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One of the biggest struggles in skin care are blackheads. It's the most common skin concern that burdens so many of us. Treating blackheads is also a struggle, but we've put together a skin care regime that can treat blackheads naturally.
In this article, we will teach you how to treat the skin with the best products to remove blackheads from the pores naturally. You can be blackhead free if you maintain our skin care regime and use the products we recommend to treat this problem
What are Blackheads?
Blackheads are a form of acne, which is divided into three types. It is important to know what type you have for the proper treatment. The three types are:
Blackheads: Medically know as open comedomes. Comedomes are wide follicles that are filled with plugs of sebum, keratin, and sloughed-off cells. These cells have undergone a chemical reaction resulting in melanin oxidation, giving the plug its black color.
Whiteheads: Medically known as a closed comedome. These are filled with the same material as blackheads, but have only a microscopic opening to the skin surface. Air cannot reach the follicle, so the material is not oxidized, and remains white.
Red Pustules: This is an infected follicle, or pimple. The follicle is infected by bacteria that develops in a clogged pore, which becomes irritated and red. This is acne at its most acute stage.
Blackheads are a skin condition that affects close to 85 percent of adolescents and can carry on into adulthood. Its important to treat blackheads before they become infected.
How to Treat Blackheads Naturally
The most important thing to remember when treating blackheads is to NOT squeeze or extract the blackhead with your fingers. Not only do you promote bacteria, you damage the delicate skin and cause a micro infection. The skin becomes injured and now must heal. Picking or squeezing becomes a terrible cycle, leading to acne prone skin.
The key to keeping blackheads at bay is consistency with the right skin care regime. The pores can easily become clogged without routine deep cleaning. Now, deep cleaning doesn’t mean aggressive treatments. In fact, when we over treat the skin we can accelerate the production of sebum and cause pimples.
A deep clean means keeping the skin clear of debris, but doing so in a gentle way. We recommend a daily exfoliant combined with a milk cleanser. The combination of these two products will lift dirt and debris from the pores before they turn into a blackheads.
Washing the Face Properly to Remove Blackheads
Step By Step:
- Wash your face with luke warm water, this will help prevent dry skin that can clog the pores.
- Wash your face with a gentle, milk cleanser. This will prep the skin before a second wash. (See below our top recommended milk cleanser for blackheads)
- Combine your daily exfoliant with your milk cleanser in the palm of your hand. Rub together. Use the mixture to wash in circular motions on the face for about a minute. (See below our top recommended daily exfoliant)
- Rinse very well. Be sure not to leave any product behind on the skin, as this can also clog the pores.
- Pat your face dry with a clean face cloth.
- Follow up with a non comedogenic face oil (an oil that will not clog the pores).
Oils help the follicles stay healthy, repairing their function.,they also help control sebum production and buildup. (See below our best recommended oil for blackhead prone skin)
The Best Products to Clear out Blackheads
Milk Cleanser
A milk cleanser is gentle on the skin, while deep cleaning pores. Our top pick milk cleanser is:
Eminence Calm Skin Chamomile Cleanser
Calm Skin Chamomile Cleanser uses soothing ingredients that will calm the skin and lift dirt and debris from the pores. We've chosen this cleanser because using a gentle cleanser is more effective than one that may strip away oils and dry the skin, which can cause clogged pores. It's also important to know Calm Skin Chamomile Cleanser does not include any ingredients that are comedogenic.
Daily Exfoiant
A daily exfoliant will lift dirt and dry skin from the pores helping prevent blackheads. Our top pick daily exfoliant:
Eminence Strawberry Rhubarb Dermafoliant
This is the best exfoliant I have ever used. It's suitable to use daily combined with your milk cleanser. Eminence's Dermafoliant is gentle and effective and it will not over stimulate the skin. Using a daily exfoliant will dramatically improve blackheads, lifting dirt and debris that clogs the pores.
Facial Oil
A facial oil will keep the skin moisturized preventing dry skin clogging the pores. Our top pick facial oil:
Flora’s Organic Sunflower Oil
A facial oil is going to further moisturize the skin to prevent any dryness or flaking that leads to clogged pores. Many people are nervous to use an oil on their skin thinking it will further their problems. This is only true if you're using oils that are comedogenic. Oils that support moisture and are antibacterial will support the follicle and control sebum production. It's been found that people who are lacking in linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid found in certain facial oils, tend to struggle with blackheads and acne.
You can combat blackheads with consistency. Washing the face daily with a milk cleanser and daily exfoliant will help remove debris deep in the pores, before it has a chance to oxidize and become a blackhead.
Follow up with a non comedogenic oil, and your skin will stay hydrated.
Let us know if you struggle with blackheads, we want to help you get rid of them once and for all! Leave us a comment
To a Bright and Beautiful you,
Maria.
Hi Maria, I use to get blackheads all the time when I was younger, but since turning 40, it’s no longer an issue. I must confess… I used my fingers to squeeze them back-in-the-day. Thankfully, I don’t see any damage all these years later… but I do think your advice is very important to follow. My dermatologist used a tool (can’t remember the name) to extract them. Do you recommend using one of these over fingers?
Hi Jackie, Thanks for the comment. You can use a comedome remover (extractor) to remove blackheads at first, and then began treatment. I definitely recommend this over squeezing them. If you have deep blackheads, sometimes you can start out having them extracted, but you will want to start cleansing and exfoliating there after. An extractor can still damage the skin over time 🙂 Deep cleaning will prevent blackheads from coming back.
I hate blackheads. Although i get them much less than previous years, they are always a little smudge on my face that I absolutely detest. I like the creams you mentioned here, especially the sunflower oil product at the bottom. I think it’s something I’d definitely consider to use for my face.
If we are lucky our skin will change as we get older and blackheads can slow down. However if you still have trouble its best to follow a deep cleaning routine. Sunflower oil is great if you use the 2 steps before 🙂 Thanks Ariel for your comment!
Do you recommend this cleansing process for morning and afternoon?
Hi Jess, Thanks for the question! I recommend a morning wash and evening wash. We accumulate bacteria and debris while we sleep and again throughout the day. This will help keep the pores clearer. All 3 products are very gentle and shouldn’t over stimulate the skin. If you find it is becoming abrasive, use the milk cleanser in the morning and then all 3 products in the evening, especially if you wear makeup during the day. Hope that helps.
Maria.
Blackheads are the worst. I’ve been looking for a good daily exfoliant for my extremely sensitive skin. The Eminance Strawberry Rhubard looks awesome. Will it improve blackheads that are already there or just help prevent new ones from forming?
Lately I’ve been using Argan oil as a moisturizer. Do you know anything about it and do you recommend?
Hi Katie!
The good news is Eminence Strawberry Rhubarb Exfoliant will greatly improve old and new blackheads. It is intended for daily use, keeping the pores super clean. Although you mention you have extremely sensitive skin I would start off using that product 3 times per week to see how you react. It is very gentle, but you want to test the skin first.
Argan oil is a great moisturizer, in fact we have lots of information on Argan oil. I definitely recommend it for your skin type. Just add Argan oil to our search bar to see all of the information on this oil. Here is a link to start with: https://thebestorganicskincare.com/marula-oil-vs-argan-oil-which-is-better-for-your-skin
All the Best,
Maria.
Very helpful and Great information,
we appreciate advise especially coming from a professional.
Thanks again and keep up the great work!