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Not everything in life is easily smoothed over, but if you’re seeking a flawless complexion, the best pore-minimizing primers can do the trick in helping you achieve the illusion of a seemingly poreless face. “Larger pores tend to make skin appear more textured and oily after hours of makeup,” explains celebrity makeup artist Brittany Whitfield. “A pore-minimizing primer creates a film over the porous areas, ensuring the foundation can lay smoothly across the skin.”
After chatting with Whitfield, I couldn’t help but wonder—do I need a pore-minimizing primer? The short answer is, yes, if I want to smooth over the larger pores on my nose. Aside from giving the illusion of baby-smooth skin, my foray into trying the best pore-minimizing primers also happened to reduce the oily skin in my T-zone—it turns out using skin-concern-specific makeup products improved the overall look (and longevity) of my makeup.
Vogue’s Favorite Pore Minimizing Primers
- Best Makeup-Artist Pick: Hourglass Cosmetics Veil Mineral Primer, $58
- Best Drugstrore: e.l.f. Poreless Putty Primer, $10
- Best Overall: Benefit The POREfessional Face Primer, $58
- Best Balm: Tatcha The Silk Canvas, $54
- Best TikTok Viral: Dr. Brandt Pores No More, $48
- Best with SPF: Charlotte Tilbury Invisible UV Flawless Poreless Primer, $55
- Best Skincare-Makeup Hybrid: Prada Refine Blurring Extending Primer, $50
In This Story
- How to Choose a Pore-Minimizing Primer
- Are pore-minimizing primers the same as blurring primers?
- Can a pore-minimizing primer actually clog pores?
- How to Apply a Pore Minimizing Primer
- Meet the Experts
If you’re thinking, “but I already have a primer!,” there’s a difference between blurring primers (a.k.a. pore-minimizing primers) and standard ones: “Generally speaking, a traditional primer’s core mission is to boost the staying power of the makeup,” Whitfield says, explaining that a pore-minimizing primer takes matters a step further by using ingredients like silicone and plant-derived waxes to fill in enlarged pores.
“If you have larger pores, your best friends are products with niacinamide, alpha hydroxy acid, beta hydroxy acid, and retinol. These will improve your skin texture and tighten your pores with continued use,” celebrity makeup artist Glenn Brownell tells Vogue, adding that many pore-minimizing primers include these ingredients to treat the appearance of enlarged pores and excess oil production over time.
Below, shop the nine best primers tested by Vogue editors—no matter which you pick, all blur, smooth, and airbrush away pores and imperfections.
Best Overall: Benefit The POREfessional Face Primer
- Why We Love It: Can you believe Benefit’s POREfessional was my first makeup primer ever? Back in the early 2010s, this pick was my holy grail—and it remains a bestseller for the brand. Revisiting this formula 15 years later, it still boasts that velvety-to-the-touch, creamy texture which dries down translucent to instantly smoothe over the appearance of pores and fine lines. Lightweight and mattifying, it can be used on its own to blur out unwanted shine or act as a first layer before makeup.
- Key Ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane, dimethicone, dimethicone/vinyl dimethicone crosspolymer
- Finish: Matte
- Fragrance-free: No
- How To Apply: For best results, Benefit suggests getting targeted with application—apply to problem areas and tap gently to blend. Note to self: The product itself appears peach-toned from the tube, but dries down clear.
- Type: Cream
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Works with all skin tones | Not suitable for dry skin, as the texture can cling to rough patches |
| Mattifying formula helps control oily skin types | Fragrance in formula may be irritating to sensitive skin types |
| A classic, fail-proof choice |
Best Makeup Artist Pick: Hourglass Cosmetics Veil Mineral Primer
- Why We Love It: As the name suggests, this Hourglass primer looks to create a photo-ready finish (no TikTok or Instagram filters necessary), all while providing broad-spectrum sun protection. A mainstay in professional makeup artist El DeBratto’s kit, they regularly apply it on clients with oily to combination skin and enlarged pores—plus, it’s the exact primer they use on me when doing my makeup before camera-ready events. “It’s fast absorbing, and the silicone-based gel formulation has a stunning blurring effect on the skin,” they told Vogue, adding that not only is it the perfect priming canvas before a full glam, but it is also excellent on its own for use in men’s grooming. When adding this pick into my routine, the primer texture is so lightweight that it sits on the skin more like a serum with an extra layer of cream.
