3 Science-Backed Ways To Reduce Large Pores (That Really Work)

Last Updated on January 27, 2026 by Giorgia Guazzarotti

How the heck do you reduce large pores?! You’ve splashed your face with cold water to tighten them, used pores strips that promised to eradicate them, and exfoliated the heck out of your skin to make them smaller… but nothing is working. It’s like they have a life of their own. No matter what you do, they keep getting bigger and bigger. It’s like they’re under a magnifying glass all day. Are you using the wrong products or is this a lost cause? Let’s find out.

Can You Reduce Large Pores?

First things first: you can’t get rid of pores completely. Even if you could, you wouldn’t want to. Your pores allow sebum (the skin’s natural moisturiser) to reach the surface of your skin and keep it soft and supple. Sebum and pores got a bad rep in some circles, but without them, your skin would be drier than the Sahara and shrivelled like an old prune.

You need pores. But do they need to be so large?! Here’s the deal: the size of your pores is genetically determined. You can’t change it. The exception? Clogged pores. The excess sebum + dead cells stuck inside them make them swell, so they look larger than they’re supposed to. If you remove that gunk, your pores will get smaller… by shrinking back to their original size.

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How To Reduce Large Pores

You can’t shrink large pores, but you can shrink enlarged pores. Here are the best treatments to bring them back to their original size:

1. Exfoliate To Unclog Large Pores

If pores swell up when they’re clogged, it follows that removing all that crap comfortably lodged inside them will bring them back to their original size. This is a job for salicylic acid. Don’t fall for the marketing hype. No other exfoliant – no glycolic acid, Clarisonic, scrubs with charcoal, etc – unclogs pores. They can’t penetrate inside the pores.

Can you clean a house if you can’t make it past the front door? It’s the same with exfoliants. If they can’t get in, they won’t do the job. Salicylic acid is different. Unlike all other exfoliants, salicylic acid gets inside the pores, where it dissolves the mixture of excess oil and dead cells that’s clogging them up. Bonus points: Salicylic Acid helps you avoid breakouts and blackheads, too.

P.S. The older the sebum stuck in the pores is, the longer it’ll take to remove it. Be patient.

Best Pick:

• Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum ($90.00): Don’t let the name fool you. This exfoliant has both salicylic acid to unclog pores and glycolic acid to fade away the dark spots pimples sometimes leave behind. Available at Cult Beauty, Sephora and SpaceNK.
• Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid ($29.00): The cult exfoliant from the brand, it unlclogs pores and treats blackheads and acne. The texture’s a little sticky, but if you can take that, this is one of the best salicylic acid exfoliants out there. Available at Cult Beauty, Sephora, and SpaceNK.
• The Inkey List Beta Hydroxy Acid (£9.99): A simple, no-frills salicylic acid exfoliant for people on a budget. Available at Cult Beauty.

Related: Why Salicylic Acid Is Key To Spot-Free Skin

2. Use Retinoids To Tighten Large Pores

You’re probably already using retinoids to fight wrinkles. But did you know these babies can reduce pores, too? Here are their skincare superpowers:

• Retinoids accelerate cellular turnover (the skin’s natural exfoliating process), making skin look younger and smoother.
• Retinoids reduce pore size, together with wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and roughness.
• Retinoids stimulate the production of collagen, which tightens skin. And when skin is tight, pores look smaller.

How can you spot them on the label? Look for “Retin” somewhere in the name. Common retinoids include:

• Granactive Retinoid
• Retinol
• Retinaldehyde
• Tretinoin

Best Picks:

• The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion ($12.10): This simple formula contains both retinol and granactive retinoid, a new form of retinoid that’s great at treating acne. Available at Beauty Bay, Boots, Cult Beauty, The Ordinary, and Ulta
• Paula’s Choice Resist 1% Retinol Booster ($52.00): A high dose retinol serum infused with antioxidants to help you fight premature aging. You can use it on its own for maximum effect. If that’s too irritating for your skin, mix a couple of drops with your moisturiser. Available at Cult Beauty, Dermstore, and Paula’s Choice, and SpaceNK
• Paula’s Choice Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum With Retinol ($39.00): This serum has a tiny dose of retinol that’s suitable for beginners. Plus, it’s infused with any antioxidants you can think of. Available at Dermstore and Paula’s Choice

Related:What Strength Of Retinol Do You Need?

