We can pick, squeeze, and extract without abandon, but days later, blackheads are back, taunting us in the bathroom mirror. When professional extractions aren’t possible, the best way to remove blackheads is to treat them with a topical formula that ...
What I Like: Contains both AHAs and BHAs to dissolve sebum and prevent oil from building up inside pores, Lactic acid gently resurfaces pores, Includes deactivator pad to prevent over-exfoliation and irritation What to Consider: Could be too strong for sensitive skin Benefits: Clears congestion, fights dullness, smoothes | Skin Type: Combination, oily, dry | Size: 30 treatments These incredibly popular peel pads are soaked in a dual AHA and BHA e... With thousands of positive reviews on Sephora, the Alpha Beta Universal Daily is a pretty safe bet for improving blackheads. These exfoliating acid pads are gentle enough for daily use but I get great results using them just a few times per week. T...
Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel | Dr Dennis Gross
What I Like: Lactic acid dissolves oil and unclogs pores, Tasmanian pepperberry and hyaluronic acid reduce inflammation, Affordable What to Consider: Can cause some stinging on sensitive skin Benefits: Evens skin tone, clears congestion | Skin Type: Dry, combo, oily Lactic Acid 10% + HA 2% is an exfoliating formula for those who are experienced users of dire...
The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA
What I Like: Niacinamide helps fade discoloration, AHAs, BHAs dissolve oil and exfoliate skin, Glycerin and aloe vera soothe and calm skin What to Consider: Contains fragrance Benefits: Fades discoloration, smooths, clears congestion | Skin Type: Combination, oily This hard-working liquid exfoliator from Glossier contains a cocktail of exfoliating acids, plus niacinamide, glycerin, and aloe vera to help fade discoloration, soothe, and calm the skin. This solution is a great alternative to physical scrubs, bu...
Solution - Glossier
What I Like: Adapalene proven to work to dissolve oil and reduce pore size, Affordable, Layers well with other skincare What to Consider: Might be too harsh for sensitive skin Benefits: Evens skin tone, reduces acne and blackheads | Skin Type: Combination, oily This treatment from Differin contains adapalene, a “type of retinoid that comes in 0.1% or 0.3% concentration and works to improve skin clarity, luminosity, and reduce pores.” Adapalene has a more stable chemical structure than other retinoids (lik...
Adapalene Retinoid Acne Treatment | Differin Gel for Acne
What I Like: Contains physical, enzymatic, and chemical exfoliants, Smells great, Leaves skin looking bright What to Consider: Can be a bit harsh if you scrub too hard Benefits: Smooths and refines | Skin Type: Dry, oily, combo, balanced Reminiscent of the scent of real pumpkin pie, this popular and deliciously-smelling face mask utilizes the power of pumpkin enzymes (as well as physical exfoliants and AHAs) to remove dead cells and smooth the skin’s surface. This triple exfoliatin...
Pumpkin Enzyme Mask | Masks & Peels - Peter Thomas Roth
What I Like: Easy to layer in skincare routine, Contains a blend of salicylic acid and BHAs, Lightweight, Fragrance-free What to Consider: Can have a bit of a funny smell Benefits: Clarifies, reduces breakouts and blackheads | Skin Type: Combination, oily, dry, balanced You’d be hard-pressed to find a liquid exfoliant with more of a fan club than Paula’s Choice 2% BHA. With promises to sweep away dead skin cells, unclog pores, and visibly smooth wrinkles, the minimalist formula is simple and highly effective. The ...
What I Like: Mineral-rich Umbrian clay reduces shine and absorbs oil, Cinnamon bark has clarifying properties, Non-drying What to Consider: Effects may not be long-term Benefits: Refines, reduces appearance of pore size | Skin Type: Combination, oily This Umbrian clay mask promises to minimize pores and shine without stripping or dulling the skin. However, ...
