Treatments

Blackhead Treatments for Stubborn Pores

If you’re ready to level up your daily routine, finding a way to combat, treat, and prevent clogged pores is one way to do it. Instead of searching through dozens of products that may or may not do what you need them to, we’ve rounded up our best tips for clearing up congestion—and preventing it from coming back.

The Best BlackheadTreatment Products and Routines

What are the basics you need to know? Unbeknownst to a lot of beauty lovers, congestion and build-up are one of the most common types of dermatological concerns—but a unique challenge in and of itself. Because even non-makeup wearers and those who suffer from otherwise clear (read: acne free) skin can struggle with noticeable debris, we thought it would be a good idea to clear a few things up:

• Blackheads are a combination of oil, sebum, makeup, and environmental debris that fill up and ‘clog’ the oil duct. The head of the block (which is exposed to the outer layer of the epidermis) then oxidises and turns a darker colour.
• Visible debris doesn’t necessarily equate to pimples. Blocks can simply be clogged with gunk— without turning into an inflamed pimple.
• Gunk can look more or less noticeable depending on the size of the pores—which can be genetic or a result of hormonal imbalances.

It’s also worth noting that your epidermis can’t ‘open and close’ as often assumed. Instead, trapped makeup, oil, and pollution can make pores look more visible—and let you know when they need a good clean.

If you’re suffering from noticeable blockages and uneven texture that you want to get on top of, some of the key products you should be using include:

1. Exfoliants: These can have physical scrubbing bits in them or be liquid exfoliants. Either way, these products help buff away dead cells and help trapped sebum and residue be more easily removed.
2. Toners: Can help even out facial tone and target trouble areas like redness and dryness.
3. Face masks: With clay options for oily skin and hydrating masks for those with dehydrated, irritated faces, at-home masks are an easy way to loosen up trapped dirt, clear it out, and give your face some TLC.

When shopping for exfoliants, make sure that you:

1. Consider your base type: Sensitive skin will do better with a liquid exfoliant—and should stay away from scrubbing bits to reduce the risk of further irritation.
2. Don’t over-exfoliate: We appreciate that you want to get great skin STAT; however, overdoing it can lead to dryness, irritation, and increased oil production. (Which can cause further blockages and so on.)

And limit your usage of any new formulas to twice per week until you know how you respond and react. Another key way to shake up congestion and get the gross stuff out? Steam your face in a warm shower before exfoliating—or run a washcloth under hot water and let it sit on your face. It can help soften the residue and allow it to be more easily removed by a cleanser, toner, or mask.

Australia’s Online Skincare Community: Treating Blackheads and More

Beauty Connections is all about educating our community and arming you with the products needed to achieve your best look. Instead of going it alone, we welcome all of our visitors to read through our blogs, articles, and how to’s to help streamline the journey to putting your best face forward.