Clinique Pore Refining Solutions - because nobody wants to fall into pore craters!

It always irritates me when I go to a beauty counter and some salesperson tries to sell me a product that will "close" my pores - these professionals never seem to understand that pores aren't little doors that can open and close.  Of course that's not to say that there aren't things you can do to make your pores tighter, appear smaller and less visible and Clinique has a couple of new products to do just that!


Clinique Pore Refining Solutions Correcting Serum - 30ml - $47 - a new formula that instantly diminishes the appearance of pores while simultaneously helping to strengthen and tighten skin's surface structure over time.

What I think makes this product better than other pore products out there is that not only does it refine your current pores but it also addresses other factors that could lead to future enlarged pores: it has anti-irritants to protect against inflammation which can cause pores to stretch; Ursolic Acid and Rosemary Extract to boost skin's support structure and prevent sagging skin which can cause pores to look stretched and more obvious; Silicone Polymers to even out surface imperfections and deliver mattifying and light-diffusing effects to instantly blur the appearance of pores without clogging them; and light hydration to keep surface cells plump so that pores appear minimized.

It can be used all over the face or just on areas with visible pores.  You just apply a thin layer to clean skin both morning and night, followed by your moisturizer.  I've been using it for a couple of weeks now but only in the mornings as I tend to be really bad about remembering to apply things at night and I can already see a difference in how my pores look during the day.  I know they're still there but they just don't look as obvious.  I also like that even though it's an extra layer I am adding to my skincare routine, it's light and absorbs easily so doesn't feel like I am using to many products.

Also new to the Pore Refining Solutions line is the Clinique Pore Refining Solutions Instant Perfector - 20ml - $22 - with "smart" sebum-balancing ingredients that not only provides an immediate reduction in the appearance of pores by over 50%, but also helps minimize excess sebum production to maintain the skin's equilibrium so pores remain undetected throughout the day. With a long-wearing formula that conceals without adding colour to the complexion in 3 shades: (new) invisible bright, invisible light and invisible deep that can be worn alone, under or over foundation or with just powder - either on the whole face or just in the t-zone and can be reapplied as needed throughout the day for touch-ups. It contains silicone polymers that fill in and smooth out the pore surface providing immediate oil absorbing benefits that leave skin with a flawless matte finish as well optical diffusers and soft focus ingredients that help diffuse light to minimize the look of imperfections while Vitamin E and Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate provide antioxidant and anti-inflammatory protection.

How do you feel about your pores - problem or not?  What do you do to keep them in line?

- Lisamarie -