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Try one of these tools and treatments to get rid of pesky breakouts. Facial Machine For Salon
No matter how often your dermatologist tells you not to pick your pimples, it's definitely easier said than done. But what if you had a solution that worked just as well — even better — than squeezing your skin? Lucky for you, we have just that: the best products and tools to remove even the deepest and most stubborn blackheads.
But first things first: what are blackheads? "One form of acne, blackheads are a collection of sebum (oil), keratin and dirt that get trapped inside pores and are oxidized by air, making them appear a darker color," says Mona Gohara, M.D., Associate Clinical Professor of Dermatology at Yale School of Medicine. Thus, the name blackheads. They can appear anywhere on the body, but tend to show up most often on the nose, forehead and chin.
There are a variety of blackhead removing treatments which range from tools that physically extract blackheads and clogged pores to skincare formulas that work over time and help prevent blackheads from forming. Dr. Gohara is a fan of comedone extractors, which are either a metal looped stick or small spoon shape with a hole in the center that press out the dirt and sebum from the pore. "Other tools include skin spatulas that vibrate to scrape the surface of the skin and pore vacuums which use suction to pull sebum from the pore," says Chiara Butler, a beauty reviews analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute. She isn't a fan of either as they can cause broken blood vessels and bruising.
Within the skincare world, there are lots of options, including chemical peels, retinol treatments and exfoliators that generally include salicylic and glycolic acids, among others. Both Butler and Dr. Gohara warn against pore strips as they "are a quick fix and don't do doing anything to help the process of the blackheads forming," says Dr. Gohara. Now that you've got the different categories down, keep reading to see our top picks for blackhead removers, including editor and dermatologist favorites, Beauty Award winners and more.
If treating blackheads isn't your only acne struggle, check out our favorite acne face washes and acne-fighting skincare routine.
Dr. Gohara is a big proponent of using chemical peels to help get rid of blackheads, as they "often use salicylic acid or glycolic acid to dissolve the accumulation in the pore." Dr. Dennis Gross's two-step peel is the gold standard for at-home treatments, as it contains five AHAs and BHAs to exfoliate skin and dissolve sebum, plus a neutralizing wipe to hydrate skin and prevent irritation. "They have three variants: gentle, original and extra strength," explains Danusia Wnek, GH Beauty Lab's Senior Chemist. "I like all of them, but the original ones are my go-to; I apply this product at night and when I wake up my skin is super smooth and pores look smaller." It is a pricey option, but Wnek and many reviewers agree it's worth it.
In addition to blackhead busting salicylic acid, this oil-free serum from Neutrogena contains a mix of glycolic, polyhydroxy and mandelic acids to exfoliate and clarify skin. Dr. Gohara loves that it "goes on smoothly, is not irritating and is easy to layer under products." One thing to note: a few reviewers commented on the "unpleasant scent."
Comedone extractors come in varying shapes but Butler likes ones with a circular spoon-like end, such as this one from Seki Edge. "In my personal experience these extractors apply more even pressure around the blackhead than those with an oval loop design," she says, "which makes it easier to get all of the debris out of the pore." She does warn that using an extractor can be risky and cause redness, so be gentle and use with caution.
One of her go-to exfoliating products, Dr. Gohara called these pads "a perfect way to give your skin a mini peel at night before bed. The pads help to liberate those backed up pores." Nothing beats the ease of a wipe and these are gentle enough to use daily. Just be careful not to use near the eye area, as it can be irritating there.
Boasting a potent 2% salicylic acid, "this is honestly a workhorse when it comes to reducing the appearance of pores," says Wnek. It is a personal favorite of hers as "it keeps my skin looking and feeling smooth." Wnek isn't alone; the brand says that this is their top selling product globally as it works quickly to unclog pores, brighten skin and reduce fine lines and wrinkles. While most users find this leave-on exfoliator to be gentle, a few noted that it can irritate sensitive skin.
Clay masks are great to have in your routine to battle blackheads. Codex's creamy deep-cleaning clay mask, a Good Housekeeping Beauty Award winner, is backed by clinical data showing a 14% reduction in skin oil after 28 days of use. The detoxifying clay is balanced with softening shea butter and botanicals, so it doesn't strip skin of moisture. “It minimized the look of pores around my nose and cleared blackheads without over-drying," says Sabina Wizemann, Senior Chemist at the GH Beauty Lab. However, it does have a strange smell, according to some reviewers.
