Pore strips are probably part of your beauty cabinet when you were an adolescent or until now. This sticky strip is often used to remove blackheads on your nose. You simply wet your nose, stick the strip, and wait for 10 to 15 minutes before removing it. The result? A strip full of hair-like things, which are supposedly blackheads. It may really be satisfying to pull this strip off a gunky nose, but, apparently, it’s not the safest thing to do on your face.
“While these pore strips may successfully remove portions of the blackheads instantly at the time of application, there is no evidence that the strips treat blackheads from recurring on a consistent basis,” dermatologist Brian Zelickson told Refinery 29. Pore strips are a temporary fix and blackheads would recur, pushing you to use pore strips on a regular basis. When used on sensitive and acne-prone skin, it may irritate the skin and lead to breakouts.
So, does that spotty nose annoy you when you look at the mirror or take closeup selfies? If yes, you should skip the pore strip and use chemical exfoliants instead.
Unlike pore strips, chemical exfoliants enter the pores to remove excess sebum and blackheads. It may not have that thrilling peel off effect, but it works better than strips. Here are some products that you can use to remove those notorious blackheads:
Alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) and beta hydroxy acid (BHA)
AHA and BHA are the primary chemical exfoliants you can use. AHA exfoliates the topmost layer of the skin, while BHA goes deeper and eliminates deep-seated dirt and blackheads. This particular solution, however, is strong and should be rinsed off after 10 minutes or less.
Salicylic acid
Salicylic acid is a form of BHA. It’s commonly found in anti-acne or acne-fixing products. Salicylic acid has anti-inflammatory properties. This acid also works well for those with oily skin as it penetrates clogged pores and eliminates excess sebum. At the right dosage, those with sensitive skin can use this topically or as a preventive product.
Lactic acid
Lactic acid is a form of AHA. It’s a gentle acid that provides mild exfoliation on the skin. With large molecule-size, lactic acid does not penetrate too deeply into the skin. Thus, it’s less likely to irritate even sensitive skin.
Glycolic acid
Commonly found in toners, glycolic acid is another form of AHA. It’s a mild exfoliator that you can incorporate in your skincare routine through toners. Like lactic acid, this product is gentle to the skin yet it reaches deeper than lactic acid.
If you plan to include any of these acids to your skincare routine, make sure to apply them only at night and put on sunscreen in the day as these acids make your skin sensitive to sunlight.
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