How To Get Rid Of Blackheads At Home – 10 Methods
Do you remember the first time you ever looked in a magnified mirror and saw your pores? A little scary, right? While your pores aren’t always visible from afar to the naked eye, it’s still important to keep your pores clean. One of the major side effects of dirty pores is blackheads.
If you’re noticing blackheads on your nose and face, don’t worry, there’s nothing wrong with you. Blackheads are normal, but not the prettiest sight. Especially for those who wear makeup, blackheads can become more and more visible unless they are remedied.
I’m sure you’ve heard of professional facials involving steamers and extractions, but these skincare procedures can be expensive. Plus, extractions can sometimes make the problem worse if it’s not done properly, and can leave acne scars, which aren’t much better. Luckily, there are many ways to get rid of blackheads right at home, without breaking the bank.
If you’re looking to get rid of those stubborn blackheads with taking a trip to the esthetician, check out this list of 10 ways to remove blackheads right at home for clear pores and glowing skin.
What are blackheads?
Before we discuss the remedy options, let’s talk about blackheads, themselves. If you’re seeing darkness inside a pore on your face (think little black dots), that’s likely a blackhead. Essentially, blackheads are pores that are clogged with dirt, oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria. You have pores all over your skin, so blackheads can pretty much appear anywhere on your body. But, since the skin on your face produces more oil than the rest of your skin, blackheads are more likely to appear on your face (especially the oily areas like your nose and T-zone).
How to get rid of blackheads
Chemical peels
When I say chemical peel, your first thought is probably the expensive procedure done by an esthetician. Luckily, at-home skincare has come a long way in the past few years, and we now have the option for a similar “procedure” at home! Often containing AHAs and BHAs (hydroxy acids, discussed in my recent salicylic acid post), peeling solutions come in liquid form (like a gel or serum) or even infused into pads and wipes. The ingredients in these peels target the dead skin cells and dirt in your pores, and exfoliate to remove blackheads.
Cleansing brushes
We talked about cleansing brushes in my recent skincare tools post, and they are indeed one of the most important skincare tools out there! Cleansing brushes often come with hard or soft bristles that help you get a much deeper clean than just using a washcloth or your hands. The bristles help penetrate deep into your skin, cleansing your pores to encourage clean, glowing skin. Using a cleanser with salicylic acid with a cleansing brush is a great way to get rid of blackheads.
Exfoliate with AHAs & BHAs
Let’s talk about how to get rid of blackheads with AHAs and BHAs. As we discussed in my recent salicylic acid post, acids are a great way to remedy skin problems like acne and blackheads. AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids) and BHAs (beta hydroxy acids) are mainly used in skincare for exfoliation, which helps clear out your pores and remedy blackheads.
Facial steam
Bring the professional facial home to you! At-home facial steamers are now available for a decent price, and can really up your skincare game. Steaming your face opens up your pores, allowing product to easily penetrate and clean out that stubborn dirt and oil. Using a facial steamer before cleansing or applying product is a great way to get rid of blackheads without invasive extraction.
Masks
Face masks have made a huge splash on the skincare scene lately. While many people began to appreciate and practice more “self care” while spending more time at home, face masks have become an easy way to keep your skin healthy and glowing without leaving the house for a treatment. For removing blackheads, try masks containing clay or charcoal. Instead of a basic sheet mask, these masks dry on your face before coming off, giving the product a chance to penetrate your pores, dry them out, and bring the dirt and grime with it as it gets wiped off. You can also try a peel-off mask that has effects similar to a pore strip (discussed below).
Microdermabrasion tools
Now, let’s discuss how to get rid of blackheads with a microdermabrasion tool. This tool is another at-home alternative to a procedure that can cost hundreds at the salon or esthetician. Microdermabrasion uses a suction tool to exfoliate dead skin and literally suck the oil and dirt out of your pores. Microdermabrasion tools are now available for at-home facials, using the same kind of technology. While you may not get the same dramatic results as you would at the salon, these tools are still a great way to get rid of blackheads right at home without dropping hundreds.
Pore Strips
Pores strips have been around forever, but as skincare technology has advanced, they have gotten even more effective in stripping your skin and pores of dirt and dead skin cells. These strips harden while adhered to your skin, and when pulled off, they pull the blackheads away with it! (If done correctly, you can usually literally see the blackheads that have been pulled out of your skin… #satisfying.)
Retinoid Gels
Let’s talk about how to get rid of blackheads with retinoid gels. Retinoids are a prescription-strength solution to acne, and when applied topically as a gel, can literally dissolve blackheads and clear out your pores! Retinoids not only penetrate your pores to clear them out, but also promote cell turnover to heal acne and other blemishes.
Scrubs
Blackhead removing scrubs are readily available at most drugstores, and are a gentle, yet effective way to get rid of blackheads. Often made with small beads or other gentle exfoliants, scrubs will help buff away dead skin cells and the oil and dirt that make up most blackheads. Look for products containing salicylic acid, charcoal to seriously unclog those pores. (You can also make a DIY scrub with things like sugar and tea tree oil! Keep an eye out for an upcoming post on DIY skincare!)
Ultrasonic scrubber
Last but not least, let’s discuss how to get rid of blackheads with an ultrasonic scrubber tool. This is one of the more high-tech options in solving the “how to get rid of blackheads” problem, but one that is definitely worth it the money and time. Sometimes called a “skin spatula,” these facial scrubber tools are powered by ultrasonic technology to help push and scrape away skin, dead skin cells and oil from your pores. They can also be used after cleansing for product absorption and facial massage!
