Do you feel like everyone can see your large pores when you look in the mirror? It’s a common issue, and it often leaves people feeling self-conscious and frustrated. But what if we told you that there is an easy solution: finding the perfect foundation for large pores!
The best foundation for large pores is Maybelline New York Fit Me Matte + Poreless Liquid Foundation because it offers great coverage with a lightweight feel that won’t budge.
Of course, everyone has different skin types, so we’ll share our top tips on how to select the best foundations that will help minimize the appearance of large pores while addressing skin type. That way, you can confidently show off your skin without worrying about hiding imperfections.
See which foundations made the top of the list, based on scouring tons of user reviews and product features like SPF, moisturizing factor, skin shade options and more.
Our Top Picks for the Best Foundation for Large Pores
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | |
|---|---|---|
Our Pick  |
| View On Amazon →Read Our Review |
Best Nourishing Formula  |
| View On Amazon →Read Our Review |
Best for Mature Skin  |
| View On Amazon →Read Our Review |
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| View On Amazon →Read Our Review |
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| View On Amazon →Read Our Review |
What Causes Large Pores?
Enlarged pores on your face can cause you to appear with less healthy skin and oftentimes, it causes you to look older than you actually are. Enlarged pores have been at the top of people’s skin concerns, that more often than not, can also cause more skin issues to arise.
So, what causes pores to appear large?
Genetics
Sadly, large pores, along with many other things we possess, can be passed on from one person to another genetically. The size of your pores can be inherited and you can often find other family members who are in the same situation as you are in.
Clogged pores
When your skin produces excess oil and dead skin cells as a bodily response to your environment, there could be a tendency that they lodge up in your pores, making their sizes appear bigger as well. Acne prone skin often has large pores.
Age
Aside from wrinkles and fine lines, another sign of aging includes enlarged pores. As we age, the skin loses its natural elasticity. This causes our skin to sag, which also causes our pores to stretch and appear larger than what they originally were.
The Best Foundation for Large Pores
Maybelline New York Fit Me Matte + Poreless Liquid Foundation – Our Pick!
Our pick for the best foundation for large pores is the cult-favorite Maybelline New York Fit Me Matte + Poreless Liquid Foundation! Formulated especially for normal to oily skin, this foundation offers a natural matte finish while refining pores so they appear less noticeable everytime you put this on. If you’re one to constantly deal with your skin’s excess oil production, you might want to pick a foundation with a natural-looking matte finish, such as this one from Maybelline New York.
This Maybelline foundation is formulated to effectively and efficiently hide enlarged pores and also doesn’t emphasize fine lines and wrinkles that have appeared throughout the years by filling them in. This is very light to wear yet has a buildable formula. You can be assured that this won’t appear cakey on your face as you layer more to get your desired coverage. It provides medium coverage and is available in a wide variety of 40 shades, so you’re sure to find one that perfectly fits your skin color.
Although considered by many as a lightweight wear, this foundation promises to last all day on skin without making your face appear oily. This also allows you to blend your foundations well and fairly easily. So if you’re new to the world of makeup (just like me!), this will definitely be beginner-friendly. Maybelline also offers this Fit Me Matte + Poreless Liquid Foundation in pouch packaging that’s really convenient and friendly for when you’re traveling.
This has a non-comedogenic formula and is dermatologist tested so you can safely use this with no worries at all. It’s very gentle and doesn’t irritate skin whenever you wear this as part of your makeup routine. It also doesn’t clog pores which can lead to further acne and breakouts. Overall, this Maybelline Fit Me foundation offers excellent and great coverage that’s able to cover up blemishes and skin imperfections at a much cheaper price. This is a great choice for you if you’re not ready to splurge on a new foundation yet but don’t want to sacrifice quality and wearability. A quick reminder though that because this gives you a matte finish, you might want to stay away from this one if you have dry skin.
