If you have large pores, finding the right foundation can be tricky. Makeup might settle in your pores which makes them look bigger.
To minimize the look of your big pores, you need to find the right formula that helps to blur the skin without separating throughout the day.
Here is a list of our top favorite foundations for large pores, as well as their pros and cons. This article will also tell you how to apply them to get a flawless look!
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Best Foundations For Large Pores
MAC Cosmetics Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15
This cult-favorite foundation provides a buildable matte finish that can last all day long. The lightweight formula glides smoothly into the skin giving a smooth finish.
It helps to minimize the appearance of the pores and imperfections without looking cakey. It’s comfortable to wear and it’s Sweat- and humidity-resistant.
A little bit goes a long way so start with a tiny amount. Apply more foundation where needed. Blend it using a damp sponge to get a natural finish that looks like your skin.
It might cling to dry patches so moisturize your skin before application.
The price is reasonable compared to many other high-end foundations. The only downside is that the bottle doesn’t come with a pump. This makes it tricky to apply.
This pore-minimizing foundation has an SPF15 which can help protect the skin from the sun. Keep in mind that you should not rely on built-in sunscreen to get full sun protection. Always use sunscreen before makeup to make sure your skin is protected the right way.
The MAC Cosmetics Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 comes in 60 shades which is great! Use the Sephora Shade Finder to find your perfect match.
NARS Soft Matte Complete Foundation
This transfer-proof foundation is formulated with micro-algae which helps to control excess sebum. It has bio hyaluronic acid which helps to hydrate the skin. This makes it a perfect choice if you have big pores and dry skin.
It gives the most seamless and poreless look. It’s also very comfortable to wear and you only need a small amount to cover the entire face.
It provides medium to full coverage and a nice matte finish that looks very natural. It’s also long lasting and it doesn’t emphasize fine lines or wrinkles.
The NARS Soft Matte Complete Foundation is available in 34 shades. You can find your perfect match by using the Sephora shade finder.
IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream with SPF 50+
If you are looking for a full-coverage foundation with sun protection, this foundation can be the best choice. It has a creamy formula that’s also heavy so you only need a tiny amount.
It’s infused with hyaluronic acid and antioxidants which help to diminish the appearance of wrinkles and pores.
Blend it with a damp makeup sponge to get a natural look. Pump a pea-sized amount of foundation onto the back of your hand. Use a damp makeup sponge to apply a tiny amount on your cheeks, forehead, chin, and nose. Bounce the sponge across the skin and blend the foundation starting from the center of the face.
This foundation is available in 12 shades and you can use the Sephora shade finder to find your perfect match.
Maybelline Fit me matte + poreless foundation
The Maybelline Fit me matte + poreless foundation is one of the best drugstore foundations to hide big pores. It’s very affordable and it has a light formula that blends easily into the skin.
It’s an excellent choice for big pores thanks to its micro-powders that help to blurs large pores.
It has a lightweight formula and it gives the skin light to medium coverage. This foundation evens out the skin tone beautifully and it doesn’t look cakey or heavy. It’s a great everyday foundation and it lasts well too.
The Maybelline Fit me matte + poreless is available in 40 shades and you can use the Ulta shade finder to find your perfect match.
CLINIQUE Stay-Matte Oil-Free Makeup Foundation
For a natural matte look that lasts all day, CLINIQUE Stay-Matte Oil-Free Makeup Foundation is a great choice.
It’s very lightweight, oil-free and it provides medium to full coverage without looking cakey. It sets to a matte finish and doesn’t transfer or move throughout the day.
The formula of this foundation is very lightweight and easy to blend. It sits nicely on the skin and it doesn’t emphasize wrinkles.
A little goes a long way so you only need a tiny amount to cover the entire face. It’s one of the best matte formulas because it looks very natural on the skin.
The CLINIQUE Stay-Matte Oil-Free Makeup Foundation is available in 20 shades and you can check the Sephora shade finder to find your perfect match.
Revlon PhotoReady Candid Natural Finish Foundation
This foundation has got great reviews for many reasons. It gives the skin a natural-looking finish without feeling cakey. It’s also hydrating and it blends effortlessly on the skin.
