores less noticeable, from the products you choose to how you wash your face (AAD: What can treat large facial pores?). So the goal of any pore minimizing routine is simple: keep pores clear, keep the skin around them calm and firm, and protect it from the sun.

Why pores look large

Large pores usually come from a mix of oil, genetics, age and clogging. A review in Dermatologic Surgery names three main contributors to enlarged pores: high oil production, reduced elasticity around the pore and an enlarged hair follicle. The authors add that acne, hormones and skincare habits may also play a part, and that the right approach depends on which cause dominates for you (Lee et al., 2016).

Here is how those enlarged pores causes show up in everyday life:

Oil. Pores are often most visible on the nose, forehead and cheeks, where oil glands are busiest. More oil can stretch the opening and make it easier to clog.
Genetics. Some people simply have larger pores, and you can’t change that part.
Age and sun. Sun damage reduces the skin’s firmness, and when skin loses firmness, pores look more noticeable (AAD).
Clogging. When a pore fills with oil and dead skin cells, it expands and looks bigger. Heavy, pore-clogging products can add to this.
Irritation. Inflamed skin makes pores look more obvious. The AAD notes that scrubbing and hot water can both irritate skin and make pores look larger (AAD).

Not every dot on your nose is a blackhead, either. Many are sebaceous filaments, which carry oil up to the surface and, unlike blackheads, have no plug (Cleveland Clinic). They’re a normal part of healthy skin and simply look more noticeable when your skin makes more oil, so there’s no need to squeeze them out.

What helps, ranked by evidence

The habits with the strongest backing are the least exciting: gentle cleansing, clog-fighting ingredients and sunscreen. This table sums up the options in the order this guide covers them.

Step	What it does for pores	How strong the support is
Gentle daily cleansing	Removes oil and debris without irritating	Recommended by the AAD
Salicylic acid (BHA)	Helps unclog pores	Recommended by the AAD
Retinoids	Help unclog pores; support firmness over time	Recommended by the AAD
Niacinamide	May make pores look less noticeable	Promising, but size change not proven
Daily sunscreen	Protects the firmness around pores	Recommended by the AAD
Non-comedogenic, oil-control products	Avoids adding to clogging	Recommended by the AAD
In-office procedures	Varies by treatment	Talk to a dermatologist

Gentle daily cleansing

Wash your face twice a day, in the morning and evening, and after sweating. The AAD suggests warm rather than hot water and a light touch, because scrubbing irritates the skin and makes pores more noticeable (AAD). Use a gentle cleanser and your fingertips, then pat dry with a soft towel (AAD: Face washing 101).

If you have oily skin, it can be tempting to wash harder or more often. That usually backfires: stripped, irritated skin isn’t the goal. Twice a day is enough for most people.

Salicylic acid (BHA)

Salicylic acid for pores is one of the best-supported ingredients you can buy without a prescription. The AAD says it unclogs pores and exfoliates the skin, which is why it works best on blackheads and whiteheads (AAD: How to treat different types of acne). Its large-pores page suggests a salicylic acid cleanser if acne is part of the picture (AAD).

You can use it as a cleanser or as a leave-on product. Start a few times a week, and cut back if your skin feels dry, tight or stings.

Retinoids

Retinoids are vitamin A ingredients, from gentle over-the-counter retinol to stronger prescription versions. The AAD notes that products containing retinol may help pores look smaller and suggests applying them at bedtime (AAD). For clogged pores, the AAD also points to adapalene, a retinoid sold over the counter, which helps clear blackheads and whiteheads (AAD).

Start slowly. Dermatologists quoted by the AAD suggest the gentlest formula you can find, every other night at first, building up only if your skin stays comfortable (AAD: Retinoid or retinol?). Retinoids can make skin more sun-sensitive, so pair them with daily sunscreen. The AAD advises against retinoids during pregnancy; if you’re pregnant, trying to conceive or breastfeeding, check with your doctor first.

Niacinamide

Niacinamide for pores is popular, and the honest version is this: Cleveland Clinic notes that nothing has been proven to reduce the actual size of your pores, but niacinamide may help pores look less noticeable by supporting the skin barrier and keeping skin smoother and clearer (Cleveland Clinic). It’s usually well tolerated and easy to add as a serum.

Think of it as a supporting step, not the main event. If your pores are mainly clogged, salicylic acid or a retinoid does more of the heavy lifting.

Daily sunscreen

Sunscreen is the long game for large pores. Because sun damage reduces the firmness around each pore, the AAD recommends a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher every day (AAD). If you have oily skin, look for a lightweight, oil-free or non-comedogenic formula so it doesn’t feel heavy.

Oil-control and non-comedogenic products

Choose skincare and makeup labelled “non-comedogenic”, “oil free” or “won’t clog pores”, as the AAD suggests (AAD). A light, oil-free moisturiser still matters on oily skin: skipping moisturiser doesn’t reduce oil. The AAD’s tips for oily skin also include pressing blotting papers gently against your face during the day, rather than rubbing, which spreads the oil around (AAD: Oily skin).

In-office options (talk to a dermatologist)

If home care isn’t enough, dermatologists have other tools, such as chemical peels, microneedling and laser treatments. The AAD lists large pores among the concerns dermatologists treat with microneedling (AAD), and a Cleveland Clinic dermatologist describes microneedling as a way to stimulate collagen around pores (Cleveland Clinic). Results vary, procedures have costs and side effects, and they still don’t make pores disappear. A board-certified dermatologist can tell you whether any of them suits your skin.

