These 10 Blurring Beauty Products Will Smooth Fine Lines and Diminish Pores, Say Leading Dermatologists
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Improving your skin's appearance starts with an effective routine full of formulas that deliver results. But the makeup you use plays a role, too; certain products, like those with blurring abilities, can actually enhance your skin care's efforts in the tone and texture department.
These products have topical agents that fill textural irregularities to create an airbrushed result on the skin, notes Macrene Alexiades, MD, PhD, FAAD, a New York City-based dermatologist and the founder of MACRENE actives. "They get their name by 'blurring' lines and pores," she says.
The formulas can level out fine lines, wrinkles, texture, and uneven tone thanks to their ingredients, explains Hadley King, MD, a board-certified dermatologist. "They achieve these effects by using hydrators to plump, mattifiers to create a velvety finish, and light-diffusing, reflecting pigments and color-correcting hues to give a flawless effect," she says.
Like photo airbrushing, blurring beauty products will give you the appearance of smooth, line-less, tighter-appearing skin, affirms Wendy Roberts, MD, a double board-certified dermatologist. These formulas, which often come in primer and cream form, not only help those with aging skin, but also benefit those who experience acne or rosacea, since they help disguise blemishes and neutralize redness. "For mature skin, blurring products tend to be more hydrating," says Dr. Roberts.
Ahead, discover some of our experts' favorite blurry beauty products on the market.
Related: 11 Best Eye Creams for Treating Dark Circles and Puffiness, According to Experts
KOH GEN DO Moisture Foundation
This expert-approved option has a great range of shades for varying complexions. "Koh Gen Do packaged the benefits of skin care into a color cosmetics line," says Dr. Roberts. "Their foundation shade range works for all complexions—from super light to rich brown."
Lancôme Blur & Go Stick
Either use this mattifying stick as a primer or to touch up your makeup. It rids skin of visible pores, fine lines, and shine. "[This is] a classic dimethicone (silicone) and silica (silicate) blur product," says Dr. Alexiades.
Dr. Brandt Skincare "Pores No More Pore" Refiner Primer
Blurring products not only improve the appearance of crepey skin, but also serve as the foundation for the other steps in your routine, explains Joshua Zeichner, MD, a dermatologist.
He points his clients to this beloved primer before they layer on other makeup. "It fills in pores and evens out skin texture to provide a foundation for the rest of your cosmetic products," he says.
MACRENE actives High Performance Tinted Moisturizer
Those with sensitive skin don't always benefit from ingredients such as silicones, silicates, mica, and talc that have been historically used to fill pores and fine lines, says Dr. Alexiades. "In contrast, I have formulated MACRENE actives to help you 'fake it until you make it,'" she says. "I incorporated healthy blurring ingredients, such as titanium and zinc oxides, which are GRASE (generally regarded as safe and effective by the FDA), in a mica-free, talc-free formulation."
Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Blur Face Primer
Here's another breathable blurring primer to try. "This non-greasy, lightweight formulation uses hydrating oils to give the skin a smooth finish and very subtle light-reflecting pigments to create a glow," says Dr. King.
VI Derm Beauty Vitamin C Brightening Concentrate
This formula's key ingredient, cyclopentasiloxane, both fills fine lines and wrinkles to create a plumping finish. "VI Derm Beauty Vitamin C Brightening Concentrate is a skin care serum that reduces the appearance of fine lines, pores, reduces pigmentation, and improves uneven skin texture," says Dr. Roberts. "It is also a great makeup primer because of its smoothing properties."
L'Oreal Paris Skincare Revitalift Miracle Blur Instant Skin Smoother Primer
You can reduce the appearance of lines, pores, and wrinkles thanks to this product. "It contains light reflecting and oil absorbing pigments to minimize shine and brighten the skin," says Dr. Zeichner.
Dermalogica Skinperfect Primer
Dermalogica primers provide a silky finish thanks to their mattifiers, such as mushroom and Abyssinian seed extracts, notes Dr. King. This product also serves as a primer, sunscreen, and skin aging treatment all in one.
Laura Geller Spackle Skin Perfecting Golden Sheen Makeup Primer
If you are in need of a lightweight blur product that can fill in and cover any and all skin conditions, then this product is perfect for you. Complete with a hefty amount of hyaluronic acid and rice extract, your skin will appear plumper and brighter after applying the primer.
MILK MAKEUP Luminous Blur Stick Primer
Do you have oily skin? If so, you will love this blurring product. It absorbs sebum to mattify the complexion while leaving a pearly, golden finish in its wake, explains Dr. King.
