10 SKINCARE AND MAKEUP TIPS TO HELP MINIMIZE THE APPEARANCE OF LARGE PORES
While we can’t completely get rid of the pores on our face, we can incorporate skincare and makeup products and routines to help minimize the appearance of them. The first step is to put away your magnified mirror. Obsessing over the size of your pores in a piece of glass that is only making them look bigger than they actually are is no way to spend an afternoon. No one is ever going to be that close to your face to see your pores that closely. Not even your facialist gets that close to your face. So put the magnifying mirror down.
Dealing with large pores doesn’t have to feel like a losing battle though. There are things you can do to minimize the appearance of your pores. Choosing the right skincare and makeup products and applying them correctly can have a huge impact on how smooth your skin looks. Choosing formulas that work with your pores rather than against them will have you looking more flawless in no time.
Tip 1. Use a Face Cleanser that Works For Your Skin Type
Choosing the right face cleanser for your skin type is e.l.f.ing important! Different skin types have different needs, and using the wrong cleanser can lead to issues like dryness, excess oil, or irritation. E.L.F. has a range of face washes to suit every skin type and concern:
For dry skin, oily, or acne-prone skin, the Daily Face Cleanser gently removes impurities while leaving skin feeling soft and moisturized without stripping the skin.
Sensitive souls can rejoice with the Gentle Peeling Exfoliant, which buffs away dullness while being gentle on delicate complexions.
And for a truly luxurious cleansing experience, the Bounce Back Jelly Cleanser transforms from a jelly to a silky lather, leaving skin feeling refreshed and renewed.
No matter your skin's vibe, e.l.f. has you covered with cleansers that work to leave your skin feeling e.l.f.ing clean!
Tip 2. Incorporate a Face Mask into Your Skincare Routine
Face masks are an important part of any skincare routine as they work to provide deep cleansing and nourishment for the skin. Using a face mask regularly can help to minimize the appearance of pores by unclogging and removing excess oil, dirt, and impurities that sometimes cause pores to look enlarged.
The Holy Hydration! Sleeping Mask is a game-changer for your nighttime skincare routine. This ultra-nourishing mask is an e.l.f.ing must-have for those seeking intense hydration and a radiant, glowy complexion. Packed with skin-loving ingredients like hyaluronic acid and squalane, it deeply quenches thirsty skin. Wake up to a softer, smoother, and more luminous you - it's the beauty sleep you've been dreaming of! You can use this face mask as an overnight mask and apply a layer to your skin before falling asleep, or just leave it on for 10-15 minutes for a quick skin thirst-quench.
Tip 3. Use a Hydrating Face Serum
Using a hydrating face serum is a must for achieving a glowing, hydrated complexion! Serums are lightweight and packed with concentrated active ingredients that help to deliver nourishment and hydration. By replenishing the skin's moisture levels, a hydrating serum may help to minimize the appearance of pores for a smoother, more youthful look.
The Holy Hydration! Triple Bounce Serum contains 1.7% hyaluronic acid in three molecular weights to help hold moisture in the skin giving you a plump, smooth, and bouncy complexion.
Tip 4. Moisturize Your Skin (Even if You Have Oily Skin!)
Using a moisturizer is an essential step in any skincare routine, even for those with oily skin. Contrary to popular belief, skipping moisturizer can actually lead to excess oil production as the skin tries to compensate for the lack of hydration. A lightweight, oil-free moisturizer can help to balance the skin's oil levels and prevents dehydration.
Moisturizing daily can also help to strengthen the skin's barrier function, which is crucial for maintaining a healthy complexion. A compromised barrier may lead to issues like increased sensitivity, dryness, and even breakouts.
Tip 5. (Optional) Exfoliate Your Skin a Few Times a Week
A gentle exfoliant helps to slough off dead skin cells that can clog pores and lead to dullness, uneven texture, and breakouts. By removing this buildup, your pores can appear smaller, as well as your skin looking smoother and more refined.
Regular exfoliation may also allow your other skincare products to better penetrate the skin and work more effectively. It creates a fresh canvas for serums, moisturizers, and treatments to fully absorb and deliver their benefits. Incorporating a gentle exfoliant 1-2 times per week can make a noticeable difference in the clarity and overall health of your skin. We recommend incorporating this step into your skincare routine after washing your face and before applying any serums and moisturizers.
