Clinique Pore Minimizer Instant Perfector

I've never been a huge fan of Clinique, but this one product I absolutely cannot live without. I was introduced to it by a friend of mine who kept insisting that I should try it. Every time she brought it up, I would tell her that eventually I would. I had tried so many pore products that left a lot to be desired, that I figured this would be the same story. Right around Christmas, I found a package in my mailbox from said friend, and guess what was inside? Yep, Clinique Pore Minimizer Instant Perfector.

Clinique Pore Minimizer Instant Perfector is a mousse-like, creme-gel that comes in two shades, Invisible Light and Invisible Deep. It is said to refine the look of pores with an natural looking, long-lasting matte finish. It also de-shines and resists sweat and humidity. It can be used under or over makeup, depending on which you prefer.

It's very quick and easy to use. To apply, I first start with my makeup primer...you can skip this if you don't use one. Then, I take a small dab on my index finger and pat it over the target area until it's evenly spread out. After that I just use my fingers to blend it down and out...almost like you're applying foundation. That's it!

I started out using this over foundation, feeling that it would be like applying concealer first...if I did, it would just get blended out of place when I applied my foundation. I used it for about a month, but I didn't feel like it made my pores look any smaller, so I tossed it into one of makeup drawers and moved on. A while later I realized that I never tried it over foundation, so I brought it back out and gave it another try. I was wrong, not only did it stay in place, but the texture meshed perfectly with my makeup primer and created the perfect smooth surface for foundation to be applied.

For the first time in years my large pores weren't visible through my makeup unless I was right up in the mirror, and even then they were still minimized. Needless to say, I was hooked. I continued to use it this way and I have since been through numerous tubes. I'm very oily and acne-prone, and this hasn't caused any problems for me. It doesn't add to my oiliness, and even though it fills in pores, it doesn't make me breakout in the least.

I would definitely say this is my holy grail, and I refuse to apply my makeup without it. It makes such a huge difference, and it's VERY reasonably priced at $17.50/tube. I have also used the infamous Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch, which is the same size (0.5oz) and retails for $32. Not only does it come in an unhygienic and inconvenient jar, but I feel it's not near as good as the Clinique!

If you have large pores, do yourself a favor and give this a try. You won't be sorry!