Best overall
Paula's Choice
Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
8.6Excellent
The cult 2% salicylic acid leave-on exfoliant: reliably unclogs pores and smooths texture, with irritation the main risk.
Toner5$37.00
Clarify · Oil & Pores
Pore refining
7 products we review are built for pore refining — 43% of them exfoliants & masks. The ingredients doing most of the work: niacinamide, salicylic acid and glycerin. Most are made for oily skin, combination skin and normal skin.
Breakouts, blackheads, oil and pores — the clear-skin department, minus the stripping.
Top rated
The pore refining podium.
The ingredients behind it
Key actives in the products that deliver pore refining — tap one for what it does and how strong the evidence is.
Often paired with
Benefits that tend to come along for the ride.
7 products
Every pore refining pick.
7 products
Best value
Maybelline New York
Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation
8.2Great
A $11.99 oil-free matte foundation in 40 shades that remains a go-to drugstore pick for normal to oily skin.
Foundation4$11.99
Best value
Good Molecules
Discoloration Correcting Serum
8.1Great
A $12 tranexamic-derivative and niacinamide serum with full ingredient percentages, a budget favorite for marks and uneven tone.
Serum5$12.00
Best value Trending
Beauty of Joseon
Glow Serum: Propolis + Niacinamide
8.0Great
A cushiony propolis-and-niacinamide serum with a low price and a devoted following for glow, calm and smoother-looking pores.
Serum5$17.00
Best value Trending
The Ordinary
Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
7.9Good
A $6 cult niacinamide serum that helps many oily, blemish-prone users with shine and pores, though a vocal minority reports breakouts.
Serum5$6.00
Viral Trending
Biodance
Bio-Collagen Real Deep Mask
7.6Good
Viral overnight hydrogel mask that leaves skin plump and dewy by morning, though reviewers call the glow a short-term boost.
Sheet mask4$19.00
Glow Recipe
Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Pore-Tight Toner
7.5Good
A hydrating, low-strength PHA + BHA toner that smooths and refines pores gently, at a premium price for its acid dose.
Toner5$36.00