Pros:
- Natural matte finish
- Provides medium coverage
- Refines pores so they are less noticeable
- Doesn’t emphasize fine lines and wrinkles
- Lightweight and buildable formula
- Doesn’t appear cakey on face
- Available in 40 shades
- Lasts on face all day without being oily
- Blends well and easily
- Non-comedogenic and dermatologist tested
- No clogged pores and irritated skin
- Cheap
Cons:
- Not ideal for dry skin
Perricone MD No Makeup Foundation Serum – Best Nourishing Formula!
If what you’re looking for is a foundation that has a nourishing formula on top of being able to hide large pores, you might want to check out the No Makeup Foundation Serum from cosmeceutical brand Perricone MD! Infused with skincare ingredients, this foundation serum promises to give your skin a luminous glow and bring out your skin’s natural flush of color on top of effectively smoothing out the look and appearance of several skin imperfections. It offers a semi-matte sheer finish – not leaving your skin too dry and not too dewy either.
As a skin-improving and treatment foundation, much like everything else in its line, this helps perfect your complexion by improving dark spots and uneven skin tone. With this in your makeup routine, you’re not only improving your skin tone using makeup but also improving your skin so it appears much healthier and with more glow overtime. This is also formulated to cover pores, scars, and blemishes well so you can smooth out imperfections. It also doesn’t settle and accentuate fine lines and wrinkles.
This Perricone MD treatment foundation is also formulated to be fragrance-free, so if you’re one with sensitivities to fragrances and would prefer your makeup scent-free, this might be a good way to go. It goes on very light on skin to the point you don’t feel like you’re wearing makeup at all! It looks very natural on skin as if you have no makeup on and has a buildable formula, so you can build up as many layers as you need to achieve your desired coverage.
It’s currently available in 8 shades but all offer varying skin tones you can match up to your skin. This one is especially good and beneficial for those with oily to combination skin types thanks to its semi-matte and the perfect in-between finish. It doesn’t end up adding more oil on your skin so you don’t end your day with a pool of oil and grease. Overall, this feels very nourishing on skin, something that doesn’t just feel like you put layers and layers of makeup without actually improving your natural skin.
Pros:
- Nourishing formula
- Semi-matte and sheer finish
- Improves dark spots and uneven skin tone
- Covers pores, scars, blemishes, and ski imperfections
- Doesn’t settle on fine lines and wrinkles
- Fragrance-free
- Lightweight – doesn’t feel like makeup
- Buildable and layers well
- ‘No make-up’ foundation
- Great for oily to combination skin
Cons:
- Limited shade range
BaeBlu LUX Liquid Foundation – Best for Mature Skin!
The next item that made it into our picks for the best foundations for large pores and our choice for the best one for mature skin is the BaeBlu LUX Liquid Foundation! Proudly infused with advanced botanical anti-aging formula, you can trust that this will help reveal a healthy, youthful, and even flawless skin overtime. It’s also formulated to blot excess oil and heal dry spots while restoring your skin to a healthy and youthful glow, available in varying 16 shades!
This BaeBlu liquid foundation is also formulated with certified organic and natural ingredients; without artificial colors, preservatives, fragrances, harsh chemicals, parabens; and is gluten-free, cruelty-free, and vegan. Wow, talk about clean, healthy, and safe makeup! By regularly incorporating this in your makeup routine, you can sleep peacefully without worrying about what you’re constantly putting on your face. And because of this, it will definitely not worry you too much if you accidentally sleep with this on, we’re not advocating you sleep with your makeup on though!
Thanks to this foundation’s nourishing ingredients, it’s able to smooth out fine lines and wrinkles and never clogs your pores that can lead to unwarranted breakouts. It easily doesn’t highlight various signs of aging and leaves your skin looking naturally gorgeous. It goes on smoothly on skin and gives you a non-greasy coverage and finish thanks to its water-based formula. It allows for a very light coverage for a more natural-looking makeup. But beware that because it is water-based, this may run too liquidy for others’ preferences.
