Banishing Blackheads

Hello beauty addicts!


Disclaimers: All opinions are my own, I have no agreements with any of the brands mentioned below.


So let's start with the science bit:

Blackheads, known medically as a 'open comedo' is a plug within the pores that can appear black on the surface of the skin. Contrary to popular belief blackheads are not caused by the build up of dirt but of oil buildup within the pores. Over time this excess oil oxidises which causes it to darken due to it's melanin content. Whilst a blackhead's content may be of a dark yellow or brown colour the substance reflects light in a way that causes then to appear black.

For these reasons all of that constant scrubbing we do only encourages the skin to produce more oil as it becomes aggravated. A good large grained scrub should be used no more that three times a week to clear away dead skin. I like any of the scrubs by St Ives.

So what can we do to 'fight' blackheads? I want to say that if you are a fan of nose strips etc then don't worry, you can still use them but be aware that they maybe pull away excess dirt, but they cannot get to the root cause of blackheads.

Every skin care routine for banishing blackheads should include, on a basic level that is, a cleanser, a small grained scrub, a toner, a moisturiser and a face mask.Think of it as a five step routine.





Cleansers: Cleansers can be bought as a cream wash or lotion however as oily to combination skin is more blackhead prone that's what I'll be working with. Cleansers are designed specifically to clear the skin of excess oil, make up, dirt and anything else that makes it's way onto our skin during to day. I use the Neutrogena Visibly Clear Oil-Free Cleansing Facewash to combat oil and leave my skin visibly clean.




Scrub: Micro bead scrubs are basically scrubs that have really small grains. Whilst you may not feel like they're really scrubbing the skin you have to remember that you're targeting the pores not the skin surface! Pores are small, therefore by logic, the grains need to be small too. The smaller grains also will encourage blood circulation without causing redness on the skin. Cream scrubs are great for balancing out the moisture loss due to the facewash used before and this combined with the gentleness of the micro beads won't encourage the skin to produce excess oil. For the beginning of the process I prefer to use compatible products, meaning products within the same range which are formulated to work together. It's not all a con when shampoo's tell you to follow up with their conditioner! For which reason I'm in love with the Neutrogena Visibly Clear Blackhead Eliminating Daily Scrub.

Toner: Now that the pores or are clean they need to be tightened so that moisturisers, make up and the like don't just go ahead and clog them up again. This step will also make the pores practically  invisible to the naked eye. Toner's are great for giving the skin a wake me up too but choosing a toner formulated for your skin type is important. For big blackhead sufferers anything with tea tree oil will soon clear up excess oils and bacteria that can turn blackheads into breakouts. I cannot stress how important it is to invest in toners regardless of price as they do really tend to be 'get what you pay for' products. For oily or combination skin I recommend the Lush Tea Tree Water. This spritz spray can be applied strait to the skin as a reviving mist or applied with a cotton bad for deep cleaning.


 Moisturiser: Moisturiser is a vital step in protecting your skin for the future. Personally I would always recommend a water based moisturiser as this will absorb into the skin better but it is, of course, personal choice. Any water based moisturiser will have 'aqua' within the first three ingredients on the list as ingredients are listed in order of the ratio within the product. I use Re-gen Cream which you can buy for just £3.99 at any Home Bargains store. This stuff is a facial miracle, containing active ingredients found in scarring lotions to aid skin regeneration. The cream is gentle and gets rid of those pesky spot scars faster that you can say... well, Re-gen!

Face Mask: The final step for an intense skin treatment should be done once a week. Face masks again are skin type specific. For dry skin a moisturising or exfoliating mask is in order. Oily skin will benefit from a peel mask or mud mask. Or, if you're combating blackhead, you could go for a mask that does all of those things. Now this is the only product that I will actively say go and buy as it's perfect for all skin types, affordable and doesn't half do the job. Miracle in a tub, the Soap & Glory Fab Pore Facial Peel. This product doesn't actually peel so I don't really get the name but either way, it's amazing.


So there you go, five steps to perfect skin.

Bye Addicts!