- Key Ingredients: Titanium dioxide 2.45%, zinc oxide 4.20%, dimethicone, glycerin, silica
- Finish: Natural
- Fragrance-free: Yes
- How To Apply: Rather than using it on the entirety of your face, DeBratto suggests applying it to areas only where necessary (on me, they applied it to my nose and T-Zone), then waiting for the primer to dry down thoroughly before moving on to color cosmetics.
- Type: Gel
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Lightweight formula works well under makeup or solo for men’s grooming | Contains a few comedogenic ingredients—only two! |
| Fragrance-free | |
| Translucent formula is suitable for all skin tones |
Best Drugstore Balm: E.l.f Cosmetics Poreless Putty Primer
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- Why We Love It: With more than 44,000 rave reviews on Amazon backing this pick as the ultimate pore-vanishing primer, I had to get my hands on it, too. A drugstore alternative for a long-lasting balmy primer, this applies with a velvety finish, filling in and smoothing over enlarged pores. Rice bran wax and dimethicone work in tandem to keep unwanted shine at bay. Meanwhile, squalene, green tea extract, and glycerin keep your complexion supple and hydrated to prevent flakey, dried-out patches. While putties aren’t my preferred texture (as an oily skin girly, these feel a bit too emollient for me) there’s no doubt this affordable pick delivers on its pore-minimizing promise.
- Key Ingredients: Dimethicone, glycerin, green tea leaf extract. squalane, rice bran wax, silica, talc
- Finish: Matte
- How To Apply: E.l.f. recommends scooping out a pea-size amount of product and rubbing it between your fingers to warm it up before applying. Then, gently press the product into skin, starting from the center of your face and pressing outward.
- Type: Putty
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| An incredibly popular primer pick, at a super affordable price point | The formula isn’t completely non-comedogenic—only one potential pore clogging ingredient! |
| Lightweight, velvety feel | Oily skin? Perhaps not the pick for you, since putties work best on normal, dry, and combination skin types. |
| Long-wearing formula |
Best Long-Wear: Make Up For Ever Step 1 Primer Pore Minimizer
- Why We Love It: Within Make Up For Ever’s trio of high-performing primers, of course there’s a pore-minimizing option. Powered by polymers and silica, this smooths over textured skin, and boasts up to 24 hours of wear; ginseng in the formula helps maintain skin’s natural balance. Not to mention, a little goes a long way—the recommended rice grain amount of product was more than enough to target my nose and T-zone. The translucent texture will appeal to all skin tones, gliding on and blending with ease while smoothing out imperfections.
- Key Ingredients: Dimethicone, ginseng extract, tocopherol
- Finish: Matte
- Fragrance-free: No
- How To Apply: For best results, the brand recommends targeted application, patting on a rice grain size amount to areas with visibly enlarged pores.
- Type: Cream
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Longest-wearing formula | Some find that this formula can pill by the end of day |
| Suitable for all skin tones | Some find the fragrance to be a bit strong |
Best TikTok Viral: Dr. Brandt Skincare Pores No More Pore Refiner Primer
- Why We Love It: For those seeking a seemingly natural, flawless matte look, Dr. Brandt’s Pores No More is the answer—one quick swatch on the nose makes pores seemingly vanish (with a number of viral TikTok videos showing exactly that). The product works instantly and over time to minimize the appearance of pores for smoother skin texture thanks to ingredients like silica and salicylic acid that absorb excess oil and clear out clogged pores. Meanwhile, tea tree extract and lavender oil soothe inflammation, while clover flower extract provides antioxidant benefits and neutralizes free radical damage to improve overall skin texture. This is my go-to pick for no-makeup makeup days, where a quick swipe before tinted SPF makes my skin appear totally flawless.
- Key Ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane, dimethicone crosspolymer, lavender oil, tea tree leaf oil, clover flower extract, titanium dioxide
- Finish: Natural
- Fragrance-free: Yes
- How To Apply: Dab a small amount of product onto clean, moisturized skin. Dot onto targeted areas, blending with your finger tips.