With this foundation, you can also expect great staying power that’s still fairly easy to wash off when it’s the end of the day. Although without added artificial fragrances, it has a calming aromatic effect that comes from its pool of natural and organic ingredients. And another good news for someone who wants to do good for the planet, brand BaeBlu recently upgraded its foundatio’s packaging with 100% recyclable materials so consumers produce less plastic waste.
Pros:
- Ideal for mature skin
- Advanced botanical anti-aging formula
- Restores skin to a healthy, youthful glow
- Balances skin’s dry spots and excess oil
- Free from artificial colors, fragrances, parabens
- No harsh chemicals
- Healthy and safe makeup
- Smooths out signs of aging, enlarged pores
- No clogged pores
- Light coverage and non-greasy finish
- Calming aromatic effect
- 100% recyclable packaging
- Available in 16 shades
Cons:
- Consistency may be too liquid for some
Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation
Our next choice for the best foundation for large pores is the Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation from cult-favorite beauty brand Fenty Beauty by Rihanna! Made with an oil-free formula, this foundation is another great choice for those with oily skin caused by enlarged pores. This is able to give your skin an instantly smooth, pore-diffused, and shine-free finish that will surely last all day. It has medium to full coverage that’s easily buildable without looking cakey and comes in 40 boundary-breaking shades for every skin tone!
This Fenty Beauty Foundation is made with climate-adaptive technology so that it’s resistant to sweat and humidity, making it a great go-to wherever you are in the world and no matter the climate! It has a thick and buildable texture that goes on smoothly and blends well on skin. This can be layered well over problem areas – blemishes, dark spots, fine lines, and enlarged pores – but still looks natural on skin. This feels very light to wear as well, no matter how many layers you wear, and feels like you’re not wearing anything.
If you have oily skin, no need to worry about this one as this stays put on skin all day, even on usually oily skin. There is also no redness, irritation, or reactions with this one in your daily makeup routine. And although matte, this gives you a finish that still looks and feels overall natural. You have to remember to shake this one every time you plan on using it to allow the foundation to activate first.
Pros:
- Oil-free formula foundation
- Instantly smooth, pore-diffused, shine-free finish
- Matte finish
- Long-lasting
- Buildable, medium to full coverage
- Available in 40 shades
- Sweat and humidity-resistant
- Applies and blends smoothly
- Layers well
- Light-as-air texture
- Stays put all day even on oily skin
Cons:
- None
Max Factor FaceFinity Compact Foundation
If what you’re looking for is a compact foundation you can easily bring with you anywhere you go, you might want to check out the Max Factor FaceFinity Compact Foundation! This compact foundation offers a matte, satin finish that promises to stay put on face all day with no shine at all. It has a buildable coverage that wouldn’t leave you cakey and will allow you to retouch as much as you need throughout the day. It looks very natural on skin but still offers anyone great coverage to cover blemishes and large pores well.
This Max Factor compact foundation is sure to apply smoothly and nicely on skin and will give you a natural finish. It also has SPF15 for added sun protection against the sun’s harmful rays. It doesn’t dry out skin and causes no clogged pores or breakouts as well. Powder foundations are great for days you don’t want to wear much makeup.
Thanks to its compact and powder nature, it’s very easy and quick to apply – a great choice for someone who’s always on the move. This one is also formulated to stay put on your face all day and will require very minimal retouching throughout the day, even on oily skin! It’s very lightweight to wear as well and feels like there’s nothing on your face.
But a quick reminder that because this is a powder foundation, it might not offer the same coverage as a liquid foundation. So if you’re looking for a full coverage foundation, you might want to opt for a liquid foundation instead – something that’s more buildable.
Pros:
- Compact foundation
- Matte, satin finish
- SPF15
- Stays put on face all day without shine
- Buildable formula
- Looks and feels natural on skin
- Offers great coverage
- No clogged pores and breakouts
- Easy and quick to apply
- Minimal routuches
- Great on oily skin
- Great alternative to liquid foundation
Cons:
- Might not offer the same coverage as a liquid foundation
How to Manage and Care for Large Pores
Although we can’t permanently change the size of our pores, there are many ways available to us to be able to manage and care for enlarged pores so they can appear minimized and they stay healthy and clean.
