The 12 Best Foundations for Large Pores (2021 Reviews)
Clear smooth skin is what we all want to achieve. But sometimes, big pesky pores can get in the way of achieving that. While having big pores is not a medical condition, some people can be self-conscious about it. Nobody wants to see themselves in the mirror with tiny holes in their face.
There are various factors that affect pore size. One of these is genetics, and when genetics comes into play, there’s really nothing you can do about it. Well, except blame your ancestors. In addition to that, as we grow older, we lose our skin elasticity, which in turn makes our pores bigger. Clogs also make our pores bigger, so make sure you do a proper skincare routine.
The truth is, you can't actually shrink pore size, but you can reduce the appearance by using a very good foundation. Here are some foundations that we have reviewed that are good in minimizing large pores.
12 Best Foundations for Large Pores We Reviewed
1. L'Oreal True Match Powder
True to its name, this foundation has a wide range of shades for everybody. This product has micro-fine powder that provides you the coverage you want.
You can blot the product for a more natural finish, or build it up for more coverage. But whatever coverage you want, it still reduces the appearance of large pores. Since this is a compact foundation, it’s perfect for your on-the-go days.
Just a small amount of foundation across your face and neck can get you the coverage you need. It comes with an applicator but some find it hard to use. Try applying this foundation with your own makeup brush instead.
2. Maybelline New York Fit Me
Maybelline is one of the most popular drugstore brands in the cosmetic world and their Fit Me line is a bestseller. It’s a drugstore product but is used by professional makeup artists.
It gives wonderful coverage and can last all day for a very affordable price. It has non-comedogenic ingredients that won’t clog your pores. Although it offers medium coverage only, it effectively covers large pores and any discoloration in your skin.
Although other users have voiced out that this product only works well with a primer, this is still one of the best products out there that blur imperfection so well.
3. Covergirl & Olay Simply Ageless 3-in-1 Liquid Foundation
As we grow older, our pores appear bigger. Covergirl and Olay have teamed up to provide the best anti-aging foundation that reduces wrinkles and minimizes the appearance of pores.
Their anti-aging formula addresses the problems of large pores too. It contains hydrating products like hyaluronic complex and vitamin C to give you a healthier and younger-looking skin.
4. BaeBlu Organic Aloe-Based LUX Liquid Foundation
This is an all-natural product and the main ingredient is Aloe Vera. It has zero preservatives and fragrances that can only mean, no harsh chemicals and parabens that can irritate your skin and clog your pores.
It has a lightweight formula and doesn’t cake your face. You get a light vanilla scent when opening the product, giving you a calming aromatic effect.
5. Becca Ultimate Coverage 24-hour Foundation
Some makeup products claim to have the ultimate coverage, but Becca actually does the job. This product covers so well that even your pores will look like they disappeared.
You can just use 1 to 1.5 pumps of this product and it can completely cover your large pores, discoloration and other blemishes.
This foundation is oil-free and fragrance-free so clogging your pores won’t be a problem. The product is lightweight, and doesn’t feel heavy in the skin. It lasts as long as 24 hours too.
6. Bareminerals Original Foundation
Bareminerals Original Foundation is one of the most popular products out there with professionals using it for years.
It is the iconic product that started the clean beauty revolution in the mid-90s. However, due to its popularity, many counterfeit products started to come out, so be sure to buy only from reliable sources.
This product is a loose mineral powder foundation, and the formula is lightweight. This helps minimize the appearance of pores and other imperfections. Despite being lightweight, coverage can be buildable from sheer to full coverage.
It is composed of 5 clean mineral ingredients so you don’t have to worry about the products clogging your pores.
7. Clinique Even Better Makeup
As the name suggests, Clinique Even Better Makeup evens out and corrects your skin. By using this product, you can be sure that your pores will be covered, thus making your makeup flawless.
It is oil-free and was developed by dermatologists. Continued benefits of this product, even without makeup, include skin clarity, improved skin tone, and disappearance of dark spots in 4 to 6 weeks.
8. Wet n wild Photo Focus Dewy Foundation
Wet n Wild is one of those drugstore brands that is so popular because it is affordable yet effectively works the same way as a high-end products.
Their Photo Focus line is a cult-favorite. The formula is ultra-moisturizing and blends seamlessly, giving you a luminous, smooth face while hydrating your skin.
It provides medium to full coverage that blurs imperfections and minimizes the appearance of pores. It provides all-day coverage and transitions well from morning to evening. It gives off a dewy silky finish, projecting a healthy-looking skin.
9. Bellezza Secreto Premium Foundation
This product has a unique gel formula and is made with natural ingredients like Vitamin A, C and E.
It is also oil-free, fragrance free and paraben-free, which won’t clog your pores. It is even safe to use every day. The product creates a silky smooth surface that lasts up to 8-12 hours.
It does its job in hiding fine lines, minimizing pores, and reducing redness. For all skin imperfections, this product is perfect. You can use it for any outdoor events too since it's 100% waterproof.
It does its job without clogging your pores. Time to say goodbye to your pores with this product!