- Type: Cream
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Works well under makeup, or worn on bare skin | Some find that while it minimizes pores, it doesn’t prolong makeup-wear as much |
| Features skin-care benefit ingredients to treat pores while minimizing their appearance | Contains a few comedogenic ingredients—only two! |
| Hypo-allergenic formula |
Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Prada Refine Blurring Extending Primer
- Why We Love It: Prada Beauty’s primer is your all-in-one solution for a flawless, shine-free complexion with instantly blurred pores. As someone with acne-prone skin, I’m positively obsessed with using non-comedogenic makeup in my daily routine. Aside from being totally free from pore-clogging ingredients, this beauty pick takes it a step further by treating congestion-prone skin with liquid exfoliants in the formula, making it my favorite pick of the bunch. How? The skin-care-makeup hybrid, with its blend of AHAs, BHAs, LHAs, and mandelic acid, helps me control excess oil in my T-zone (which, when left unchecked, can exaggerate the appearance of pores—take it from my first hand experience.). At the same time, panthenol’s humectant properties lock in moisture for a supple feel.
- Key Ingredients: Panthenol, liquid exfoliants (AHA, BHA, LHA, and mandelic acids)
- Finish: Soft matte
- Fragrance-free: No
- How To Apply: Apply a pea-sized amount of product only to targeted areas with enlarged pores or oily skin. For optimal results, allow the primer to fully dry for 2-3 minutes before applying other products.
- Type: Gel
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Lightweight | The blend of liquid exfoliants may be intense for those with sensitive skin |
| Translucent finish is suitable for all skin types | If you’re lazy about applying your daily SPF, move along—liquid exfoliants can cause sun sensitivity. |
| Completely non-comedogenic formula makes this a safe pick for ance-prone skin |
Best With SPF: Charlotte Tilbury Invisible UV Flawless Poreless Primer
- Why We Love It: If you’re looking to make your makeup routine a lot quicker, this Charlotte Tilbury primer is the ultimate multipurpose produce—equal parts pore minimizing, makeup priming, and SPF 50 protection (yes, that’s UVA and UVB ray defense). While I expected this product to feel heavy due to its combination of benefits, I was pleasantly surprised to discover the opposite—the satiny texture glides on with ease, leaving behind a lightweight, non-greasy feel. Pores? Out of sight. Skin? Protected from harmful sun rays. The dewy finish adds to overall complexion radiance (though if you have more oily-prone skin like me, you may need something a bit more mattifying).
- Key Ingredients: Broad Spectrum UVA/UCV filters, hyaluronic acid, copolymers, marrubium vulgare extract, khaya senegalensis bark extract, tocopherol
- Finish: Dewy
- Fragrance-free: Yes
- How To Apply: According to the brand, apply an even layer of the primer all over your face—start blending from the center of your face, outward. Ensure it’s blended in well before applying foundation or other makeup.
- Type: Cream
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| A two-in-one pore minimizing primer and SPF 50 sunscreen | Not suited for those with acne-prone skin, as the formula isn’t non-comedogenic |
| Hydrating formulation | Not ideal for controlling excess shine on oily skin |
| A lightweight feel that works best for normal to dry skin types |
Best Drugstore Cream: NYX Professional Makeup Pore Filler Blurring Primer
- Why We Love It: Another drugstore favorite, this NYX primer offers a silky-to-the touch feel. Infused with vitamin E, the vegan formula leaves your complexion feeling softer and smoother throughout the day, boasting up to 12 hours of wear without ever feeling dry. While a little goes a long way to create a smooth canvas for makeup, it’s worth noting that this doesn’t have the most lightweight feel. Knowing this, I’d consider this a solid choice for cooler weather months, and skip during summer.
- Key Ingredients: Dimethicone, silica, dimethicone crosspolymer, glycerin, vitamin E, titanium dioxide
- Finish: Soft matte
- Fragrance-free: No
- How To Apply: Just a pea size amount of product should cover a full-face application. Be sure to wait a few minutes for the product to fully dry before moving onto makeup.