Cleanse your face
Probably the first (and most basic) thing one can do to care for large pores is to regularly clean your face. Choose a facial cleanser that will help you remove excess dirt and oil but won’t strip your skin off its natural oils to maintain its healthy condition. Get one that will also make sure to remove dirt that’s lodged in your pores without being too harsh.
Regularly exfoliate
Regularly exfoliating your face will make sure that old stubborn gunk that is lodged inside your pores will be removed. It will help you maintain unclogged pores and will help stop the further stretching of your pores.
Non-comedogenic products
To make sure your pores stay as healthy as they can, make sure you only get skincare and makeup products that are formulated to be non-comedogenic. Non-comedogenic skin products will not irritate and clog your pores, even if you have sensitive skin. And if you have enlarged pores, you know this is a priority.
How to Use Foundation to Minimize the Appearance of Large Pores
A foundation – and using the right one for your skin type and skin needs – will greatly help you in minimizing the appearance of large pores every time you do your makeup routine. So, how should you use foundation to help you achieve just that?
First off, you want to make sure you choose and get the right foundation for your skin type. This will make sure you get the most of your foundation and that it will do your skin and your pores wonders. A primer could also be your best friend when it comes to minimizing large pores. Get a primer that has pore minimizing effects and one that can blur them out on your face. Applying such a primer before you work in your foundation will help your chosen foundation not settle in your enlarged pores, wrinkles, and fine lines making them more obvious.
You can also opt to use a setting powder or even a setting spray after the rest of your makeup to make sure your makeup products stay put on your face all day and can look flawless at the end of the day as they were when you first applied them.
How to Choose the Best Foundation for Large Pores
With so many foundations that claim to help minimize the appearance of large pores, it’s important for you to know a few important things you should take into consideration in your choosing process.
Skin type
As with many other makeup products, you should take into careful consideration your skin type in choosing your new foundation. Not all foundations are created to work the same for all skin types. They are most likely formulated to cater to specific skin types.
If you have dry skin, go for something that has moisturizing properties or ingredients. For those with oily skin, it’s better to choose something that’s oil-free and has oil-controlling properties. Mature skin will benefit from a foundation that has anti-aging and nourishing ingredients.
Don’t confuse large pores with acne scars. If you have scars or pitted spots on your face from acne, then check out these full coverage foundations for textured skin.
Shade range
In looking for your new foundation for large pores, you should also consider the available shades in the brand’s range.If you have a brand or product in mind, you’d want to make sure they carry the shade you wear that’s just perfect for your skin tone.
SPF
Foundations are also formulated with SPF and sun protection. Getting one that has SPF will give you another layer of sun protection on top of your favorite sunscreen. If your new foundation doesn’t have SPF infused with its formula, make sure you put an extra layer of sunscreen before you start with your makeup routine.
Conclusion
A foundation is a good way to help your skin appear poreless for a more flawless makeup. But with so many options with just a single Google search, it can feel overwhelming to see which ones will do your skin wonders.
The Maybelline New York Fit Me Matte + Poreless Liquid Foundation is our pick for the best foundation for large pores thanks to its pore-refining formula making your pores look less noticeable and for its natural matte finish that’s especially beneficial for those with oily skin. It’s also non-comedogenic and dermatologist-tested so you’re sure of its safety! If what you’re looking for is a foundation with a nourishing formula, you might want to check out Perricone MD No Makeup Foundation Serum. It effectively improves dark spots and uneven skin tone while covering blemishes, pores, and scars as part of your makeup routine.
The BaeBlu LUX Liquid Foundation is our choice for the best foundation for large pores on mature skin for its advanced botanical anti-aging formula that restores your skin back to its healthy and youthful glow.
Choosing the right foundation for your skin’s needs will do your skin wonders to get you ready to take on the day and we hope you’ve found your new foundation best friend with our review and guide!