3. Try IPL To Reduce Large Pores

If money isn’t a problem for you and you can happily splurge on more expensive treatments (three sessions cost a whooping $1800!), you can try Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) treatments. IPL works by emitting high intensity pulses of light, which is then converted into heat energy. It can:

• Fade away age spots
• Fade away melasma
• Kill P.Acnes
• Refine skin’s texture
• Reduce the appearance of pores.
• Reduce scars
• Shrink oil glands
• Treat sun damaged skin

Phew! Is there something it can’t do? Need more proof? According to a 2001 study, over 90% of 49 subjects who underwent four or more IPL treatments at 3-week intervals experienced a visible improvement in wrinkling, skin coarseness, irregular pigmentation, and pore size. With minimal downtime. And, no scarring.

The catch? We don’t know yet how long the effects last. So, talk to your dermatologist to see if this is a good option for you. You don’t want to spend that kind of money, and see your pores become huge again after a month, do you?

FAQs

How often should I use salicylic acid? Can I use it daily or will that irritate my skin?

Look, start slow or you’re gonna regret it. Use it 2 a week for the first couple of weeks. See how your skin reacts. No redness? No flaking? No stinging? Cool, you can work up to every other day. Your skin will tell you what it can take – if it’s freaking out, you’re doing too much. Back off and let it recover.

Can I use salicylic acid and retinoids together, or will that be too harsh?

You can, but seriously, don’t be a hero about it. Use salicylic acid and retinoids on alternate nights. That’s the easiest way to use both without upsetting your skin. Slapping both on your face at the same time, especially when you’re just starting out, is basically asking for a red, irritated, flaky mess. Your skin needs time to build up tolerance to both of these.

What time of day should I use these products – morning, night, or both?

• Salicylic acid: You could use it during the day, but night is better. Any form of exfoliation makes skin more susceptible to sun exposure.
• Retinoids: Night only, period. Sunlight breaks them down so they don’t work, plus they make your skin way more sensitive to the sun.
• If you’re using both, the simplest routine is alternating salicylic acid and retinoid at night. Done.

Will my pores go back to being enlarged if I stop using these products?

Yep, afraid so. This is the part nobody wants to hear, but it’s the truth. This is maintenance, not a cure. If you stop using salicylic acid, your pores are just gonna start clogging up again. Oil and dead skin cells will build up, your pores will stretch, and boom – you’re back where you started. Same deal with retinoids – stop using them and all those benefits disappear. Your skin goes back to its normal rate of cell turnover, collagen production slows down, and your pores lose that tightened appearance. Think of it like working out. You can’t hit the gym for 3 months, get abs, then quit and expect to keep those abs forever. Your pores need consistent, ongoing care or they revert back to their enlarged state.

How do I prevent my pores from getting clogged in the first place?

Keep them clear with regular exfoliation – yes, that means sticking with your salicylic acid routine. Cleanse your face properly every single day and use lightweight, non-comedogenic products that aren’t gonna shove a bunch of pore-clogging ingredients into your skin.

What about niacinamide – everyone says it shrinks pores?

Okay, let’s set the record straight here because there’s a lot of hype around niacinamide. It’s a really good ingredient, don’t get me wrong. But it doesn’t actually shrink your pores. What it DOES do is regulate how much oil your skin produces. Less oil means your pores aren’t getting stretched out as much, so they look smaller. It also strengthens your skin barrier and calms down inflammation, which can make your pores appear less noticeable. So yeah, it helps with the appearance of pores, but it’s not doing the deep-cleaning job that salicylic acid does, and it’s not tightening your skin the way retinoids do.

Think of niacinamide as the supporting actor, not the lead. It’s great when you use it alongside salicylic acid and retinoids, but it shouldn’t be your only strategy. The dream team for dealing with pores is salicylic acid to unclog them, retinoids to tighten everything up, and niacinamide to keep oil production in check. That combo is genuinely powerful. But if you can only afford one thing or you’re just starting out and don’t want to overwhelm your skin? Salicylic acid wins every single time. That’s your MVP for pores.

The Bottom Line

You can’t change pore size. But if your large pores are clogged, you CAN bring them back to their original, smaller size.