Help - Need filler for huge pores/skin texture

[sobekneferu]

I've tried products like Benefit Cosmetics The POREfessional Pore Minimizing Primer and it does nothing at all once makeup is put on top -- every "pore blurring" primer I've tried only works on bare skin, and soon as makeup is put over it, the effect vanishes

I do not have oily skin or clogged pores, I'm not interested in skincare (I already have a dermatologist), but I am desperate for a primer that can give me smooth skin under makeup, or at least substantially diminish the large pores which are all over my face. (There's no "only where you need it" -- that's basically everywhere but my eyes and lips.) 

Below is a photo of how the POREfessional looks with makeup on top... you see the problem. A true filler is needed, not just a matte "blurring effect." Is there anything that exists for the purpose?

[WinglessOne]

@sobekneferu  Which primers (besides Benefit’s) have you already tried? Was tarte Timeless Smoothing Primer 0.5 oz/ 14.2 g one of them? I always hear good things about that one, specifically from folks who have pitted acne scars. There’s a mini size available, if you wanna test it before committing to a full size—or of course you could ask a Sephora employee in-store for a free sample. 

The only other primers that come to mind are Topicals Sealed Active Scar Filling Primer for Acne Prone Skin and e.l.f. Poreless Putty Primer. I assume you’ve tried e.l.f.’s before…? I think Topical’s primer was released just last year; I haven’t heard a ton of feedback on it yet. 

[sobekneferu]

Got to the shop today and was able to use the tester of the Tarte. Unfortunately it was much too thick and hard to be useful.

The difficulty with a pore filler is it has to be soft/liquid enough to go into the pore, but not leave much behind on the surface. Mixtures like the Benefit and the e.l.f. have the problem that they just coat everything and so while perhaps meeting the literal qualification of "filling the pore" they pile just as much matter above the pore meaning it ultimately echoes the same shape that was already there before and doesn't actually make anything smoother. I found the tarte Timeless Smoothing Primer 0.5 oz/ 14.2 g has instead the problem of not even being soft enough to get into the pore, it just piles on top of the skin like the putty that stage actors use for making scars and false noses.

[sister13]

I totally agree with @WinglessOne about the tarte Timeless Smoothing Primer 0.5 oz/ 14.2 g #and FYI, @sobekneferu the testers of this product are always notoriously dried out and the live product is much smoother/softer and will fill the pores and stay put. If you are closing the cap securely each time ( which never happens in stores), it won’t dry up like the tester.

This is the only product I’ve found that will fill in the large pores around my nose and stay put under makeup, others are usually too liquid or fill it momentarily, then disappear rapidly. Might’ve worth picking up the mini to try it out.  Best of luck!

[sobekneferu]

I have tried the elf and Nyx from the drugstore (the elf is my “everyday” but it doesn’t help much with pores, its just good primer.) I have done testers in store of things that sound promising but really seem made for people without large pores. Anything that claims it’s “blurring” is worthless in my experience. The Nyx was the best item at filling, of high end or drugstore, but it was crumbly and so hard to use for only getting so so results… but so so seems like it might be the best there is. 😞