When it comes to multitasking skincare ingredients, retinoids are at the top of the list. In addition to being anti-aging all-stars, retinoids help to regulate skin cell turnover, meaning less dead skin cells and clogged pores. Dr. Gohara recommends this adapalene gel from La Roche-Posay which used to only be available with a prescription. "It is gentle, cosmetically elegant and effective," she says. "You only need a pea size amount over the whole face." Start the application gradually (every other night) and increase slowly, as it can dry out your skin.
A winner of Good Housekeeping's 2021 Sustainable Innovation Awards, this multitasking cleanser "can be used like a clay mask to two to three times a week or as a daily cleanser with most gentle physical exfoliating properties," says Birnur Aral, GH Beauty Lab's Executive Director. "It is ideal for purifying pores of mature skin as it doesn’t leave skin overly dry." In terms of its sustainability accolades, the brand uses between 95% and 98% naturally derived ingredients and recently became 100% carbon neutral thanks to the use of hydroelectric and geothermal energy sources. The only negative? A few reviewers commented on the small size of the bottle, so if you use daily it may not last that long.
News flash: blackheads (sadly) don't just pop up on the face. For blackheads on the back and chest, Butler likes this spray from Maelys which contains 2% salicylic acid to slough off debris and dirt and alpine willow herb which helps to reduces the look of oily skin. "It’s easy to hold, and the spray nozzle works even when turned upside down, making it easy to apply to the back," she says. "It also smells amazing." Be patient with usage; it can take consistent, daily use to see results.
While the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab hasn’t formally tested blackhead removers, GH Beauty Lab scientists are constantly testing the newest skincare and acne products, including retinol creams, moisturizers for acne-prone skin and more. We combined our decades of expertise with advice from dermatologists and Beauty Lab and editor recommendations to compile this list.
✔️ Keratolytic or exfoliating ingredients: "Look for products with salicylic acid, glycolic acid, benzoyl peroxide, retinoids (such as adapalene), azelaic acid, alpha hydroxy acids or sulfur," says Butler. "All of these ingredients help loosen up dead skin cells and prevent them from clogging pores."
✔️ Serums, creams, lotions or peels: It's more about the ingredients than the formula. Choose a texture that you prefer.
✔️ Avoid products that claim instant results: "Be aware of products that pretend to be quick fixes," says Dr. Gohara. "You want to both eliminate blackheads and help prevent new ones from forming."
✔️ Be careful when trying blackhead tools: Yes, they work but can also cause damage to skin so proceed with caution.
"It can be hard to resist removing blackheads with quick strips or tools, but the best long-term results and least risk of injury will come from regular use of skincare products with keratolytic ingredients," says Butler.
Dr. Gohara agrees and suggests using a gentle cleanser and following with a product that contains either salicylic acid, glycolic acid, a retinol or some combination of them. "You can add in something mechanical like an extraction tool, but make the skincare steps your first order of business."
"I am a huge fan of the good old comedone extractor for stubborn blackheads," Dr. Gohara says. "Gentle pressure can extract the contents, and consistent use of a retinol will keep the follicle from getting blocked up again."
If you’re dealing with a very large or deep blackhead that won't come out despite your best efforts, "it’s best to see a dermatologist who can extract it in a sterile environment and treat the pore that is left behind," advises Butler.
Dori Price compiled the product list above and interviewed experts about blackheads. She has over 15 years of experience researching and writing skincare stories, combining her knowledge with the expertise of top industry professionals including dermatologists and aestheticians. She is an expert in all face and body skincare product categories, from cleansers to toners, serums, moisturizers, sunscreens, exfoliators, masks, professional treatments and more.
Chiara Butler provided details about how blackheads form, the right ingredients to look for in blackhead removers and her top product picks. She reviews analyst in the Beauty, Health and Sustainability Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she conducts hands-on testing of health and beauty products. She earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Columbia University. Before joining GH in 2022, she worked as a cosmetic chemist, formulating skincare products for a variety of brands and learning to decode ingredient lists, evaluate ingredient efficacy and scrutinize product claims.
Dori Price is a New York City-based freelance writer and editor and beauty, style and wellness expert who was the Beauty & Fashion Director at Family Circle for 13 years before she joined Good Housekeeping, Prevention and Woman’s Day as a freelance beauty editor. She has also written for WomensHealthMag.com, Elle.com and HealthCentral.com.
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