The 14 Best Foundations for Large Pores, According to Makeup Artists and Editors

If you’ve ever wanted to “shrink” your pores, I have good news and bad news. The bad news is that pores don’t shrink—you can only reduce their appearance. The good news is that with a solid skincare routine and the right foundation, you can blend them away (albeit temporarily). To discover what makes a foundation good for large pores, I consulted with two makeup artists about what to look for in a formula, application tips for lasting wear and the brands that they reach for again and again. This includes our best overall pick, the Smashbox Always On Foundation, sustainable MOB Beauty Cream Foundation, splurge-worthy Oxygenetix Oxygenating Foundation, celeb-fave Exa High Fidelity Foundation and two-minute wonder Sweed Beauty Miracle Powder. Note: Both makeup artists emphasized that the key to managing the appearance of your pores lies in your skincare routine. Then, you can pick any foundation you want that’s suitable for your skin type, including matte, satin and powder finishes. To help you out, I made sure that all the foundations on this list provide a blurring effect for a soft, natural look. Pores, be (almost) gone!

• Jenny Patinkin is a Chicago-based makeup artist, founder of an eponymous beauty brand and the author of Lazy Perfection: The Art of Looking Great Without Really Trying. Her brand has created an award-winning line of beauty tools loved by the likes of Allure, Cosmopolitan and Better Homes & Gardens. Patinkin has contributed her expertise to outlets such as Good Morning America, The Today Show, The Rachael Ray Show and Martha Stewart.
• Lori Taylor Davis is the global pro lead artist at Smashbox Cosmetics. She has over 30 years of industry experience, working events like New York and Paris Fashion Week and the MTV Movie Awards. Davis has also worked with celebrities such as Sandra Bullock and Bruno Mars.

When choosing the best foundation for large pores, I asked our experts about the products they recommend and considered any features they noted were important, like buildable formulas and avoiding illuminating and radiant products. Additionally, I asked PureWow editors with large pores to share the foundations they use and love. I also looked at search data to see what brands were trending and evaluated buyer reviews.

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It’s a popular misconception that pores can shrink. That’s actually not true. When people talk about shrinking pores, what they really mean is minimizing their appearance. And while makeup can help, both Davis and Patinkin say that it really starts with your skin care routine.

“Start with knowing your skin type and treating the needs of your skin,” Davis advises. “Large pores aren’t just a condition of oily skin.” However, she cautions against overdoing the skin care routine. Excess product can lead to a cakey, textured finish.

When it comes to minimizing pores’ appearance, Patinkin says that retinol and niacinamide are going to be your friends. “Make sure that [you’re also] exfoliating so that there’s no build up inside your pores because when they build up, they look bigger,” she explains. Glycolic toner pads can also be helpful.

The way to set yourself up for success with foundation is to use a primer, which can, according to Davis, aid with smoothing and blurring, which will soften the appearance of pores and skin texture. Depending on your skin type, a silicone-based primer can be helpful because it binds well with oil. However, Patinkin notes that you don’t necessarily need to put primer on your entire face. “You want to use it only where you produce oil. If you use silicone on dry skin, it’s more likely to pill, so you want to use it where it can bind with oil,” she elaborates.

As both makeup artists explained, a lot of the pore minimization happens in your skincare steps. So, when you’re shopping for a foundation, it’s about catering to your personal preferences, Davis says. Depending on your skin, you can go for matte, powder or satin foundations. Patinkin only advises avoiding illuminating and radiant foundations because they can accentuate the pores.

“I [also] prefer buildable [formulas]. Starting with thin layers and [adding] more as you need is really the way to go,” Patinkin says.

The other thing to keep in mind is the ingredients. Remember, water and oil don’t mix, so if you have a water-based moisturizer, it won’t work with an oil-based foundation. (That’s where primer can come in handy because it adds a barrier between the two layers.) But above all, remember that makeup alone won’t solve all your pore woes, so get that skincare routine down pat first.