How to Hide Pores: 3 Steps to Flawless Makeup Using Primer, Foundation and Blur Powder

Hide Those Pores!

If you have large pores and oily skin, it can seem impossible to achieve a flawless look with makeup. Foundation often sinks into pores, accentuating and clogging them, while oily skin causes streaking, caking and fading.

View these 3 simple steps to creating flawless makeup, using primer and blurring powder, in combination with a long lasting foundation designed for your skin type. ​

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Step 1: Apply Primer

Why is Face Primer important to creating a flawless look?
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When foundation is applied without primer, it sinks deep into pores and fine lines- rather than skimming over the surface of the skin. This results in a blotchy, uneven complexion, with accentuated pores and likelihood for breakouts. When foundation enters pores, it stretches them out - causing them to look abnormally large. Primer essentially “fills in the gaps”, allowing foundation to look silky smooth. 
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Oily Skin or Combination: Use a Powder Primer (try Mattify ULTRA Powder for Oily Skin). Women with oily skin normally have large pores and suffer from acne. Unlike gel primers, powder primer will not clog pores or cause breakouts.  Rather, application of this powder primer actually protects skin from makeup. In addition it absorbs excess oil, to help foundation look smooth and last longer, without creasing or fading. As an added bonus, this specific ULTRA Powder doubles as your Blurring Powder for Step 3 below! 

Dry Skin: Use a Silicone Gel Primer (try Benefit’s Porefessional Primer). 
Dry skin typically has small pores, but many fine lines. Silicone based primers settle into wrinkles, allowing foundation to skim over the top. Since foundation is essentially banned from seeping into fine lines, they become invisible and skin looks beautifully smooth. 

Best Foundation Makeup Primers: ULTRA Powder Primer for Oily Skin (Mattify Cosmetics) & Porefessional Cream Primer for Dry Skin (Benefit Cosmetics)

​Beware! Remember, if you have large pores, it is safer to use powder primer. Silicone (dimethicone) gel based primers sink deep into pores, and are not easy to remove with routine cleansing. If you do use a gel primer, be sure to thoroughly exfoliate during cleansing, as this helps purge pores of sticky silicone. A peel-off charcoal mask is also helpful - (try Shills Black Peel Off Mask). This draws out impurities, before they lodge deeper into pores & cause breakouts. 

Step 2: Apply a Long Lasting Foundation

Selection of long lasting makeup allows foundation to survive the day without fading or rubbing off. This is especially important if you have oily skin, as that skin type tends to dissolve makeup even faster! Drugstore foundations normally last 4-6 hours, while higher end brands can last 6-10 hours.

Which type of foundation is best for my skin type? ​

​Oily Skin or Combination Skin:  These skin types work well with matte powder or liquid foundations that are marketed as: Oil Free / Oil Absorbent / or Matte. They often dry to a powdery finish, and contain ingredients that help absorb excess oil throughout the day. Try L’Oreal Infallible Pro Matte Foundation or Estee Lauder Double Wear.   ​

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Acne Prone Skin: If you suffer from breakouts and blackheads, water based foundations work best, as they are unlikely to clog pores. Stay away from any foundations that feel heavy, waxy or thick.  Try Tarte Cosmetic’s Rainforest of the Sea, and apply with a brushor sponge, or go with Dinair Natural Foundation which can be applied either with finger tips or an airbrush spray gun. These two formulas are water-resistant and provide excellent coverage, while feeling feather light on the skin. ​

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​Dry skin:  Dehydrated skin types fare better with moisturizing foundations, marketed as having a dewy / luminous / or moisturizing finish.  Try Maybelline’s Fit Me Dewy & Smooth or Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation. If your skin is aging and needs a lift, Estee Lauder Perfectionist used to be the go-to foundation. Sadly they have since discontinued this favorite, but they've added a new serum to their repertoire: Perfectionist Pro Firm & Lift. You can apply this under any foundation for an instant facelift and a younger looking you!   

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Step 3 - Apply Blurring Powder 

What can blur powder do to help my complexion?


This step allows foundation to look truly flawless! Blurring Powder acts as a soft-focus filter, taking any remaining fine lines or pores, and virtually erasing them. It also sets makeup for long wear! 


Oily Skin:  The same Powder Primer you used in Step 1 (Mattify ULTRA Powder) also multi-tasks as an oil-absorbent blurring powder. Using a powder puff, pat the ULTRA Powder over your entire face. Blend in circular motions with a fluffy powder brush, to create a flawless complexion. This invisible powder sets makeup in place for long wear, and absorbs unsightly oil for hours. The product is completely matte and does not contain common irritants to oily skin such as mica, bismuth, or pearl powder. 


Dry Skin:  (try Smashbox Halo Hydrating Powder). Finally, those with dry skin can create a dewy complexion! Using a fluffy powder brush, apply this moisturizing powder in light circular motions until blended. Since the product does have a luminizing sheen, it is best used on dry skin types (because it can make oily skin look oilier). 

Best Blurring Powders: ULTRA Powder for Oily Skin (Mattify Cosmetics) & Moisturizing Powder for Dry Skin (Smashbox) blur powder

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