Blackheads are something we’ve all probably dealt with (unfortunately) at one point or another. They’re those pesky little dark spots on the nose and in your T-zone indicative of super tiny, clogged up pores — not underneath the skin, like whiteheads are. If you’re anything like us, your first thought may be Get. It. Out. You might have used a scrub or added products to your skincare routine with derm-approved ingredients like benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, but those aren’t the only ways to get the gunk out of your skin. Enter: Korean beauty.
Known for its seriously innovative, industry-leading approach to all things beauty and skincare, Korean beauty takes a predictably different approach to blackhead removal, errr, blackhead treatment. “They can never really be removed, because they’re a natural component of the skin’s anatomy, but they can be toned down and made less noticeable,” says Sarah Lee, Korean skincare expert and co-founder of the as-seen-on-Shark-Tank brand Glow Recipe. Below, Sara and the other half of Glow Recipe, Christine Chang, share their secrets to banishing blackheads, K-beauty style. Read below for three alternative ways to get rid of blackheads.
SECRET 1: DOUBLE CLEANSING
Double cleansing is an old-school K-beauty method that uses two separate cleansers (one directly after the other) to get the job done. You start by washing your face with an oil cleanser and then follow it up with a foaming cleanser. “This can be beneficial in the prevention of blackheads for two reasons. First, the skin is completely cleansed of comedogenic makeup (makeup that will clog your pores) and sebum (oil) buildup that contributes to these enlarged pores,” Christine says. “Second, an oil cleanser is similar in composition to that of sebum, so it will do a great job of helping to ‘oil up’ the pores, allowing impurities and clogs to slide out with gentle massage.”
SECRET 2: AQUA-PEELER
To target areas where buildup is a big issue, use an aqua peeler. Christine explains, “It’s an at-home treatment inspired by moisturizing chemical exfoliants that are very popular in Korean dermatology clinics.” This treatment will deep clean your pores thanks to its concentrated formula of alpha-hydroxy acids — in other words, it’s powerful stuff. Use its unique packaging — basically an oversized cotton swab — to run over any areas of your face that would benefit from this intense, precision exfoliation like your nose and T-zone.
SECRET 3: RUBBER MASKS
While face masks are nothing new, rubber masks are def an innovative (and serious) step up when it comes to your skincare game. To tackle blackhead issues, Sarah and Christine recommend applying a rubber mask right after a hot shower — ideally when your bathroom is still steamy and warm — so your skin can soak up extra moisture. “A charcoal rubber mask is the Korean beauty answer to the Vaseline blackhead treatment because the concept is similar: trapping the heat and moisture of the skin beneath a rubber mask will both intensely hydrate the skin and start to soften sebum and clogged pores,” Sarah explained. Christine said another game-changing mask for blackhead treatment is a volcanic clay mask, which is another highly effective way to deep clean your skin after your routine cleansing.
What are your favorite Korean beauty products? Tweet us your @BritandCo!
(Photos via Glow Recipe)
