How to Take Out Blackheads Like a Professional

Admit it...we've all done it. One day you take a closer look at your skin and to your horror you find a blackhead, and then another, and then another. You start diggin' in with your dirty nails and try to force that sucker out. Now your left with a huge red bump, a possible infection and a nasty scar. Well STOP! Read on and learn how to take out blackheads like a professional skin care therapist!

Things You'll Need

• Enzyme Exfoliator
• Q-Tips or Facial Tissue
• Alcohol-Free Toner
• Antibacterial Serum
• Cooling Clay Mask
• Light Moisturizer
• Gel Cleanser

Instructions

1. 

   Turn your shower on to create a comfortable, steamy experience.

2. 

   While the shower is getting nice and steamy, thoroughly cleanse your face with a gel cleanser. If your skin is especially oily or if you had makeup on, cleanse twice.

3. 

   Follow the directions of your chosen enzyme exfoliator (it may need to be mixed with water) and apply it to your face. Enzymes work by "eating up" all the dead skin cells on the surface. Enzymes are both gentle and extremely effective for all skin types. By removing the top layer of dead skin, the blackheads can be removed easier.

4. Step inside the shower with the enzyme. The steam continues to activate the enzyme. Steam also relaxes the skin making easier for blackheads to slip out.

5. Leave the enzyme on for about 10 min then rinse off with warm water.

6. Step out of the shower and pat skin dry. It is critical that you work quickly from this point on because as the skin begins to cool, it will make it more difficult to pop out those bad boys.

7. 

   Using Q-tips, WIGGLE the blackhead out. Focus on working AROUND the blackhead, wiggling it out gently. DO NOT SQUEEZE! If you prefer to use you fingers, wrap them in facial tissue and use the sides of your fingers to wiggle out the blackhead. DO NOT USE YOUR NAILS!

8. When you are done, spray a cotton pad with your alcohol-free toner and wipe over your skin.

9. Pat on your antibacterial/soothing serum on your entire face, placing an extra dab on those areas where you removed blackheads.

10. 

    Apply a cooling clay mask over your entire face and leave on for 15 min.

11. Rinse off with cool water and pat dry.

12. Spray a cotton pad with your toner and wipe your skin until all traces of mask are gone.

13. 

    Pat your skin again with your antibacterial serum and follow that with a light application of an oil-free moisturizer.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not try to take out all your blackheads in one sitting. Only work on your skin 5-7 min at a time.

• If you make the mistake of trying to force one out that is not ready, apply some ice to bring down the swelling before you apply your mask

• Use Q-tips that are 100% cotton. Do not use the ones with a plastic handle.

• Be extra gently around the sides of your nose due to chance of breaking fragile capillaries.

• Do this only a max of once per week, but preferably once a month.

• Never use your nails

• Do not try to force anything out of a white head or boil(no head at the tip). You will only scar your skin and possibly spread infection.

• Stay away from metal comedone extractors. Your more likely to damage your skin with this.

Resources

• Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant Enzyme
• Elemis Papaya Enzyme
• June Jacobs Pumpkin Enzyme
• June Jacobs Pore Purifying Mud Mask
• Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel
• Dermalogica Overnight Clearing Gel