10. ILIA - Natural True Skin Serum Foundation
This foundation is part skincare and part makeup. It is infused with a complexion-perfecting serum that contains nourishing ingredients. The key active ingredients of the product are aloe, plant-based squalene, mastic, jojoba oil, and rosehip oil.
Not only does it make you look good, it is actually good for your skin. The said actives claim to calm any redness in the skin and minimize pores.
The goal that the creators had in mind for this product was to create a foundation that will look like second skin while creating coverage that hides imperfections and blurs pores. Although this is an oil-based foundation, it doesn’t feel oily like some oil-based formulas.
11. Dermablend Flawless Creator Multi-Use Liquid Foundation
Dermablend is a powerful makeup. This product is so good that Allure awarded it as Best in Beauty in 2018. It is a highly pigmented foundation that is so lightweight yet provides full coverage, perfect for hiding the appearance of large pores.
It gives off a unique, silky texture that makes your face cake proof. And when your foundation is cake proof, your large pores will never be evident.
It is water-free, oil-free, and fragrance-free and just has 10 ingredients. Since it is water-free and oil-free, you can mix it with your favorite moisturizer or serum to give an even more radiant look. Dermablend is a powerful makeup.
12. Bella Terra BB Cream Tinted Moisturizer
Throw your cakey concealers and let your skin glow with a lightweight BB cream that conceals your blemishes and minimizes the appearance of fine lines and pores.
This BB cream is a 3 in 1 product that can act as a moisturizer, foundation, and concealer. Unlike other foundations and concealers with chemicals that cause irritation and clog pores, this product is a mineral-based cream that moisturizes and covers imperfections for healthy skin with continued use.
By switching to mineral-based products, you are reducing the toxins you are putting in your skin thus freeing your pores from clogging ingredients that make its appearance bigger.
What Makes a Foundation Good for Large Pores?
You might be wondering what might be a good foundation to use. A bad foundation can accentuate your bigger pores while a good foundation can cover your face’s imperfection, including the appearance of large pores.
A good foundation for large pores must be oil free too, so it doesn’t clog pores. When a pore is clogged, it makes it appear bigger.
The oils that you should avoid are coconut, marula, and palm oil. These three are commonly used in makeup products. While these three have moisturizing and hydrating benefits, they can also clog your pores.
Oil free products don’t add extra shine or oil to your skin, hide your large pores and mattifies your skin to a perfect finish.
How to Choose the Best Foundation for Large Pores
You need to look at a lot of factors before choosing the right foundation. Here’s what to consider when selecting a good foundation:
Type of Foundation
According to Byrdie.com, there are 8 main types of foundation. These are liquid foundation, powder foundation, whipped foundation, stick foundation, mineral powder foundation, tinted moisturizers, BB creams and CC creams.
Each type of foundation addresses different skin types and skin concerns. Each one has its own set of advantages and disadvantages and not all are suitable for every user. Just because this type of foundation looks good on your friend, doesn’t mean that it will be the right fit for you.
Coverage
You’ve heard the words “medium to full coverage” a dozen of times, but do you actually know what it means? Coverage refers to the opacity or transparency of the foundation or its extent in covering skin flaws. There are four types of coverage, namely; sheer coverage, light coverage, medium coverage, and full coverage.
Harmful formulas
One of the reasons pores can look bigger is that they are full of gunk and toxins. Avoid foundations with harmful ingredients like paraben, fragrances, talc, comedogenic, and oxybenzone to name a few.
The most popular ingredients to avoid in the cosmetic and skincare world are called comedogenic ingredients, which is just another word for pore-clogging ingredients.
The topic of comedogenic ingredients is a complicated one and the list of non-comedogenic ingredients can be a long one. Not all products will have the non-comedogenic label in it so familiarize yourself with the most popular non-comedogenic ingredients and make it a habit to check the product’s ingredients.
Built-in Primer
Primers do wonders for a perfect complexion, but not everybody has the patience to apply them. One of the jobs of primers is to blur pores and if you are a person who is very conscious with your pores, then you shouldn’t miss this step. Thankfully, there is a lot of foundations out there that already have built-in primers in them.
How Do You Cover (Minimize) Large Pores with Foundation?
The one secret to cover your large pores is to prep your skin before applying makeup. Prepping your skin before applying anything does wonders. Follow the steps below to properly cover your pores.
Step 1
Keeping yourself hydrated throughout the day is very important. Pores expand all throughout the day if you are dehydrated so always keep a bottle of water with you.
Step 2
Cleanse your skin beforehand. Large pores are often a result of clogged pores with all the product build-up in your face.After washing your face, you can put ice cubes wrapped in a soft cloth and gently massage it into your face.
The coldness of the ice helps shrink the pores.Exfoliating often also helps remove dead skin cells and unclog pores. A clean skin is a perfect canvas for applying foundation.
Step 3
Moisturize your skin after cleansing. Avoid using oil-based moisturizer or moisturizers with comedogenic ingredients if putting makeup because it causes clogged pores. Choose a lightweight hydrating moisturizer instead. No technique will work unless you properly hydrate your skin first.
