Archived Post
How to Minimize Pores - Tips & Tricks
Makeup & Beauty Tips on How to Minimize Pores
Share your best tips and tricks for minimizing pores! Feel free to share your experiences, how you mastered techniques, or what you struggle with.
My Tips
- Smoothing primer – like Hourglass Mineral Veil – that gives the skin a smoother surface from the start.
- Blurring powder – like NARS Translucent Loose Powder – will give skin that really, really blurred, smooth look – but sometimes you may need to add luminosity back with a finishing powder (I like Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders or Guerlain Meteorites).
- Use feathery, fan brushes with high-shimmer blushes and bronzers to blend and sheer out those shimmers so they don’t emphasize pores.
Is the nars loose powder better than the pressed powder?
I prefer the ease of application with the loose 🙂
Thanks! I just put it on my sephora wish list :p
which one would you recommend for Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders?
There are so many and I cannot choose one 🙁
Depends what you want it to do (most) and what skin tone you have! I don’t think you can go wrong!
But I highly recommend the holiday palette they put out, since you get three 🙂
I have dark skin like nc50, which of the hourglass powders will you recommend?
Luminous or Radiant!
Dr. Brandt “Pores No More” pore refiner. This has a matte finish and can be used over and/or under foundation and powder.
Can you recommend a pressed powder that blurrs as well as the NARS powder?
Hourglass or Guerlain
Thanks 🙂
Hourglass is not available in my country. When you say Guerlain powder – you mean the Compact Pressed Powder or the Meteorite Voyage powder?
Meteorite Voyage Powder 🙂
Thanks for clarifying Christine! You have a great day ahead Gurrl!
I’ve been waiting for this post! Seriously…I need help! I use Benefits Porefessional (but it is not the greatest..still looking for HG), Then Chanel Mat Lumiere (or any matte foundation), then I press powder foundation into my skin with a sponge. BUT this is NOT (cannot be…please!) the best combo for large pores…it helps but still doesn’t look great. So, I’m open to tips here!
The best foundation I have found for blurring pores is Dan Read foundation, and he does have a website. It’s not well known, which is a shame, because it covers well, is easy to apply, and it’s not sticky and doesn’t feel like you’re wearing foundation, and lasts a very long time even without powdering. I don’t usually powder unless it gets above 75 degrees. My skin isn’t oily now that I’m 52, but I used to have combination skin. I’ve worn almost everything– Chanel, Armani, Cle de Peau, Bobbi Brown, Laura Mercier, Mac, La Prairie, Estee Lauder, Clarins, Dior, Lancome– and I always come back to Dan Read.
A powder foundation over a matte foundation might look a bit heavy and sink into the pores? The Nars Light Reflecting Loose setting powder is lightweght and actually blurs the appearance of pores and sets your foundation for the day. If you roll on the powder using a puff, then brush off the excess with a powder brush, it should leave a really nice finish.
A lot can be done in skincare to minimise the appearance of pores, like using AHAs or BHAs. British skincare blogger Caroline Hirons or Paula’s Choice would be a good place to start
Is the Nars loose powder flashes back in photography? Thanks!
Nope!
Christine, about the brushes: is it better to just use a fan brush from the get-go, or use a kabuki/buffer bush (Mac 182) after applying the blush/highlighters with a regular blush brush?
I like a fan brush 🙂 But I would experiment and see what you like best based on your technique and may switch it up depending on the product or effect!
Thank you, Lady!:-)
I think it is time to own a fan brush; I wouldn’t know if it’s a good fit until I try, right? Why so many options to look fabulous! lol! 😉