I tried 3 popular ways to remove blackheads and this was the single most effective method
July 2024 · 4 minute read
2017-06-21T18:05:06Z
Sometimes, pain is gain. Chloe Pantazi/INSIDER
The INSIDER Summary:
No matter how much I exfoliate, I still get blackheads around my nose.
I tried three popular ways to remove blackheads to see which would work best.
I sampled Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask, Boscia's Luminizing Black Mask, and Biore's Deep Cleansing Pore Strips.
The clear winner was Biore's Deep Cleansing Pore Strips.
The pore strip was painful to remove, but it was the cheapest and most effective method.
Along with waxing, removing blackheads is probably one of the least talked-about parts of one's beauty routine. It's thoroughly unglamorous, and usually an arduous task that involves prodding, squeezing, or an uncomfortable-looking strip.
Not wanting to irritate my skin, I don't usually make a conscious effort to get rid of my blackheads. I exfoliate my face once a week, and take care of my skin daily by cleansing, toning, applying a serum, and moisturizer.
But no matter how much I exfoliate, I still get blackheads — especially around my nose — so I decided to try a few popular products. I sampled a range of products that claim to remove blackheads, from an affordable drugstore solution to an expensive charcoal mask, to find the best one.
I tried the Origins and Boscia masks on the same night, wearing one on each side of my nose.
Following the instructions, I cleansed my skin with warm water before applying both masks. I left the Origins mask on for 10 minutes, before washing it off, and peeled off the Boscia mask after wearing it for 30 minutes.
The Boscia mask had the edge over Origins. Chloe Pantazi/INSIDER
The Origins mask had a clay-like consistency, while the Boscia mask had a gloopy texture that felt more soothing on my skin. When I took off the Origins mask, my skin was a little red after, but appeared to be smoother, with less visible blackheads around the outer edge of my nose.
I didn't mind leaving the Boscia mask on for longer, since it was more comfortable. When it came time to take it off, it peeled away relatively easily; I could also see tiny white marks in the peeled-off mask that looked like it had done something to my pores. (Unfortunately, the mask crumpled as I took it off so it wasn't really in photographable shape.)
Both charcoal masks left similar results, but Boscia's version had the edge. My skin felt taut and a little dry after removing the Boscia mask, but it seemed to do a better job of eradicating the blackheads around my nose, and I enjoyed wearing it more than the Origins mask.
The pore strip
A day later, I tried the Biore pore strip. Having never tried a pore strip before, I was nervous. I'm skeptical of ripping anything off my face (it's the reason why I choose eyebrow threading over waxing), and don't like to aggravate my skin.
After cleansing, I applied the strip without drying my nose since the packet says it only sticks to wet skin. It felt like putting a car sticker on my face.
The strip stuck to my face like glue. Chloe Pantazi/INSIDER
After 15 minutes, once the strip had hardened, I took it off slowly, peeling it from one corner all the way across. This part was, frankly, the absolute worst — it hurt to take off the strip, and my nose felt raw. It looked red for a while after I removed the strip, too.
Sometimes, pain is gain. Chloe Pantazi/INSIDER
As painful as it was, I can't say the pore strip wasn't effective. There was proof of my blackheads on the strip itself, and my nose, as red as it was, looked and felt a lot smoother.
If you look closely, you can see blackhead residue. Chloe Pantazi/INSIDER
The verdict
While I didn't love the Biore pore strip, I can't deny it was the clear winner. Compared to the charcoal masks, it's the cheapest and most effective solution to getting rid of blackheads. I was impressed, and almost intimidated, by its pore-clearing abilities. Though I wouldn't use it regularly, it's a great option for a last-minute removal — but I wouldn't recommend using it right before an event, given how red my nose became.
The Boscia mask takes second place; it felt nicer to apply on my skin, was kind of fun to peel off, and I liked that I could see some results on the mask after I removed it. If I had this mask at home, I'd probably use it once a week to get rid of impurities and avoid going down the more painful pore strip route.
In third place, Origins works just fine as a charcoal mask, but it didn't do as great a job at tackling blackheads as the Boscia mask or Biore strip. While it made my skin a bit smoother, I was left feeling pretty indifferent about it.
Read the original article on INSIDER. Copyright 2017.
