Blackheads are a mild form of acne that’s just as unwanted, but the good news is that there are ways you can deal with them. As with other forms of acne, you should avoid picking or squeezing your blackheads by yourself, unless you’re a professional, otherwise you could risk scarring your skin or being left with spots.

What causes blackheads?

Blackheads form when your pores are clogged due to excessive sebum or an increased buildup of dead skin cells. They look like tiny black dots on the skin and tend to appear on your nose, chin or even forehead.

Even though you can successfully get rid of blackheads, they will unfortunately resurface again weeks later. To get rid of blackheads and reduce the amount that form on your skin, you need to cleanse your skin properly, exfoliate at least once a week and apply a face mask daily. Here are some Korean skin care products that work to get rid of blackheads:

Facial Cleansers

Keeping your skin cleansed is essential to prevent a buildup of dead skin cells, which then lead to the formation of blackheads. Try using SOME BY MI’s Bye Bye Blackhead 30 Days Miracle Green Tea Tox Bubble Cleanser daily. It’s formulated with green tea water and extract along with BHA, all of which work together to deeply cleanse your pores and melt away blackheads and whiteheads. 

Don’t forget to double cleanse at night to ensure that your skin is properly cleansed! Check out some of these cleansing oils that help tackle those stubborn blackheads: 

Exfoliants

To prevent blackheads, you need to make sure that you’re exfoliating regularly. Exfoliate at least once a week, or twice if you have oily skin, to prevent dead skin cells from clogging your pores. Find an exfoliant with BHA as the ingredient is oil-soluble, which allows it to clean and unclog your pores.  

COSRX’s BHA Blackhead Power Liquid is a cult favorite, so you know your skin will be in good hands as long as you have this in your skin care stash. This liquid exfoliant effectively gets rid of dead skin cells and blackheads, leaving you with skin that’s clearer and smoother. It also helps treat your acne, so if you’re breaking out then you can count on this BHA Blackhead Power Liquid to heal your blemishes.

Face Masks

If you want to keep your skin clear of blackheads then it’s time to invest in a good face mask. Clay masks are perfect and reliable for getting rid of blackheads as this mask type draws out all the excess sebum and impurities from deep within your pores. 

On top of getting rid of blackheads, CAOLIN’s Blackhead O2 Bubble Pore Pack also contains mixed grain powder to gently exfoliate your skin and help reveal a more radiant complexion. Although clay masks are known to dry your skin out, this mask is packed with carbonated water and plant-based ingredients that leave skin feeling supple.

Pro tip: instead of applying your clay mask all over your face, you can just apply it on problem areas where you spot the most blackheads, like your chin and T-zone area.

Since clay masks suck out all the excess oil in your skin, you can be left with dry and thirsty skin. A surefire way to add moisture back into your skin is to follow with a sheet mask after you wash off your clay mask. You can also follow with a hydrating essence or serum to bring your hydration levels back up. 

Hydrating essences:

Hydrating serums: