Fashion

7 Blackhead Products That Aren't Pore Strips

by Melanie Richtman
Young woman with vitiligo skin condition doing morning beauty routine in bathroom standing in front ...
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Is there anything more gratifying than watching blackhead gunk being pulled from your nose thanks to pore strips? However, as you might already know, blackheads are not exclusively found on your nose, and sometimes pore strips just can't get the job done. Luckily, there are plenty of pore strip alternatives that'll get rid of your blackheads just as well.

Blackheads are caused when excess sebum gets trapped in your pores and when the oil hits the air, it oxidizes, giving blackheads their dark color. When you pull off a pore strip, you are (hopefully) pulling the dark, oxidized sebum with it, but pore strips don't do anything to help prevent blackheads. They just remove them for a short period of time.

If you want to try some different products to treat your blackheads and keep them in check on a daily basis, you will probably have to branch out beyond pore strips. There are plenty of products that are meant to annihilate those pesky blackheads that you might be more familiar with — everything from scrubs to peels to masks. Below are seven products for blackheads that aren't pore strips.

1. This Charcoal Bar

Biore Pore Penetrating Charcoal Bar, $6, Amazon

The most popular maker of the pore strip also makes a charcoal bar for cleaning out your pores.

2. This Cleanser/Mask

Neutrogena Blackhead Eliminating Cleanser/Mask, $11, Amazon

Use this Neutrogena product daily as your regular cleanser to fight blackheads, or apply it to dry skin for a blackhead-removing mask.

3. This Scrub

Garnier Clean + Blackhead Eliminating Scrub, $6, Amazon

Exfoliate your skin and clean out those pores with this charcoal scrub.

4. The "Blackhead Extractor"

Dr. Brandt Pores No More Vacuum Cleaner Blackhead Extractor, $33, Amazon

Use this after you wash your face to target troubled areas.

5. This Scrub

St. Ives Blackhead Clearing Green Tea Scrub, $9, Amazon

I absolutely love this scrub. The green tea smells great and is really soothing.

6. This Toner

Tea Tree Skin Clearing Toner, $14, U lta

Tea Tea Oil is great for balancing your skin's oil, so it's no surprise that this toner also helps keep blackheads under control.

7. This Blackhead Gel

Proactiv Blackhead Dissolving Gel, $25, P roactiv

Add this gel into your skincare routine after you wash your face to keep blackheads in check.

Images: PixelCatchers/E+/Getty Images; Drugstore.com (5), Ulta.com, Proactiv.com