Can You ‘Shrink’ Your Pores? What’s Actually Possible & What’s Not

Let’s get one thing straight—pores don’t have tiny muscles that can flex and shrink on demand. I know, I know—those skincare ads promising to “erase” pores make it really tempting to believe otherwise. But here’s the truth: while you can’t physically shrink your pores, you can make them look smaller with the right skincare and treatments. So, let’s break it all down.

Are You Born with Your Pore Size?

Yes! Your pore size is determined at birth—just like your eye color or hair texture. Some people have naturally smaller pores, while others have larger, more noticeable ones, especially in areas where oil production is higher (like the T-zone).

✔️ Smaller pores? This typically means you have drier skin. Since the openings are smaller, less oil is able to reach the surface, which can lead to dryness, flakiness, and a tighter skin feel.

✔️ Larger pores? You likely have an oily skin type. Your oil glands are more active, producing more sebum, which keeps pores more open and visible. This excess oil can lead to shininess, congestion, and breakouts if not properly managed.

✔️ Pores only noticeable in the T-zone? You have combination skin, meaning your cheeks are drier, but your forehead, nose, and chin are oilier because your sebaceous glands are more active in those areas.

While you can’t change the size of your pores, certain factors can make them look larger or smaller depending on how you care for your skin.

What Makes Pores Look Larger?

Even though your pore size is set at birth, some things can stretch them out or make them appear more pronounced:

✔️ Excess Oil Production – More oil means more buildup, making pores look bigger.
✔️ Clogged Pores – Dirt, dead skin, and makeup can settle inside pores, stretching them over time.

How to Make Pores Look Smaller (For Real)

Since we can’t actually shrink pores, the goal is to keep them clean, unclogged, and supported with collagen-boosting skincare. Here’s how:

1. Keep Pores Clean

Clogged pores naturally look larger, so keeping them clear is key.

✅ Use a gentle exfoliating cleanser with salicylic acid to dissolve oil and debris.
✅ Double cleanse at night to remove sunscreen and makeup buildup. Do this DAILY! 3X if wearing heavy makeup.
✅ Ditch pore-clogging ingredients (if you’re not sure what’s breaking you out, I have a pore-clogging ingredient checker on my website!).

2. Exfoliate (But Don’t Overdo It)

Exfoliation helps keep dead skin cells from sitting in your pores, making them look smoother and tighter.

✔️ Chemical Exfoliation (AHAs & BHAs) – Helps dissolve dead skin and clear out congestion.
✔️ Physical Exfoliation (Gentle scrubs, not walnut shells!) – Smooths out skin texture. Only use scrubs if you have Non-Inflamed Acne! If you have inflamed acne only use a chemical exfoliation.
🚫 What to avoid: Over-exfoliating, harsh scrubs, and DIY skincare disasters (looking at you, lemon and sugar scrubs!).

3. Use Retinol or Vitamin A Derivatives (talk to your esthetician for guidance)

Retinol increases cell turnover, reduces oiliness, and boosts collagen—helping pores look less noticeable over time.

✔️ Start slow (1-2x a week) and increase usage as your skin tolerates it. It can take up to 7 months to get up to using a retinol daily so when I say GO SLOW, I mean GO SLOW
✔️ Use SPF daily—retinol makes skin more sensitive to sun damage. This should be a given but just incase…wear your SPF Daily

4. Hydration vs. Moisturization—You Need Both

Let’s clear this up: hydration and moisture are NOT the same thing—and your skin needs a balance of both.

💧 Hydration = Water content in the skin (think: plump, dewy, bouncy skin).
Moisturization = Oil content that seals hydration in (think: preventing water loss and strengthening the skin barrier).

✔️ Hydrate your skin with water-based products – Look for hyaluronic acid, glycerin, or aloe in serums or essences.
✔️ Seal hydration in with a good moisturizer – If you have drier skin, go for a richer formula with ceramides or squalane. If you’re oily, a lightweight moisturizer works best. This may changed based on the season.
🚫 Skipping one? Dehydrated skin overproduces oil to compensate, which can lead to breakouts AND exaggerate the look of pores.

5. Sun Protection, Always

Sun damage breaks down collagen, leading to sagging skin and exaggerated pores. SPF is your best anti-aging and pore-minimizing weapon.

✔️ Wear SPF 30+ daily (yes, even indoors!).
✔️ Reapply every 2 hours if you’re outside.

The Bottom Line

You can’t shrink your pores, but you can refine their appearance with the right skincare routine.

💡 Smaller pores? Focus on hydration, barrier support, and gentle exfoliation and collagen-boosting treatments.
💡 Larger pores? Prioritize hydration + barrier support for oil production control, deep cleansing, and collagen-boosting treatments.

Still struggling with skin texture or breakouts? Book a consultation with me at Skin by Ashley—I’ll help you build a pore-friendly routine that actually works.