Step 4
Use a pore filling primer to fill the holes in your face so that you can have a nice surface to put foundation on. Massage the primer right into your pores. Do not rub it into your face instead, tap the product in using your ring finger. Give it a minute to dry and set before applying foundation. Look for silicone based primer as silicone is good in “filling in” your pores.
Step 5
Apply dots of foundation in your face and start pressing the product into your face. If you are using a brush, the trick is to buff and press the foundation into the skin using circular motions. Put pressure into the brush and push the foundation into the pore to create an even surface. Pressing the foundation right into your face can help fill in the pores.
Work through the foundation and not just skim the foundation over the top of your skin. Skimming makes your pores become evident instead. Think of it like you are applying cement to a pothole in the road. If you are using a beauty sponge, just bounce it at the top of your skin so that you can make sure the pores are filled.
Step 6
Next, set your face with a setting powder. Before you set your face with setting powder, make sure none of the pores have become visible again. Buff those again, if necessary. Once everything’s good, pat the setting powder and push in into your face to fill the pores. Pat it in a way that you don't move the foundation that you have already applied. Loose powder typically works best as a setting powder than a pressed powder. Give it a minute to set and brush off the excess.
Step 7
Set your makeup with a setting spray. Setting sprays not only lock your makeup in place but also removes any cakiness.
What to Keep in Mind When Using a Foundation for Large Pores
The most important thing to consider when choosing the right foundation is your skin type and pore size.
Use the Right Type of Foundation for Your Skin
As discussed above, there are several types of foundation, each of which addresses several skin types. If you don’t know what your skin type is, it is best to visit a dermatologist.
- For oily and acne prone skin. People with oily skin usually are the ones with large pores, so make sure when you buy a foundation, choose the one that’s actually made for oily skin, and can help manage the oil that you produce
- For dry skin. Since hydration is one of key secrets in minimizing your pores, people with dry skin should choose foundations with hydrating formulas.
- For irritated skin. If you have irritated or sensitive skin, the best type of foundation for you is mineral makeup since it contains skin-soothing all natural products like aloe vera.
- For textured skin. Textured skin can be a result of lack of proper skincare. A good foundation for textured skin covers your blemishes well, doesn’t cause acne and controls your T-zone.
- For aging skin, wrinkles, dark spots. There are already a lot of products out there that address mature skin problems. A good foundation for mature skin must have anti-aging formulas and a lot of hydrating ingredients that can double as a skincare product.
Apply Your Foundation Correctly
Wrong foundation application can make your large pores worse. Make sure you follow the steps mentioned above to create a flawless complexion. Make sure you are also applying just the right amount so that your final finish will not be cakey.
Use the Right Tools
The tools that you use are important in getting a flawless finish too. Whether you prefer using a brush or a sponge, try to invest in good quality ones.
Take Your Foundation off Before Bedtime
Silicone based primers are a wonderful thing, but they can also clog pores if not taken off properly. Make sure you thoroughly cleanse your face every night. Double cleansing is recommended since you can’t really take off all the gunk in just one cleanse. Remove your makeup first by using makeup removal products and then wash your face as usual with your favorite cleanser.
FAQs About Foundations for Large Pores
Is liquid or powder foundation better for large pores?
If you have dry skin, it is best to go for a liquid foundation because it can give your skin a dewy look. It also does a better job in filling fine lines, wrinkles and large pores than powder foundation for this skin type.
If you have oily skin, then powder foundation is best for you. It has oil absorbing properties and lessens shine. Powder foundations less likely use oils and emollients so they are less likely to clog pores as well.
So since most people with large pores have oily skin, we can say that powder foundation is better to use for people with large pores.
Why do my pores look so big with makeup?
The minute we start applying the foundation on our face, the pores suddenly spring up to life and make its appearance evident. If you are not applying your makeup the right way, they can settle into your pores making them bigger. Don’t just swipe the product across your face, buff and press it into your skin for a more flawless finish.
Using unclean tools when applying your makeup can also be a culprit. Your unwashed tools might have accumulated a lot of dirt and bacteria already and have transferred to your skin when applying makeup enlarging your pores in the process.
Do my pores get larger with age?
As we grow older, our skin’s elasticity is reduced, thus making our pores larger. This means that the skin around our pores is not as firm as when we were younger. Firm skin supports pores so it has the effect of making our pores smaller. In contrast, inelastic skin makes pores bigger.
Does primer make pores bigger?
No, in fact, a good primer makes your pores appear smaller. Pore reducing primer is one of the things the beauty world cannot live without. It preps your skin before foundation application, and it serves as an invisible barrier between your skin and makeup.
The Bottom Line
Now that we have provided some tips and reminders on what to look for in a foundation, you can now make an informed decision on what is the best foundation for your skin condition. Don’t be afraid to try new things, but to narrow your search down, try our list of best foundations that help in minimizing large pores. Bye-bye big pores!
