Get Rid Of Blackheads With These Easy Tips
Unless you’re blessed with naturally glassy skin, chances are you’ve had to deal with annoying blackheads. Unlike pimples, which usually have a temporary life cycle, blackheads can stay on your skin for weeks and sometimes months. There’s even been documented cases of blackheads that hang around for years. Scary right?
In order to defeat them, it’s important to first understand what exactly they are. Know thy enemy and all that, right? Medically known as a comedone, a blackhead is what happens when a mix of oils and dead skin congeal together to form a hard “plug” in your hair follicle. The top of that plug oxidizes when it pushes to the surface, giving you the appearance of a dark spot. They will also feel bumpy when you run your fingers over top of them.
Blackheads are an equal-opportunity menace — according to Ava Lemons, a skin therapist from Los Angeles’s and New York’s trendiest facial spot, Heyday, they can happen to any skin type, at any age, and in any climate.
But, just because they are a common occurrence doesn’t mean you should resign yourself to a life of gunked-up pores. We teamed up with Lemons to share the best ways to treat — and prevent! — blackheads. Keep reading to get the full scoop.
Keep It Clean
Great skin starts with cleansed skin, so be sure to wash your face every day. Clean skin has far fewer oils and dead skin debris to deal with, meaning less gunk to clog your pores with. Extra points for picking a multi-tasker that can also function as a mask, like the Glow Recipe Blueberry Bounce Gentle Cleanser. It’s enriched with hydrating hyaluronic acid and antioxidant-rich blueberry extract to keep your complexion moisturized from the very start of your routine. It’s also got a heaping helping of gentle AHAs to clarify without stripping your skin. Leave it on for a few extra minutes when your skin is starting to misbehave and needs a little something extra.
Control Yourself
“A lot of people with blackheads think that moisturizing will make them worse,” says Lemons. “But, when you don’t moisturize, your skin will produce more oil, which will lead to more blackheads.” Lemons adds. You’ll need to find a balance between clarifying and hydrating if you want to create that glass skin appearance. One easy way to do that is with a product that checks both those boxes — like the all-new Watermelon Glow Ultra-Fine Mist. The bi-phase formula controls oil and clears out pores with naturally derived AHAs and vinegar, plus adds lightweight moisture thanks to a hyper-hydrating blend of vitamin-rich watermelon extract, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin E-rich rice germ oil. Shake it up to seamlessly mix the two phases, then spray throughout the day to recharge and refresh your face. It’s everything your skin needs in one convenient, Instagram-worthy bottle.
Stop Them Before They Start
When you feel that blackhead forming, reach for a product with BHA. “Use something with salicylic acid in it to spot treat,” says Lemons. “It’s oil soluble, so it will be able to break up excess oil.” By eliminating that before it gets a chance to become a full-grown blackhead, your pores will stay clog-free. Leegeehaam’s Grow Tea Tree 70 BHA Toner is packed with salicylic acid, plus naturally exfoliating and non-irritating tea tree extract for a gentle pore-clearing that gets rid of blackheads and softens skin in the process.
Hands Off
Resist the one urge we all have when breakouts bum us out. “Don’t pick!” Lemons exclaims. “Picking is the worst thing you can do, as it can lead to the blackhead turning into a pimple, which is never worth it.” Instead, up your exfoliation game and let skin-perfecting acids do their thing to excavate your pores. Whamisa by Glow Studio’s Charcoal Chai Tea Pore Refining Pads are a double whammy of blackhead banishing power. The 100% cotton pads are textured to manually buff away dead skin, while charcoal extract deep cleans and detoxifies your pores.
Don’t let blackheads bum you out — follow these tips to keep your skin looking clear, smooth, and poreless.
Do you have any tips for getting rid of blackheads? Let us know in the comments!