How to Get Rid of Blackheads - 10 Ways for Blackhead Removal

What are Blackheads?

When it comes to blackheads, know thine enemy! They sit on our skin mocking us, tiny but annoying blemishes just under the surface of our skin made of our natural oils, sweat, and dead skin, plus outside dust, dirt, and pollution.

This mixture clogs the pores and creates the blackheads (small black dots also called comedones).

Turns out, we are all pretty obsessed with blackheads! We all know and want to learn how to get rid of blackheads.

Squeeze one and suddenly you see them everywhere. As much as extraction can be satisfying, it can also scar and isn’t a permanent solution - you’ll be hunting for more soon enough. When the skin overproduces oil, blackheads removal is particularly difficult.

How to Get Rid of Blackheads Permanently?

Wash your face in the morning, after exercising, and always before bed

Cleansing prevents all the gunk we discussed above from settling into your pores. For blackhead removal, look for cleansers with salicylic acid, tea tree oil, calendula, camphor, and volcanic mud.

Our BelleCôte estheticians recommend Marine Volcanic Mud Cleanser -  it thoroughly cleanses the skin and removes sweat and debris.

Apply a toner with salicylic acid

Instead of benzoyl peroxide, use a toner that contains salicylic acid, especially on and around the nose. Salicylic acid is the preferred ingredient for whitehead and blackhead removal because it breaks down the materials that clog pores.

Preferably, use a toner with 2% salicylic acid and 10% azelaic acid like our Azelaic Toner. The combination of azelaic acid and salicylic acid control bacteria inside pores, removing excess oil and allowing the skin to shed dead cells much more readily.

Try DIY for Blackhead Removal!

How to get rid of blackheads on Nose:

For blackheads on nose, create a paste using baking soda and fresh squeezed lemon juice. Combine into a toothpaste consistency, and apply on the blackhead-affected area.

Use your fingers to gently scrub the skin for a few minutes and then wash off with water. This can be done twice a week.

How to get rid of blackheads on Face:

Take a quick trip to the kitchen and make yourself an oatmeal mask!  Put a cup of oats in a blender and grind until powdery. Add to a cup of lukewarm water and stir until it becomes a uniform paste.

Apply to the face and let dry completely. After, rinse the skin with lukewarm water.

Upgrade your exfoliator

Never use a scrub for blackhead removal! Most scrubs contain ground apricot pits and sand, both of which can leave scratches on your skin, causing irritation and redness. Instead, select an exfoliator that contains acids.

The best combination is a mandelic, salicylic, and lactic acid blend - these alpha and beta hydroxy acids remove excess oil and exfoliate the cells from the inside out. Exfoliate 3 times per week, try our Organic Seaweed Exfoliator, the perfect cure for mild blackheads. It moisturizes while it treats with rich organic African Shea butter.

Avoid pore strips and other home extraction methods

You’ve already learned that picking, scratching, and popping any form of acne is a no-no. Still, it can be tempting to employ some form of extraction to get rid of those pesky blackheads.

In recent years, there’s been an uptick in masks, pore strips, and extraction tools that promise to clear your pores; although pore strips may help in blackhead removal, they can also remove elements that actually help your skin - this includes natural oils and hair follicles.

Removing all of these elements can cause your skin to dry out and become irritated. When irritation occurs, your sebaceous glands may go into survival mode and produce even more oil — resulting in more blackheads, the opposite of the desired outcome.

Treat yourself to a steam bath twice a week

Steam helps your pores to open, revealing blackheads, dirt, toxins and extra skin oils. Boil water in a saucepan and when it starts to boil, shut off the heat and place your face just above, covering your head with a towel just like you would if you had a cold. Rinse with room temperature water.

Use masks twice a week

When you finish with a steam bath, your pores will be open and you will get much better results if you immediately apply a mask for blackhead removal. Clay masks are ideal for this application, because they fight acne and absorb unnecessary oil, sweat, and dirt, and then close the pores completely.

Try our Collagen Tightening Mask with marine clay, laminaria extract, marine collagen, and peptides.

Change your pillowcase twice a week

‘Nuff said.

Try Retinol or Activated Charcoal

For deeper blackheads, retinoids can get rid of blackheads and clogged pores by reducing the stickiness of the cells that tend to become clogged. The right percentage and regimen can totally transform your skin, and that includes helping to keep deep blackheads at bay.

If you have a sensitivity to Retinol, it is better to be cautious and use an acid exfoliator instead. In this case, try our Black Mud Nourishing Mask, which absorbs even the most stubborn blackheads with activated charcoal and helps heal breakouts with marine black mud.

Don’t forget to moisturize!

When searching ways to get rid of blackheads, moisturizing is a crucial step in any skincare routine — even if you have acne-prone skin, all skin needs to be hydrated. It's important to maintain the right balance, and moisturizing will allow you to continue using exfoliating products without any detrimental issues.

Marine Moisture Gel and Day Light Moisturizer with Stem Cells are great options!

BelleCôte Regimen to Get Rid of Blackheads at Home

Exfoliate 3 times a week using our Organic Seaweed Exfoliator with Mandelic, Lactic and Salicylic acids.

For mild blackheads and big pores use BelleCôte Collagen Tightening Mask twice a week.

For deep blackheads and breakouts use Black Mud Nourishing Mask twice a week.

Marine Volcanic Mud Cleanser

A deep pore cleansing mud, this professional formula is recommended for normal to oily and problematic skin. The lightly foaming cleanser is gentle yet unsurpassed in its deep cleansing properties. It is designed to control oil and shine while reducing breakouts, diminishing pores and blackheads.

Directions: Use before bedtime and in the morning. Smooth over wet face and massage firmly with circular motions concentrating on oily parts. Remove by splashing your face with warm water, then thoroughly rinse with cold water.

Active Ingredients: Marine Volcanic Mud, Marine Volcanic Ashes, Organic Tea Tree Oil, Calendula, Peppermint and Camphor.