- Exfoliating your skin deep-cleans your pores. Before you begin, rinse your face with warm water to open up your pores and soften the hardened oil and bacteria that make up a blackhead. After opening your pores, wash your face with an exfoliating soap or cleanser containing beta hydroxy acid. Products that contains beta hydroxy acid will break down blackheads and release them from your pores. In addition, they will diminish dead skin cells that can promote blackhead formation. Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid and is an ingredient in many commercial acne products. After exfoliating, rinse your face with cold water to close your pores.
- Using a facial mask at least once a week keeps your face vibrant and clear. Black clay masks draw impurities out of your pores like a magnet. The mask then become hard, tightening your pores to make them less noticeable. Exfoliating masks contain beads that massage your skin as you apply the product. The beads stimulate your skin to release dead skin cells, smoothing out your complexion. The beads also break down your blackheads, allowing them to exit pores on their own.
- A blackhead extractor is a tool with a very small circle at the tip that allows you to apply even pressure around a blackhead and remove it without damaging your skin. Uneven pressure can rupture your skin rather than extracting the blackhead, causing a wound that can leave unsightly scaring. Sterilize the extractor with rubbing alcohol to keep bacteria from getting in your pores and causing more blackheads. Place the extractor's circle around the blackhead and apply moderate pressure to release the blackhead from the pore. Apply pressure for only a couple seconds. If the blackhead does not budge, gently reapply pressure once more. Try applying pressure three to five times. If you don't get results, soak your blackheads with warm water for a couple minutes to further loosen them. Attempt to extract the blackheads once more and repeat this process until you are successful.
- Excessively heavy makeup, especially cover-up foundation, can be a leading cause of blackheads because it suffocates your pores and causes build-up. The less makeup you wear, the better. Use powder instead of liquid foundation to absorb excess oil. In addition, keep makeup application pads clean so you don't contaminate your skin and makeup with oil or debris.
