The 10 Best Blackhead Removers, According to a Skin Expert

If you’ve ever found yourself in front of a mirror pinching your skin to squeeze out an unwelcome blackhead, you’re certainly not alone.

Blackheads (which occur when pores become clogged with oil and dead cells and then oxidize when they’re exposed to oxygen, turning black) are not only one of the most annoying skin issues, but they’re also one of the most common.

Oof. And without taking the necessary steps, you can actually do more harm than good trying to purge your skin of dirt, oil, and makeup buildup.

To properly get rid of blackheads, you need to thoroughly wash your face with a blackhead-specific cleanser; follow up with a facial steamer to open up your pores; and apply a clay mask, which will gently pull dirt, dead skin, and oil from your face, says Gretchen Frieling, M.D., a board-certified Boston dermatopathologist and CEO of GFaceMD.

Then, employ a blackhead removal tool to extract those stubborn dots, and polish off your face with a clarifying toner.

Unlike traditional suction methods, this blackhead remover vacuum is designed to target and suck out stubborn blackheads without hurting your skin, explains Freiling.

Thanks to the five different power settings, this tool can accommodate sensitive, dry, neutral, combination, and oily skin. Plus, you can’t beat the under-$30 price tag.