What is a blackhead?
A blackhead, also known as an "open comedo", is an accumulation of sebum and dead cells in the skin pore. On contact with air, the sebum oxidizes and turns black. Blackheads form mainly on the nose, but also on the forehead and chin (T-zone), the area most affected by excess sebum. They therefore most often appear on oily skin, which tends to secrete more sebum than normal.
If left untreated, blackheads can lead to pimples, which is why it's important to treat them as soon as they appear, before inflammation worsens the situation.
What causes blackheads?
Hormonal changes, stress, use of comedogenic cosmetics, a diet too rich in fats or sugars, excessive sebum production... All these factors favor the appearance of blackheads.
Our tips for fighting blackheads
All you need to do is learn the right techniques and use the right skincare products to combat them. First and foremost, avoid removing blackheads with your fingers. We know it can be tempting to extract them yourself, but it's not advisable to do so, as there's a risk of contaminating the skin with certain germs that could be present on the fingers, leading to the appearance of pimples and scars if the extraction isn't carried out correctly. It's better to entrust your skin to an esthetician or dermatologist, who are better placed to perform skin cleansing to eliminate these blackheads.
Cleanse your skin to prevent their appearance
It's essential to cleanse your skin daily to rid it of excess sebum and impurities accumulated during the day. Start by removing make-up with a cleansing oil or balm to remove make-up and excess sebum. Then, to cleanse deeply, use a cleansing gel or powder facial cleanser such as Yodi cleansers, which gently cleanse the skin.
Take care to choose a gentle cleanser so as not to aggress the skin, as aggressed skin will produce more sebum to defend itself. If you suffer from blackheads, we recommend using Vitamin C and Hibiscus Flower Cleanser, as it contains a keratolytic active ingredient: flower acids. They help to gently unclog pores clogged with sebum and dead cells, without irritating the skin. You can use it alternately with Purifying Charcoal Cleanser, as it contains zinc and vegetable charcoal to deeply purify your skin and rid it of excess sebum. The cleanser has even been dermatologically tested to reduce blemishes. Your skin will be healthy, radiant and free of the impurities that clog pores and encourage the appearance of blackheads.
Gently exfoliate your skin
Use a gentle exfoliating scrub once a week to rid the skin of dead cells, eliminate impurities deep down and promote cell renewal. The result: a luminous complexion and smoother skin texture.
For sensitive skin, it's not advisable to exfoliate too frequently: one exfoliation a month will suffice.
Exfoliation can be followed by a purifying and absorbing mask, and last but not least, don't forget to moisturize your skin!
Apply an absorbent clay mask
Do you know what green clay is? It's the most absorbent of all clays. It absorbs excess sebum and removes blackheads thanks to its astringent, absorbent and exfoliating properties. Using a green clay mask once a week helps regulate excess sebum and eliminate blackheads.
To make a clay mask, simply dilute the clay in water. This will form a smooth paste of varying thickness. You can also add a little organic vegetable oil. Apply the preparation all over your face, avoiding the eye and lip contours, and leave on for 15 minutes, then rinse off. Your skin will be healthier and free of impurities.
Products to avoid
Avoid comedogenic products, which cause blackheads. They form a film on the skin, clogging pores with comedogenic ingredients and preventing sebum from draining properly. The result is those notorious blackheads.
Some vegetable oils can be occlusive and clog pores, such as coconut oil (Cocos nucifera oil) and wheat germ oil (Triticum vulgare germ oil). To avoid them, it's important to know how to decipher a product's list of ingredients, otherwise known as the INCI list (explained here). Other comedogenic ingredients include silicones (Dimethicone, Cyclomethicone...) and mineral oils (Petrolatum, Paraffinum liquidum...).
To limit the appearance of blackheads on your face, it's advisable to use products bearing the "non-comedogenic" and "oil-free" labels, which mean that the formula does not contain mineral oils, but may contain vegetable oils. And prefer dermatologically tested products.
Alcohol-based solutions should also be avoided. Alcohol can dry out and irritate the skin, leading to overproduction of sebum and the appearance of blackheads.