An ink jet recording element having a support having thereon a porous image-receiving layer with at least 30% by weight of particles and at least 30% by weight of a binder, the particles being a mixture of a) silica gel particles having an average particle size of greater than about 9 &mgr;m in diameter; and b) silica gel particles having an average particle size of between 1 and about 8 &mgr;m in diameter; wherein the ratio of the a) silica gel particles to the b) silica gel particles is from about 0.5 to about 5.