I’m not embarrassed to admit that, once or twice, I’ve found my way to the weird part of the internet where people are experimenting with ways to extract your blackheads. I think everyone has found themselves there at some point or another. Blackhead removal is, for some reason, oddly satisfying, just like popping blemishes and picking at your skin.
Science speculates that people are drawn to the danger, disgust, and sometimes even soothing nature of these types of extractions. Some doctors believe that it’s a leftover grooming trait that was part of people's evolutionary roots. Whatever the reason, though, most of us do it, and it’s important to do it right. That means no fingernails, because they’re usually teeming with germs.
The second rule is that blackheads are not dirt, so if you have them, it doesn’t mean your face is unclean. They’re normally just a build-up of sebum (that your skin naturally produces), and a pigment called melanin in the sebum turns a dark color when touched by the air. Rough scrubs and harsh soaps will probably just worsen the issue, leading to excess oil production and stretched-out pores. That’s why, if you must extract, check out these harmless and fun tools for getting rid of your blackheads.
1. Remove Blackheads Carefully With Professional Tools
BESTOPE Blackhead Remover Extractor Tool Kit, $11, Amazon
If you’re looking for a physical extraction, a tool kit like this BESTOPE blackhead tool kit is your best bet. It’s a professional group of tools that can be used on all types of skin, and because they’re made from stainless steel, come in their own metal hinged case, and have anti-slip handles, they’re a safe and sanitary way to get that build-up of sebum out from under the surface.
2. Try A Black Mud Peel Off Mask
LuckyFine Blackhead Peel Off Face Mask, $5, Amazon
I tend to find peel-off masks especially fun, so you’ll be finding some good ones here, like this LuckyFine blackhead face mask. It’s made from black mud, which dries on your face over a period of about 15 minutes. The build-up of sebum and oil comes off with the mask, and you can physically see what was clogging your pores. Yep. Like Christmas morning on a pore strip.
3. Cleanse Pores With Clay
Clay Mint Healing Mask, $35, Amazon
This clay mint healing mask is made from natural ingredients like sulfur and bentonite, which cleanse and tighten the appearance of pores more and more every time you use it. It also draws out excess oils and leaves your skin feeling smooth and moisturized, so reviewers say it’s easily the most luxurious 20 minutes of their week.
4. Nose Strips Infused With Volcanic Clay
The Face Shop Volcanic Clay Blackhead Aloe Nose Strip, $8, Amazon
If your blackheads tend to be confined to the nose area, try these volcanic clay and aloe nose strips. The volcanic clay (collected in New Zealand!) pulls oil and impurities right out of the skin, and reviewers say that they’re inexpensive, better than Bioré, and even the deepest blackheads are no match for this one.
5. Steam The Area For Wide-Open Pores
Pure NanoSteamer, $40, Amazon
No matter which extractor method you’re using, heat and steam will help to open your pores so it’s easier to remove the sebum and build-up. This Pure NanoSteamer is an awesome way to deliver hot, clean water to your face, causing your pores to open wide up. It also creates negatively-charged ions, which more effectively penetrate skin, and it comes with a professional extractor kit free of charge.
6. Use Egg White To Purify Pores
Mistine Egg White Peel Off Face Facial Mask, $6, Amazon
Egg whites are great for removing blackheads because they contain collagen and protein, which fight inflammation and help with elasticity. This egg white facial mask is another great peel that removes dead skin and blackheads after it dries. It’ll leave your face feeling smooth, fresh, and clean, and it’s especially great for sensitive skin.
7. Absorb Oil And Build-Up With Bamboo Charcoal
Charcoal Bamboo Nose Blackhead Pore Cleansing Strips, $4, Amazon
Bamboo charcoal is used in just about everything nowadays because of its ability to absorb everything from oil to allergens. These charcoal bamboo pore cleansing strips pull dirt, oil, and build-up straight out of the pores on your nose, and they’ve also got vitamins and tea tree oil to nourish and tighten skin after you’re done.
8. Bubble Your Way To A Clear Face
Milky Piggy Carbonated Bubble Clay Mask, $20, Amazon
People cannot stop talking about this Korean skincare Milky Piggy carbonated bubble clay mask. The whole set comes with a pore mask and a carbonation mask, and the former removes dead skin and build-up while the latter fizzes and bubbles its way to clean pores and a clear complexion. It’s an especially great option if your skin tends to be on the oily side.
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Images: Fotolia (1); Amazon (8)
