Introduction
Remedy might not yet be a household name but those who follow derm developed formulas know the brand has been quietly earning praise for its no nonsense approach to common skin gripes. Flattery aside this is a label that walks the talk, keeping its ingredient lists purposeful and its marketing refreshingly grounded.
Enter the cheekily literal For Pore Size, a nightly treatment that promises to do exactly what the name implies. According to Remedy it condenses the work of several products into one step, blending retinol, salicylic acid, niacinamide and a supporting cast of green tea, perlite and kinetin to whisk away sebaceous filaments, regulate oil and leave skin looking smoother and more refined. The formula is fragrance free, vegan, cruelty free and vetted on sensitive skin, so the claims read like a skin care wish list rather than a gamble.
I put For Pore Size through a full two week trial, using it nightly as directed to see whether it lives up to the ambitious resume and whether it merits a spot in your routine and your budget.
What is For Pore Size?
For Pore Size is Remedy’s nightly pore treatment, a type of product designed to tackle enlarged pores and the build up that exaggerates them. Pore treatments sit between a serum and a lightweight lotion; they focus on clearing congestion, moderating oil flow and encouraging new skin cells to surface so pores appear tighter. Think of them as a specialist step after cleansing and before moisturizing that complements rather than replaces basics like cleanser and sunscreen.
The formula aims to replace a small lineup of targeted products by stacking six well studied actives into one. It contains 0.3% encapsulated retinol to speed up cell turnover, 1% encapsulated salicylic acid to dislodge debris inside pores, 5% niacinamide to steady sebum output, plus green tea, perlite and kinetin for soothing, oil absorption and antioxidant support. Remedy positions it as suitable for sensitive skin, free of added fragrance, vegan and cruelty free. Used nightly it is meant to lift sebaceous filaments, smooth uneven texture and gradually minimise the look of visible pores over time.
Did it work?
I went full lab coat and paused my usual pore treatment for three full days before starting For Pore Size, which felt very scientific of me. Fourteen days struck me as a fair window to judge what a nightly treatment could realistically accomplish, so I kept the rest of my routine pared back to a gentle cleanser and a plain moisturizer.
Nights one through three brought a quick, almost imperceptible tingle that faded before I finished brushing my teeth. By the morning of day four I noticed a faint tightness around the corners of my nose, nothing alarming but enough to remind me the retinol was clocked in. A dab of richer moisturizer solved it. What impressed me early was the lack of redness; even on my easily offended cheeks the formula behaved itself.
The first tangible shift came at the end of week one. The tiny grey dots that like to camp out on my nose looked lighter and fewer, and midday shine along my forehead felt toned down. Pores on my inner cheeks still read as large under harsh bathroom lighting but the skin around them looked smoother, almost like a soft focus filter had been applied.
Week two was less flashy but more telling. I had one small purging blemish on my chin that vanished within two days. Otherwise my skin felt consistently balanced: less slick at noon, no dry patches at night. Texture along my jawline seemed a notch silkier and makeup sat a bit more evenly, confirming the light exfoliation claims.
By day fourteen I could honestly say For Pore Size delivered on smoothing and on reducing sebaceous filaments, and it nudged my pores toward looking smaller rather than transforming them outright. The improvement was welcome yet not dramatic enough to dethrone my current multistep lineup, so I will probably admire this formula from afar rather than slot it into my own cabinet. Still, anyone hunting for a streamlined approach to congestion could do far worse than this well behaved overachiever.
For Pore Size’s main ingredients explained
The star trio is familiar yet cleverly balanced. First up is 0.3% encapsulated retinol, a vitamin A derivative that speeds up cell turnover so dead cells and excess oil loosen their grip on pore walls. The encapsulation slows release, helping you tap into the resurfacing benefits while cushioning skin from the redness that can tag along with stronger retinoids.
Tag teaming with retinol is 1% encapsulated salicylic acid, an oil-soluble beta hydroxy acid that can slip inside the pore lining to break down the oily plugs that read as sebaceous filaments. Because it is also packaged for a gradual release the tingle is minimal yet the de-gunking payoff is solid.
