Gross but true: There’s nothing more satisfying than peeling off a blackhead strip and seeing how much gunk it managed to pull from your pores. The best blackhead strips can clear excess sebum while also staying gentle on your skin—especially if you’re dealing with oiliness or clogged pores. They’ve come a long way since the ‘90s, when “beauty is pain” meant ripping a strip off your nose and marveling at the tiny plugs left behind. To help you find the very best ones, we asked dermatologist to share their top pore strips and then tested them ourselves. Below are the ones that will help keep the area around your nose clear and irritation-free.
The best blackhead strips, at a glance:
Do dermatologists recommend blackhead strips?
Generally speaking, most dermatologists do recommend the hydrocolloid-based blackhead strips, but aren’t the biggest fans of the “traditional” nose strips that you wet with warm water, apply, and then remove after they’ve dried. Geeta Yadav, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of FACET Dermatology, advises to use caution when opting for a traditional blackhead strip over the hydrocolloid blackhead strip, and avoid them if you have very sensitive skin.
How to use a blackhead strip
Directions for use will vary widely, depending on the type of blackhead removal strip or acne treatment you’re using. Follow the directions on the package when using a blackhead strip as part of your skin care routine. Experts recommend using a cleanser and toner before and moisturizer and sunscreen post-application.
What are the disadvantages of blackhead strips?
“I don’t love the traditional [blackhead strips], as they can be very harsh on the skin and remove not just blackheads, but sebaceous filaments as well,” says Dr. Yadav. “Sebaceous filaments can look like blackheads, but serve a very important purpose—they help move sebum out of the pore and to the skin’s surface. Removing them is very stressful on the skin and can just lead to more breakouts, not to mention make pores appear larger once they’ve been removed.”
1. Best Overall: Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch Nose
Original video from Alanna Martine Kilkeary testing Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch Nose
Both Dr. Yadav and Joelle O’Connor, a licensed esthetician from Schweiger Dermatology Group in Hackensack, NJ, recommend these strips for a few reasons. “Instead of using harsh adhesives to get rid of blackheads and pull them out of the nose, these strips are made of hydrocolloid, which are worn overnight to absorb oil and other impurities from pores while you sleep,” says Dr. Yadav. “They’re much gentler on the skin than traditional nose pore strips.”
O’Connor also loves these because, unlike some other blackhead strips on the market, they don’t have any added ingredients (like salicylic acid, witch hazel, or charcoal), which can sometimes be disruptive to the skin barrier. Additionally, these strips can also act as a pimple patch for your nose, treating whiteheads and blackheads simultaneously.
“This blackhead mask is not kidding when it claims to really pull out all the gunk lying in your pores overnight. I wore this for around twelve hours when my pores were feeling particularly congested and pulled it off during my morning routine. It was a little uncomfortable and tugged at my skin while doing so, but when fully off, my nose (and surrounding area) looked completely clean and honestly, pore-free. It left me with some redness in this area, but that faded quickly as I continued my skincare. If you’re looking for a deep clean, this is the one.” says Glamour commerce writer, Alanna Martine Kilkeary.
2. Best for Stubborn Blackheads: Mediheal Blackhead Melting Clear Nose Patch
Original photo from Daley Quinn testing Mediheal Blackhead Melting Clear Nose Patch
Dr. Yadav loves these patches because they use a three-step approach to purify the skin. “This product has a biocellulose patch that treats the skin with botanical extracts, including BHA-rich willow bark to help loosen up pore-clogging debris and cica to soothe,” she explains. “It also has a spatula to gently unclog any congestion.” Finally, the finishing serum helps to further improve the appearance of large pores with tea tree, plump up skin with hydrating sodium PCA and sodium hyaluronate, and quell any redness with more cica.
I’d say that these were one of the most interesting blackhead strips that I’ve ever tested—mainly because they required a three step system. The strips don’t physically pull out blackheads, nor do they have any sort of hydrocolloid effect on the skin. While I did find the three-step system effective, I feel like it would have worked better for me if I had placed a hot or warm washcloth on my nose area either before step 1 or before step 2, just to open up my pores a bit more for easier extraction.
3. Best for Smoothing Texture: Peace Out Pores Nose and Face Strips
Original video from Alanna Martine Kilkeary testing Peace Out Pores Nose and Face Strips
The Peace Out Pores Nose and Face Strips are unique in that they feature a popular anti-aging ingredient—retinol. “These hydrocolloid patches feature a form of retinol, one of the best ingredients for treating acne (including blackheads) as well as collagen-stimulating DMAE to help firm up skin, making pores appear smaller and less dilated,” explains Dr. Yadav. One thing to note is that retinoids can sometimes be irritating for sensitive and dry skin, so use with caution.
“I really enjoyed these pore-clearing strips thanks to their pliable material and the way they pulled out some gunk that was really deep in my skin. These strips are pretty comfortable to wear as well, not overly stiff and easy to manipulate around your nose and tuck into crevices. My skin definitely looked a lot clearer and felt super soft after application, though it was a bit red for a while. I would recommend these for those dealing with stubborn blackheads, but if you have sensitive skin, it’s best to probably avoid them,” says Glamour’s Kilkeary.
4. Best for Sensitive Skin: Patchology On The Nose Gunk-Absorbing Hydrocolloid Nose Strips
Original video from Jen Calle testing Patchology On The Nose Gunk-Absorbing Hydrocolloid Nose Strips
Not only do the Patchology On The Nose Gunk-Absorbing Hydrocolloid Nose Strips contain hydrocolloid, but they also contain other acne-fighting ingredients, too. “These are deep cleansing pore strips from a solid skin care brand harnessing hydrocolloid technology with the addition of salicylic acid and tea tree oil to banish the bacteria and absorb oil and fluid for a clear, gunk-free nose,” says O’Connor.
“I was hesitant to try a pore strip because of my experience with the harsh ones from my teen years, but these Patchology strip were so gentle on my skin. I wore it overnight and it didn’t bother me at all while I slept. When I removed it in the morning, I noticed my nose seemed so much more clear. I wish I had a better quality camera to show the difference but trust me, it really works,” says Glamour senior commerce editor Jenifer Calle.
Original video from Alanna Martine Kilkeary testing Biore Blackhead Strips
An oldie but a goodie, the Bioré Blackhead Strips use a patented c-bond technology to bind to blackheads and physically remove them from your pores. Unlike hydrocolloid strips, the Biore strips might feel a bit more uncomfortable when removing them from your skin. “I’ll never forget the first time I used these strips, which was probably around middle school. They were big on Youtube in those days, and I knew I just had to give them a try (even though, let’s be real, how many pores did I really have on my twelve-year old face?!) I remember them looking cute on my Tumblr page after I photographed a photo of myself with the strip on, but what I didn’t remember was how intense they actually are, and how well they actually work! These strips are not for the faint of heart, as you’ll see in my video (I’m cringing a bit as I pull it off, as you can see), but I have to say, they leave your skin feeling smoother than ever before. This strip lifted a few embedded blackheads that have been staring me in the face for the past few months, and then some. And while they’re not the most comfortable to remove (ha, pain is beauty, right), they do the job!” says Glamour’s Kilkeary.
6. Best KBeauty: COSRX Master Patch Intensive
“These hydrocolloid patches are infused with salicylic acid and tea tree oil to help exfoliate within the pore and combat blackhead-causing bacteria and the inflammation that blemishes can trigger,” explains Dr. Yadav. “They have a very thin edge, so they disappear nicely into the skin and are more incognito than other colloidal patches.”
Read the full article here