Tip 6. Use the Right Face Primer
When you want a more flawless-looking complexion, try choosing a makeup primer that helps to smooth out the appearance of pores. Look for formulas with either silica or dimethicone as those ingredients help to smooth, blur, and disguise the appearance of pores on your complexion.
The ultimate skin-perfecting face primer is a blurring, poreless face primer. It’s perfect for those who want to minimize the look of pores and have a smoother, more flawless-looking complexion. The ultra-velvety texture smooths over your skin and blurs the appearance of pores making it a great choice for those looking for a primer for large pores.
After you’ve cleansed and moisturized your face, allow your face cream to absorb before applying your pore-minimizing primer. Apply the liquid face primer evenly to face and pat into skin. Allow your face primer to set for about 60 seconds and then finish up the rest of your makeup routine.
Tip 7. Choose a Semi-Matte Foundation
Once you have the right makeup primer on, the type of foundation you choose can impact the appearance of your pores. While a dewy foundation may give you a gorgeous glow, it can also accentuate your pores and make them look larger. A semi-matte foundation can help to disguise large pores making them look less noticeable.
For the ultimate pore-battling foundation application, press your foundation into your skin with a makeup sponge a little at a time. This will help the product blend into the skin smoothing over imperfections.
Tip 8. Use a Hydrating Concealer for Extra Coverage
Using a hydrating concealer can help minimize the appearance of pores in two key ways:
Hydrating concealers contain nourishing ingredients that can help to plump and smooth the skin's surface, temporarily blurring the look of enlarged pores.
Hydrating concealers provide buildable coverage that allows you to target specific areas like the t-zone where pores may be more visible. The e.l.f. Hydrating Camo Concealer is an amazing option with a hydrating, medium to full coverage formula that conceals imperfections while helping to keep your skin looking fresh and natural.
Tip 9. Set Your Makeup with a Blurring Translucent Powder
Once you’ve completed your makeup, there are still things you can do to help with the appearance of pores throughout the day. Choosing the right setting powder can make a difference in the texture of your skin. Look for setting powders that mention being “finely-milled” or designed for “high-definition”. These will have powder particles that are smaller and will go on much smoother for a super soft effect. These types of setting powders help to blur texture and other imperfections on the skin (including pores!) to give you a softer, smoother finish.To apply a blurring setting powder, use a big, fluffy powder brush. Swirl the brush onto the powder and tap once to get any excess powder off the brush. Then brush the powder onto your complexion in soft smooth strokes to set your makeup and keep your pores looking smoother.
Tip 10. Minimize Touch-Ups with a Setting Spray
It’s time to lock in your makeup with a good setting spray! The fewer times you have to touch your face, even for touch-ups, the better. Just as with your liquid foundation and powder foundation, choose a formula that will leave you with a matte or semi-matte complexion to lock in makeup, but not accentuate your pores.
For a matte makeup look that lasts up to 16 hours, try Stay All Night Micro-Fine Setting Mist. It locks down your look with super long-wear and feels lightweight on the skin. The mister is ultra fine to give you the ultimate coverage with a super easy application. To apply a setting mist, gently mist the spray across your complexion in a T motion (across the forehead and down the nose/chin) and then in an X motion to ensure proper coverage. Use a clean makeup sponge to press the setting spray into your skin to secure your look and make touch-ups a thing of the past.
Additional Makeup Tips: Frequently Asked Questions on Face Primer
What Does Poreless Face Primer Do and How Does it Work?
How does poreless primer work? It’s magic! Just kidding... It may seem like a smooth blur primer can work magic, but they are purposefully designed to help smooth out our skin texture and grip our makeup for longer wear. They will oftentimes use ingredients such as silica or dimethicone which smooths over your complexion, evens out your skin textures, and blurs large pores to minimize their appearance. They provide a great base that makes makeup go on smoother.
Should You Put Face Primer on Before Moisturizer?
There’s some confusion on when exactly you should apply your face primer. Regardless of your skin type, you should always apply face primer after your skincare routine. A makeup primer is designed to be a barrier of sorts to help seal in your skincare while gripping your makeup for long-lasting wear. If you put your moisturizer on after your primer, all those yummy hydrating ingredients will not be able to absorb into your skin. So, always apply your face primer after moisturizing your skin. Make sure you let your moisturizer fully absorb before applying your face primer so that the primer can fully grip onto your skin and avoid pilling.