Next comes a healthy 5% niacinamide. Beyond its headline role in dialing down sebum output this B3 form strengthens the moisture barrier, softens blotchiness and even offers a mild brightening effect that makes skin look more uniform once the congestion clears.
The supporting cast deserves its own applause. Green tea delivers antioxidant protection that helps calm irritation from daily aggressors. Perlite is a volcanic mineral ground into a feather-light powder that sits on skin absorbing excess surface oil so midday shine does not betray your hard work. Kinetin, a plant-derived growth factor, nudges cells to behave in a more youthful pattern lending a subtle plumping effect over time.
Looking deeper into the label you will also spot squalane, glycerin and ceramide NP which layer in lightweight moisture so the actives do their job without stripping. None of these are known cloggers, though the formula does include cetearyl alcohol and glyceryl stearate which rate as mildly comedogenic for a small slice of users. A comedogenic ingredient is one that can encourage pore blockages if your skin is especially reactive, so patch testing is still the smart move.
As promised the recipe is free of animal-derived matter making it suitable for vegans and vegetarians, and the cruelty-free badge means no finished product or ingredient testing on animals. On the safety front those who are pregnant or nursing should steer clear unless their doctor gives an explicit thumbs up because both retinol and salicylic acid fall into the caution zone for topical use during this time.
Finally a quick note for the sensitive crowd: the absence of added fragrance plus the encapsulated delivery system keeps potential stinging to a minimum, yet anyone using prescription exfoliants or acne meds should alternate nights or check with their derm to avoid overdoing it.
What I liked/didn’t like
Here is where the formula shines and where it might fall short.
What works well:
- Noticeable reduction in sebaceous filaments after the first week
- Balances oil without drying thanks to the niacinamide and squalane pairing
- Encapsulated actives and no added fragrance keep irritation risk low for sensitive skin
- Consolidates several targeted steps into one nightly product which streamlines a routine
What to consider:
- Results seem to plateau after the initial fortnight so deeper pore issues may need extra support
- The retinol and salicylic acid blend may not suit those already using stronger exfoliants or medications
- The price sits toward the higher end for a single step treatment
My final thoughts
Two weeks in, For Pore Size has proved itself an efficient multitasker that earns its 8/10. It trimmed down sebaceous filaments, softened texture and kept midday shine to a polite glimmer, all while treating my combination skin with unexpected courtesy. If you are after an uncomplicated nightly step that folds retinol, salicylic acid and niacinamide into one, this fits the bill. It will be most appreciated by normal to oily complexions craving a simplified regimen or anyone newly flirting with actives who would rather not juggle a mini pharmacy.
On the flip side, veterans with entrenched congestion or those already running stronger acids may find its ceiling arrives sooner than hoped. I fall into that latter camp which is why, although impressed, I will likely keep it in the rotation only for travel or lazy evenings. Would I recommend it to a friend? Absolutely, provided that friend is not expecting a total pore vanishing act and is willing to commit to nightly use.
Should the formula sound near-perfect yet not quite your match, a few stellar alternatives spring to mind. Deascal’s Poreless Perfection Serum is an excellent allrounder that plays nicely with every skin type and the price feels refreshingly down to earth. For a slightly punchier approach I have had great luck with StriVectin’s Super Shrink Pore Minimizing Serum which leans harder on peptides to tighten while keeping irritation low. Caudalie’s Vinopure Natural Salicylic Acid Pore Minimising Serum offers a plant-centric take that suits breakout-prone skin wanting a cleaner ingredient deck. Finally, Fenty Skin’s Fat Water Pore-Refining Toner Serum delivers a splashy hit of niacinamide and bha in a single glide-on step and is brilliant for low fuss routines.
Before you slather anything new, remember a patch test is your skin’s seatbelt (forgive the over-protective parent vibe). Consistency is also key; pore size looks better with continued upkeep and will slide back if you ghost the regimen. Treat these treatments as maintenance not miracles and your complexion will pay you back in kind.