How To Get Rid of Blackheads and Whiteheads at Home

The right way to remove blackheads and whiteheads at home might not be as satisfying as the “ahhhh” after you’ve been trying to pop them for 10 minutes straight, but this isn’t exactly the best way to do it (shock, we know). Taking things into your own hands can add more bacteria and/or push existing bacteria deeper into the skin, causing more swelling and making it harder to remove. It may even lead to an infection or scarring, especially if you’re not a quitter. So, before we get into the ins and outs of blackhead and whitehead removal, you need to apply a strict hands-off policy. Seriously, hands! Off! Now that the basics are out of the way, let’s discover how you can safely remove blackheads and whiteheads at home. 

What Causes Blackheads and Whiteheads?

Blackheads and whiteheads occur when our pores become a hotspot for dirt, bacteria, excess sebum, and dead skin cells to hangout. Many factors can contribute to the clogging of pores such as pore size, the amount of sebum your skin produces, how often you cleanse and exfoliate your skin, and whether you have acne-prone skin. 

Blackheads Vs Whiteheads

Blackheads are open clogged pores officially known as comedones. When their contents get exposed to the air, they turn black from oxidation. Whiteheads are closed comedones and only ever so slightly differ as they have a tiny bit of skin over the top that prevents it from oxidising. Whilst blackheads and whiteheads are different types of acne, most skincare treatments target the removal of both.

5 Ways to Treat Blackheads and Whiteheads at Home: 

Grab a mask and pick another step that is missing in your routine! As exfoliating acids are the key ingredient to getting rid of stubborn blackheads and whiteheads, be careful of layering too many potent acids at once.

1.Look out for skincare products with clay. Clay works like a magnet, drawing out impurities from the skin.

Try: BY:OUR Tone Up White Mud Mask (1pcs Or 3pcs) – £3.95

Formulated with kaolin, the most gentle type of clay, BY:OUR Tone Up White Mud Mask quite literally absorbs a build-up of excess oils, dirt, and bacteria from the skin, working to remove and prevent blackheads and whiteheads. Plus, it also includes antioxidant-rich papaya fruit extract to exfoliate the skin, and tea tree leaf extract for its soothing qualities. For maximum results, use 2-3 times a week.

2.Get your sebum production under control with ingredients such as jojoba seed oil and calamine. Less sebum produced = less blackheads and whiteheads. 

Try: INNISFREE Volcanic Pore BHA Cleansing Oil (150ml) - £23.00 

INNISFREE Volcanic Pore BHA Cleansing Oil is one of the best k-beauty products for blackhead and whitehead removal at home for oily skin types. Why? It contains Volcanic Cluster Sphere+™ with 7x sebum-absorption power combined with jojoba seed oil to melt away excess sebum, impurities, and bacteria. The cleansing oil also features chemical exfoliants and salicylic acid to dissolve the connective glue that holds dead skin cells together, without leaving the skin feeling stripped of essential moisture.

3. Aim to melt away pore-clogging dead skin cells without stripping the skin. This causes it to produce even more sebum to self soothe.

Try: SOME BY MI AHA-BHA-PHA 30 Days Miracle Foam (100ml) - £15.00 

With 3 different types of chemical exfoliants, SOME BY MI AHA-BHA-PHA 30 Days Miracle Foam has got to be one of the best face cleansing products for blackhead and whitehead removal. AHA works to eliminate surface level impurities, whilst BHA goes deep into the pores and PHA targets dead skin cells and helps to retain moisture throughout the whole thing. If you’re worried about unpredictable sebum production getting in the way of your new crystal-clear complexion, don’t be. Calamine works like a charm to control sebum production. 

4.Choose a chemical exfoliant, they’re a lot kinder to the skin than a physical scrub that’s more likely to steal moisture. 

Try: COSRX AHA 7 Whitehead Power Liquid (100ml) - £24.00

Feared by whiteheads (and rightly so), this 7% glycolic acid exfoliator specifically targets those lumps n’ bumps on your forehead and chin by speeding up the skin cell turnover, resulting in dramatically fewer whiteheads and congested pores, enhanced radiance, and faded acne scars. This exfoliator can be used 2-3 times a week.

5.Mild blackheads and whiteheads can be removed at home with salicylic acid. 

Try: NACIFIC Pink AHA BHA Toner (150ml) – £16.50

Every skincare routine for those regularly fighting with blackheads and whiteheads should must include NACIFIC Pink AHA BHA Toner. With a nice dose of salicylic acid, regular use will decrease oil production overtime, reducing the chances of blocked pores. Enriched with niacinamide, 5 types of hyaluronic acid, watermelon extract, adenosine, you’ll also benefit from intense hydration, lighter dark spots, improved skin texture, and firmer and brighter skin.