Umbrian Clay Pore-Purifying Face Mask 100ml | Fresh US
What I Like: Contains salicylic acid, Formulated with green tea extract, Feels cooling on the skin What to Consider: Can be a bit drying Benefits: Cleanses, refines, reduces shine | Skin Type: All Cleansing your skin of excess oil and debris is essential in order to maintain a clear complexion. This powerful cleanser is formulated with 1.5% salicylic acid to gently exfoliate and treat breakouts, as well as green tea extract to soothe inflame...
Acne Control Clarifying Cleanser | Murad Skincare
What I Like: Gentle, micelle technology removes dirt and makeup without clogging pores, Affordable, Free of many potential irritants What to Consider: Not ideal for oily skin Benefits: Cleanses without stripping | Skin Type: Dry, combination If you’re looking for a cleanser that’s going to tackle congestion but perhaps doesn’t contain potent active ingredients, like exfoliating acids. It’s best to avoid moisturizing cleansers that have high levels of paraffin, mineral oil, or fragrant ...
Sensibio Foaming Gel - Bioderma
What I Like: Safe for sensitive skin, Conditioning formula, Contains bacteria-fighting piroctone olamine to prevent acne from congested pores What to Consider: Small bottle Benefits: Resurfaces, prevents acne-causing bacteria | Skin Type: Dry, sensitive If your skin is sensitive, I recommend this conditioning milk concentrate to exfoliate and resurface sans irritation. This is perfect for sensitive skin that cannot handle any acids. It contains piroctone olamine, which prevents replication of bact...
#5 The Milk Concentrate | Calming Night Serum | RATIONALE
What I Like: Contains green tea, turmeric, and neem extract to calm inflammation, Formulated with AHAs help dissolve oil inside pores, Lightweight texture What to Consider: Small amount Benefits: Clarifies, reduces breakouts and blackheads, fades discoloration | Skin Type: Combination, oily This dermatologist-developed formula contains ingredients that help to prevent new blemishes, like a concentration of AHAs (also great for dissolving excess oil), in addition to antioxidants that help fade discoloration from old spots. It also cont...
Rose Ingleton MD - Blemish Control Booster - Thirteen Lune
What I Like: Budget-friendly, Contains only one ingredient, Multi-use product What to Consider: Can be messy Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay has a well-deserved following. This single-ingredient drugstore icon contains 100 percent bentonite clay—nothing more, nothing less—to soak up the oil that's causing blackheads. You also get plenty of bang for your ...
Aztec Secret– Indian Healing Clay 1 lb
What I Like: Esthetician-approved, Exfoliating, Soothing What to Consider: Some may find the smell to be too strong Hands down, salicylic acid (aka BHA) is the most effective. That's why I love Herbivore's Blue Tansy Mask. This blackhead treatment gets its BHAs from white willow bark and goes above and beyond with fruit enzymes for gentle exfoliation and soothin...
BLUE TANSY Invisible Pores Resurfacing Clarity Mask
What I Like: Exfoliating, Dissolves sebum, Improves skin texture What to Consider: Might be too harsh for sensitive skin types Key Ingredients: Glycolic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid, resveratrol, rose petals From Soko Glam founder Charlotte Cho, Then I Met You Rosé Resurfacing Mask is a game-changer for those with blackheads. Containing six percent AHAs, including lactic and glycolic acid, this exfoliating tincture does an excellent job of clearing con...
Rosé Resurfacing Facial Mask - Then I Met You
What I Like: Cooling and soothing, Exfoliating, Absorbs oil What to Consider: Has a strong smell Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, glycolic acid, mineral powder What's more powerful than both AHA and BHA? The ingredients combined, of course. This exfoliating mask works to unclog blackheads and shrink the appearance of pores by using salicylic acid and glycolic acid together. After five to 10 minutes of use...
Vacuum Cleaner - Dr. Brandt
What I Like: Absorbs oil, Exfoliating, Budget-friendly What to Consider: Leaves slight residue Key Ingredients: Volcanic lava, lactic acid I'm also a fan of clay masks for blackheads, like Innisfree's Pore Clearing formula. This affordable treatment contains exfoliating lactic acid and actua...
innisfree Super Volcanic AHA Pore Clearing Clay Mask - Sephora