HOW TO GET RID OF BLACKHEADS FOREVER.

 A skin complaint with sufferers ranging from early teens to the elderly adults, at some point or another, we’ve all had to deal with blackheads. 

The mere term ‘blackheads’ makes me feel queasy. And as well as sounding pretty gross, they don’t look too attractive, either. In fact, I think at some point or another, we’ve all questioned how to never get blackheads ever again. 

So, how do you stop getting blackheads forever? 

Unfortunately, blackheads are very persistent, and there is no ‘miracle fix’ so to speak. Instead, it’s all about skin maintenance. There is no singular product that will stop blackheads coming back forever, but there are lots of great products available that will not only treat blackheads, but prevent them from reoccurring, too. 

In this blog post, I’m found to share with you my top tips for preventing blackheads, together with all the best products for blackheads. I really hope you enjoy the post and find everything useful. 

Some of my favourite skincare products right now that are helping to keep my skin super soft & clear

How To Stop Getting Blackheads

1. Don’t squeeze! 

I thought I’d kick off this list with a top tip and an invaluable piece of advice - don’t ever squeeze your blackheads! 

No matter what you do, always save the extractions for a professional. There’s a very good reason why fscialists are paid so much money to perform extractions. And that’s because there’s an art to it. 

Squeezing, picking and poking at your skin in an attempt to extract your blackheads will cause skin redness, irritation and even scarring. On top of all this, squeezing can also push the bacteria further into your pores, rather than allowing it to escape. 

2. Use pore strips 

Pore strips have been a popular purchase among blackhead sufferers for so many years - and there are some amazing options to choose from these days!

What’s great about nose pore strips is that they’re gentle on the skin, so if you’re worried about using products that are too abrasive, then these strips pose the perfect solution. 

Keen to find the best nose pore strips for blackheads? The Biore Ultra Pore Strips are great.

3. Exfoliate your face regularly

Exfoliation is key to removing dead skin cells and thus revealing that fresh, bright skin beneath the surface. So, if you really want to banish those blackheads, then it’s time to invest in a good face scrub.

I have a few favourites when it comes to facial exfoliators with some of the best face scrubs including the Origins Never A Dull Moment Face Polisher and the Nip & Fab Glycolic Fix Scrub. 

One of the most recent face scrubs I have tried & have really been enjoying using is the Super Facialist Vitamin C Daily Face Polish.

4. Use a clay mask

I honestly cannot even stress the importance of using a clay mask once a week. Honestly, clay masks are a god-send when extracting those pesky blackheads. 

For best results and a real ‘at home facial’ sort of feel, I start my routine by exfoliating my skin. Once that top layer of skin has been sloughed away, I’ll then steam my face and follow this up with my favourite clay mask.

The clay mask I’m currently using and loving is the L'Oreal Pure Clay Blemish Rescue Mask. It's fab & super affordable.

I love the L'Oreal Blemish Rescue Mask

5. Steam your face 

Steaming the face is a great way to open up the pores on our face and really clear out all of those impurities that may lead to spots and blackheads. 

If spas were open right now, I would be in the steam room at The Mere Golf Resort & Spa giving my skin a detox. But for now, a little DIY at home will have to do. 

You can actually buy facial steamers which I believe are great, but if you’re on a budget or you simply can’t wait, a Pyrex bowl and some boiling water will do just fine. All you need to do is half fill the bowl, add an essential oil if you wish (tea tree is great for invigorating the pores), pop a towel over your head and lean over the bowl so that the steam can penetrate your face. Do this for 5 to 10 minutes and those pesky blackheads will be loosened and much easier to slough away. 

6. Use a pore vacuum 

Pore vacuums are a fairly new thing in the world of home beauty devices, and are fairly controversial to say the least. Some rate them, others slate them. But the trick is to be careful when using them. 

The problem with any tool like this is that we all have the tendency to get a little bit giddy (especially when we see the gunk literally being sucked from our faces. It’s gross but fascinating and so satisfying.) But it’s so important to use any pore vacuum with caution and to limit use to maximum twice a week. 

If you're looking to invest in a blackhead vacuum, the PMD Personal Microderm Tool Kit is supposed to be fab. I haven't used it myself but I've heard great things and it's definitely on my wish list!

7. Opt for skincare products containing salicylic acid

Salicylic acid is one skincare ingredient that’s an absolute must for anyone that suffers with blackheads. Known for its acne prevention qualities, salicylic acid breaks down spot-causing bacteria, leaving the complexion clear, fresh and blemish-free. Ahhh! 

Of course, I know better than anyone that sometimes, you just have to give into temptation and have a little squeeze. We know we shouldn’t, but every so often, we all have a weak moment. So, when that does happen, all I will say is that you absolutely must make sure you’re skin is prepared and that you’re being as careful as you possibly can be. Steam or warm your face using a flannel first to make sure the skin is warm and supple, and wrap tissue paper around your fingers first to help keep things clean. 

And that's just about it, I think! But before closing off this blog post I just thought it would be worth reiterating the importance of being gentle with your skin. The skin on our face is so delicate, which is why we must take great care of it. Don't allow the teeniest, tiniest little blemishes to get you all worked up, because the chances are, if you start picking and poking at your skin, you're only going to make the problem worse.

I really hope you all enjoyed this blog post & I can't wait to share more with you all very soon.

Lots of love,

Grace x