- Type: Cream
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Affordable price point | Some report pilling when pairing this silicone-based primer with a water-based foundation |
| A little product goes a long way—meaning one purchase will last a long time! | Not as lightweight |
| Provides up to 12 hours of makeup wear |
Best Balm: Tatcha The Silk Canvas
- Why We Love It: Tatcha’s multitasking primer isn’t just called “the silk canvas” for its smooth-to-the touch feel—silk powder and silk extract are also key ingredients. Another pick I anticipated to feel heavy on my skin, but was actually surprisingly lightweight. It paints onto skin, targeting more than just pores, but also smoothing out texture and fine lines. thanks to the brand’s Japanese superfood complex, Hadasei-3 which provides a barrier between makeup, environmental stressors, and skin. Plus, the antioxidant-rich ingredients make it an excellent choice for nourishing mature skin types.
- Key Ingredients: Silk powder, silk extract, rice ferment filtrate, Hadasei-3
- Finish: Soft matte
- Fragrance-free: No
- How To Apply: Use this pick after SPF, and before makeup. Tatcha recommends using the spatula to scoop a pea-sized amount. Warm the balm between your fingertips, then press it into your skin in upward strokes.
- Type: Balm
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Smooths fine lines and skin texture, in addition to blurring pores | While the brand itself is cruelty-free, this pick isn’t vegan because of silk extract in the formula |
| Features skincare-makeup hybrid formula with anti-oxidant rich ingredients | Those with acne-prone skin should avoid, as it’s not non-comedogenic |
Everything You Need to Know
How to Choose a Pore Minimizing Primer
“Primers that help with masking pore size are usually marketed specifically to do so on the packaging,” explains Whitfield. “Look out for key words like blurring, poreless, airbrushed, and skin perfecting—those are typically the main buzzwords used on packaging for pore-minimizing primers.” In other words: Read the label.
On the technical size of things, Brownell breaks down what separates a primer for enlarged pores versus a standard primer—unsurprisingly, the difference lies in the formulation. “Pore refining primers are typically silicone-based and have a smooth, velvety feel to them, and to the touch while applying. Silicones provide a blurring effect of imperfections,” Brownell says. “A standard primer is exclusively for makeup longevity with a gripping effect longevity—like double-sided tape for makeup.”
Can a pore minimizing primer actually clog pores?
Long story short, the pro makeup artists say no—primers aren’t the root of your unwanted breakouts and skin congestion. “Makeup or primers don’t clog pores of their own volition. Clogged pores result from people not taking the proper steps to remove makeup,” Whitfield tells Vogue. “Some makeup products nowadays are marketed to last up to 24 hours, yet folks assume their rushed 60-second nighttime skin-care routine (or skipping skin care altogether) isn’t the culprit to clogging pores.” The solution? Whitfield ensures a nighttime skin-care routine will ensure your pores remain clear, no matter what makeup products are used during the day.
For added reassurance, Brownell suggests purchasing a non-comedogenic primer. “If you have larger pores, you likely also have more oily and acne-prone skin. Non-comedogenic primers go through specific testing to ensure their formulas don’t clog pores or trigger breakouts,” he explains.
Are pore-minimizing primers the same as blurring primers?
“Primers for large pores are the same as blurring primers unless stated otherwise,” explains Whitfield, encouraging us not to overthink terminology. “A blurring primer creates a film over the porous areas, ensuring the foundation can lay smoothly across the skin.”
How to Apply a Pore Minimizing Primer
“Work in primers like you would a moisturizer; think of it as the last step in your skin-care routine before you start your makeup,” explains Brownell. “If you’re particularly oily, you can skip moisturizer and opt for using a primer solo instead as most have hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid that will offer enough hydration.”
Whitfield agrees, adding that application of a pore-minimizing primer can also be targeted. “I always suggest using the pore-filling primers only on problematic areas. You can leave the rest of the skin as is or use a separate primer that targets the needs of the other areas of your face,” she tells Vogue. “For example, if you have large pores on your cheeks but dry patches on your jawline or forehead, use a hydrating primer on the perimeters and the pore-filling on the cheeks and T-zone.
Meet The Experts
- Glenn Brownell is a celebrity makeup artist whose clients include Delilah Belle Hamlin, Awkwafina, and Tommy Dorfman.
- Brittany Whitfield is a celebrity makeup artist, groomer, and esthetician whose clients include Tinashe, Queen Latifah, and Joan Smalls.
- El DeBratto is a non-binary New York–based editorial makeup artist whose clients include Coco Rocha, Flower Beauty, Kristin Ess, and Glamour magazine.