Myths: steam, ice, pore strips and “opening” pores

Pores don’t open and close, so tricks that promise to do either are working on the surface for a few minutes at most. Pores have no muscles; they’re fixed openings for oil and sweat. Here’s how the popular hacks stack up.

“Open your pores with steam.” Heat doesn’t open pores. It can soften the skin’s surface, but hot water and heat can also irritate skin and make pores look larger (AAD). If you enjoy a warm towel, keep it warm, not hot.
“Close your pores with ice or cold water.” Cold can make skin feel tighter, but a Cleveland Clinic dermatologist notes that the effect lasts only a few minutes and fades as skin warms up (Cleveland Clinic). Pleasant, but not a pore treatment. Always wrap ice in a cloth.
Pore strips. They can lift the top of some blackheads, so your nose may look clearer for a while. The pore itself doesn’t change, the plugs tend to return, and the pulling can irritate skin.
Squeezing and extractor tools. Cleveland Clinic warns that squeezing pores or using extractor tools can scar and damage the skin (Cleveland Clinic). The AAD warns that popping pimples at home can push bacteria deeper and raise the risk of scarring (AAD).
Harsh scrubs. Gritty scrubs and rough washcloths cause irritation, and irritated skin makes pores more noticeable.

A simple pore-friendly routine (AM and PM)

A pore-friendly routine is short: cleanse, treat on some nights, moisturise and protect. One active ingredient at a time is plenty.

	Morning	Evening
1	Gentle cleanser, lukewarm water	Gentle cleanser (or a salicylic acid cleanser)
2	Optional niacinamide serum	Treatment: retinoid or salicylic acid, not both on the same night
3	Light, oil-free moisturiser	Light, oil-free moisturiser
4	Broad-spectrum sunscreen, SPF 30+	—

A few tips to make it work:

Introduce one product at a time. The AAD suggests patch testing a new product on your inner arm twice a day for 7 to 10 days before using it on your face (AAD).
Alternate actives. Use your retinoid on some nights and salicylic acid on others, with plain recovery nights in between if your skin feels dry.
Be patient. The AAD suggests giving a new product at least six weeks before judging it (AAD).
Remove makeup every night. Sleeping in makeup is one of the habits the AAD lists as worsening acne (AAD).

If you’re unsure where each product goes, our guide to skincare routine order has the full AM and PM chart. Our morning skincare routine covers sunscreen in more detail, and the nighttime skincare routine shows how to rotate treatment and recovery nights.

When to see a dermatologist

See a dermatologist if large pores come with acne that doesn’t settle, irritation or changes you’re unsure about. Pore care at home is about appearance; acne is a skin condition, and a dermatologist can recommend a treatment that fits your skin.

Book an appointment if:

Your acne persists. The AAD suggests seeing a dermatologist if you still have blemishes after six to eight weeks of at-home treatment (AAD), or sooner for painful, deep breakouts or scarring.
Products keep irritating your skin. Ongoing redness, burning or peeling is a sign to stop and get advice, especially if you have rosacea or eczema.
You’re considering procedures. Peels, microneedling and lasers should be planned with a board-certified dermatologist who can check whether they suit your skin type and tone.
A single pore looks different. One unusually large, raised or changing spot is worth having checked rather than squeezed.

Learn pore care with Gluvy

If you like learning in small steps, Gluvy’s skincare lessons include the Acne & Large Pores lessons: swipeable image guides on pore-care methods, salicylic acid, niacinamide and zinc, and a proper cleansing routine. There’s also a How to Minimize Pores article course. These are educational lessons, not treatments, and they won’t change your pore size, but they can help you build a calm, consistent routine. Learn the full pore-care routine in Gluvy’s Acne & Large Pores lessons, and pair it with morning and night routine reminders. For more guides, browse our skincare hub or our glow up tips.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

Can you shrink pores permanently?

No. Pore size is largely set by your genetics, and no cleanser, serum or trick can permanently shrink or close a pore. What you can change is how noticeable pores look, by keeping them clear of oil and debris, avoiding irritation and protecting the skin around them from sun damage.

Does ice shrink pores?

Not really. Cold can make skin feel tighter for a few minutes, which may make pores look slightly less obvious, but the effect fades as your skin warms up again. If you enjoy it, wrap ice in a soft cloth and keep it brief, and never hold it on one spot long enough to hurt.

Does niacinamide shrink pores?

Nothing has been proven to reduce the actual size of pores, and that includes niacinamide. It may help pores look less noticeable by supporting the skin barrier and keeping skin smoother and clearer. Treat it as a gentle supporting step rather than a fix, and give any new product several weeks before judging it.

Do pore strips help?

They can pull out the top of some blackheads, so your nose may look clearer for a short while. The pore itself doesn't change and the plugs tend to come back, and the pulling can irritate the skin. Gentle cleansing and a leave-on salicylic acid or retinoid product are a kinder long-term approach.

Why are my pores getting bigger with age?

As skin ages and builds up sun damage, it loses some of the firmness that supports the walls of each pore, so pores can look larger. Daily broad-spectrum sunscreen helps protect that support, and a retinoid used at night may help pores look less noticeable over time. A dermatologist can suggest in-office options if you want more.

Practise this with Gluvy. Follow-along videos with a timer for every step. See Gluvy's skincare lessons.

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Gluvy TeamEditorial team at Gluvy

The team that builds Gluvy writes these guides from the app's own face yoga, gua sha and skincare courses. We are not doctors or dermatologists: articles are general wellness information, and we link to the research where it exists.

This article is general wellness information, not medical advice. Talk to a doctor or dermatologist if you have a skin, jaw or other medical condition.

How to Make Pores Look Smaller (What Works, What Doesn't)