Apply it with a damp makeup sponge to get a light coverage that looks like your skin but better. For medium coverage, use a stippling brush and buff the foundation in circular motions starting from the center of the face.
The formula doesn’t sit into the pores and it doesn’t emphasize skin texture either. It works great for mature skin because it doesn’t highlight wrinkles.
This foundation is one of the best foundations for big pores. It’s very affordable and it performs better than many high-end foundations.
It’s available in 31 shades and it’s oil-free and paraben-free.
FENTY BEAUTY by Rihanna Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Liquid Foundation
If you’re looking for a flawless, matte finish, this foundation is exactly what you need. It gives the skin a medium to full coverage and it’s very long-wearing.
It’s also sweat-resistant so it could be a great choice for hot summer days.
To get a skin-like finish, apply it with a damp makeup sponge. Pump a small amount onto the back of your hand, use a damp makeup sponge to apply a tiny amount on your face. Bounce the sponge across the skin and blend the foundation starting from the center of the face.
Keep in mind that this foundation might cling to dry patches so moisturize your skin before application. It has a great shade range as it comes in 50 shades to match many skin tones. You can use the Sephora Shade Finder to find your perfect match.
Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Liquid Touch Weightless Foundation
Designed to deliver a natural finish, this foundation from Rare Beauty is a great choice. It has an innovative breathable formula that delivers light to medium coverage. It helps to smooth the look of the pores without looking cakey.
This foundation contains a blend of nourishing ingredients that help to smooth and calm the skin.
Be sure to shake the bottle well before application so that the foundation pigments are evenly dispersed throughout.
It has a doe-foot applicator that lets you apply one dot at a time.
The serum-like texture is easy to blend on the skin using your fingers. Use one dot of foundation to cover the entire face and add more where needed. Press the formula gently into the skin with your fingers.
You can also use a brush or a sponge to blend it out. Since it’s a serum-like texture foundation, you might get light coverage using a sponge.
The Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Liquid Touch Weightless Foundation comes in 48 shades. You can use the Sephora shade finder to find your perfect match.
bareMinerals Original Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 15
If you are looking for a powder foundation to help blur large pores, this is a nice option.
It only has five ingredients and it gives the skin a smooth finish.
It provides light to medium coverage and doesn’t emphasize skin texture. It doesn’t accentuate dry and flaky patches too which makes it a great choice for large pores and dry skin.
This mineral powder foundation has an SPF 15 to help to protect the skin from harmful rays. Keep in mind that you should always wear a separate sunscreen before makeup and never rely on built-in sunscreen.
This foundation comes in 30 shades. You can find your perfect match using the Ulta shade finder.
L’Oreal Paris True Match Super-Blendable Powder
If you are looking for an affordable powder foundation to help to minimize large pores, this powder is a great option.
It’s oil-free and super fine which makes it blend effortlessly onto the skin. It contains skin tone-enhancing pearl pigments for a natural look.
This powder provides light to medium coverage. It helps covering imperfections and blurring big pores. It doesn’t settle into wrinkles which makes it one of the best powder foundations for mature skin.
It’s inexpensive and it’s available in 16 different shades to match many skin tones.
MAKE UP FOR EVER Matte Velvet Skin Full Coverage Foundation
This full-coverage, water-resistant foundation is made for normal to oily skin types, and it provides a velvety matte finish.
It blends beautifully on the skin, and it doesn’t emphasize large pores. The formula is also oil-absorbing, which means it’ll keep your skin shine-free throughout the day. Plus, it has Flexi-fit complex technology that ensures your makeup stays in place without caking or flaking off.
You can use your finger, a kabuki brush, or a makeup sponge to blend it out. It’s available in 40 shades, and you can find your perfect match by using the Sephora shade finder.
Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation
If you want a flawless look all day, check this foundation from Estée Lauder.
It lasts in hot and humid weather, and it’s also oil-free and oil-controlling. This foundation feels lightweight on the skin all day long—so you can go from work to workout without worrying about touchups or caking.
