Hi Everyone! A slightly later Wednesday post today as I am currently drowning in uni deadlines – the joys of being a second year student. I dread what next year is gonna be like too. If you have any tips on how to handle uni stress, please do feel free to drop me a message here (or feel free to do so anyway about anything you like really). It’s been a busy past couple of weeks really, and I am feeling suuuper fortunate right now to have had the pleasure of being featured on Today’s Lifestyle – you can check out my skincare chat with them here!
I feel like I have been inundating my skincare/treatments feeds lately and for that I apologise – next week will be a make-up post, I promise! However, for now I am going to talk to you about the BANE OF MY LIFE…blackheads.
I have veeeerrrry enlarged pores, which means blackheads are just a constant problem for me. I’ve mentioned previously that I have fairly oily skin, which contributes to their formation as it clogs the hair follicles (more information on blackheads can be found here). While I haven’t necessarily found a remedy which removes them entirely, I definitely have some tips which help control them. Here is my three step plan to reduce the effects of blackheads…
Step 1 – The Cleansing Brush
If you have read any of my previous skincare posts, you will know that I champion the classic cleanse, tone, moisturise method. If you’re looking to confront blackheads, include a cleansing brush into this routine. Once I have taken my make-up off, I apply cleanser to my face (usually Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel) and then rub the brush in circular motions across my skin to help remove excess dirt from the pores. This is definitely a great, cheap little tool to add to your skincare regime – check out some really well priced brushes here!
Step 2 – The Exfoliator
Exfoliating your skin is a key part of taking on blackheads, so make sure you also add this into your routine. My favourite face scrub at the moment for exfoliation is Mario Badescu Almond and Honey Non-Abrasive Face Scrub, currently available on Beauty Bay at a discounted price of £11.50 – get buying! It’s great because it removes dead skin cells and unclogs the pores without irritating the skin. For optimum use, massage onto the skin in circular motions for three minutes and then rinse off using a warm flannel, leaving your skin feeling fresh and smooth.
Step 3 – DermaSuction
Right, here we have the revolutionary (and slightly gross) final step which will CHANGE YOUR LIFE. I was going to post the before and after pictures of this treatment, but I decided against it for fear of losing any followers of this blog. DermaSuction is a blackhead vacuum and ou can get the same one I have for under £10 here – I can honestly say it will be money well spent. It comes with four different suction heads, all great for different things. I tend to use the small head pretty much every day and that does the job, however the large head is probably the best for tough blackheads! The oval head gets into all the corners and the sonic head is fab for buffing your skin daily. If you like watching spot popping videos, you will find this sooo satisying. The best time to use it is after a hot shower when the pores are loosened (or else it won’t work as well) and, once used, splash some cold water onto your face to seal them again. While it doesn’t completely eliminate blackheads, it gets you pretty close. Read more about the benefits of blackhead vacuums here!
I really hope these tips help you as much as they have helped me. Having blackheads can be really tough, but it’s nothing to be embarrassed of. If you have any advice for me on how to improve my skincare routine, please do just drop me a message as I love hearing from you all.
I’ll be back soon – enjoy your week and think positive thoughts! xxx