How to Minimize the Look of Large Pores: A Korean Skincare Routine
Written by FRANKLY Lab, our in-house R&D team in Korea. FRANKLY was founded in 2022 by an AI R&D researcher and a cosmetic R&D researcher from one of Korea's largest beauty companies.
Quick answer: You cannot change your pore size, but you can make pores look smaller. A simple Korean pore routine is: cleanse with an oil cleanser that clears sebum, exfoliate at night with an AHA toner, hydrate and prep with toner pads, then use a peptide serum to help skin look firmer and smoother. Wear SPF every day.
Why do pores look bigger?
- Excess sebum and buildup stretch pores and make them look darker and more visible.
- Dead skin cells make the skin surface rough, so pores stand out.
- Loss of firmness with age makes pores look larger and more stretched.
- Dehydration makes texture and pores more noticeable.
A 4-step Korean routine for the look of smaller pores
- Cleanse (night): an oil cleanser with BHA and LHA, such as Pore Cleansing Oil, melts makeup, sunscreen and sebum and helps keep pores clear.
- Exfoliate (night): a glycolic acid toner, such as AHA 8.05% Toner, clears away dead skin cells for a smoother surface. It can be used every day. If your skin is very sensitive, use it 3 times a week or more.
- Prep and hydrate: Closer Rice Jelly Toner Pads with rice extract and 9 peptides hydrate and smooth texture. Leave a pad on the nose or cheeks as a mini mask.
- Treat: Closer Pore Reducing Serum with 9 peptides, vegan collagen, adenosine and PHA helps skin look firmer so pores look less visible.
In the morning, skip the AHA step and finish with SPF.
Oily skin extras
If your pores look bigger because of shine, add a niacinamide serum such as Niacinamide 15% Zinc Beads Serum to help balance oil and keep skin looking matte.
Common mistakes
- Over-scrubbing or over-exfoliating, which can irritate skin and make texture worse
- Skipping moisturizer on oily skin
- Skipping sunscreen, which speeds up the loss of firmness over time
Want the full routine in one set?
The Pore Reset Pro Set includes all 4 steps. For a simpler routine, try the Pore Minimizer Duo.
FAQ
Can you actually shrink pores?
Pore size is largely genetic, but clearing buildup, smoothing texture and supporting firmness can make pores look noticeably smaller.
How long does it take to see smaller-looking pores?
Skin can look smoother within days. Changes in the look of pores build with consistent use over several weeks.
Is AHA or BHA better for pores?
BHA works inside the pore on oil, while AHA smooths the skin surface. Using a BHA cleanser with an AHA toner covers both.
Do peptides help with pores?
Peptides help skin look firmer and more elastic, which can make pores look less stretched and less visible.