It provides medium to full coverage so you can build coverage where you need it most. Plus, there are over 55 shades available to suit all skin tones—including cool, neutral, and warm undertones. So whether you want medium coverage or a flawless look for an evening out (or even both), this is the foundation for you.
Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra 24H Long Wear Matte Foundation
This foundation is the perfect makeup base for anyone that wants to look flawless and poreless all day. It’s lightweight, breathable, and transfer-resistant, so you can wear it without worrying about your makeup fading or caking off. Plus, it comes in over 50 shades with warm, neutral, and cool undertones, so there’s something for everyone!
It glides on seamlessly, and it gives the skin a beautiful matte finish.
A unique feature of this Foundation is that it contains eternalsoft polymers, which makes it comfortable to wear.
Yves Saint Laurent All Hours Full Coverage Matte Foundation
Yves Saint Laurent All Hours Full Coverage Matte Foundation is an excellent choice for big pores thanks to its oil-control formula. It blends easily and it feels comfortable on the skin all day long.
It gives medium to full coverage and it dries to a matte finish that looks like your skin but better. It’s also oil-free and transfer-proof.
This foundation is also a great choice for oily skin because it has oil-absorbing pigments that help to leave the skin shine-free. It’s available in 23 shades and it has additional SPF protection.
To get a light coverage, pump a dime-size amount of foundation onto the back of your hand. Apply a tiny amount on your cheeks, forehead, chin and nose. Use a damp makeup sponge to get a natural finish. Bounce the sponge across the skin and blend the foundation starting from the center of the face. Makeup brushes can also be used to blend foundation and they provide more coverage than damp sponges.
Add more foundation to any areas that need more coverage. Dip the sponge into the product and push it into those areas to help blur the pores.
For better results, you can wear on top of a silicone-based primer to help minimizing the look of pores.
Related: How do you apply makeup without transfer
What Kind Of Foundation Is Best For Large Pores?
Finding the right foundation for large pores can be difficult. There are so many options available in the market and it’s hard to know which one will work best to blur big pores. There is nothing worse than wasting your money on a foundation that makes your skin look worse than before!
To help minimize the appearance of big pores, try to avoid dewy foundations and stick with matte or semi-matte formulas that don’t emphasize large pores or wrinkles.
Luminizing foundations like this makeup foundation which have shimmer or glitter can accentuate big pores.
Avoid thick foundations and choose a light formula that blends easily into the skin. Thick foundations tend to sit in the pores and accentuate fine lines or wrinkles.
Applying the foundation the right way is so important to stop the foundation from settling in large pores. Check these tips and tricks to help preventing your foundation from showing your pores.
Conclusion
If you have big pores, finding the right foundation for your skin can be tough. You want to make sure that it’s suitable for your skin type and doesn’t leave a cakey look on your face.
If you have oily skin, this pore-minimizing foundation can be a great option. It provides shine control which helps you stay matte and it’s available in 60 shades!
For dry skin, this soft foundation is good. It has bio hyaluronic acid which helps to hydrate the skin. it’s also very comfortable to wear and it doesn’t emphasize fine lines and wrinkles.
For combination skin, this oil-free foundation can be a great option. It sets to a soft matte finish and doesn’t transfer or move throughout the day.
Keep in mind that preparing the skin for the makeup application is very important. Applying makeup on dry or textured skin might cause the foundation to separate throughout the day.
Always cleanse your face with a gentle cleanser and exfoliate to get rid of dead skin cells. Moisturize your skin with a gentle moisturizer and apply a smoothing primer to help to blur large pores and wrinkles.
This smoothing primer is a great affordable option. It helps to smooth the skin and creates a smooth canvas for the foundation application.
If you are looking for a high-end primer, this pore-minimizer primer is a great option. It’s oil-free and it blends easily into the skin leaving it feeling so soft.
Check out our list of foundations mentioned in this article and let us know which one worked best for you in the comments section below!
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I’ll need to send this post to my mom!
Jennifer
Curated By Jennifer
Oh she must have big pores!