Ugh...Evil Blackheads Are Back.

Jul 16, 2014

Kaitlin M.

Hii loves.
Lately, my skin has been horrible. Clogged pores, small breakouts, redness more than usual. But the worst is definitely the black heads on my nose.
They literally cover my whole nose and I can wear foundation or anything on my nose without it getting oily. My skin is combination dry (with the oiliness in my t-zone, especially my dang nose).
When I don't wear makeup and I touch my nose, I can feel my skin peel off. I do exfoliate my nose 2 times a week and this still happens.
I will post all of the face cleaners if anyone would like to see. I don't use most of them.
Thank you for your help!
If you could recommend products that I could try that would be sweet, I'm going shopping for school soon.

Jul 16, 2014

Kaitlin M.

Can't wear*

Jul 16, 2014

Kitty K.

What products are you using? And what are you exfoliating with, a scrub or a chemical exfoliant?

Jul 16, 2014

Kaitlin M.

Hi Kitty, thank you for commenting!
I am using the neutrogena all in one daily face wash. It's a cream cleanser with salicylic acid. It's gently for my sensitive and dry skin, but it helps keep my skin clear. Well it was helping before my skin did this.
The wash above has gently beads in it, so I'm guessing I'm using a scrub.

Jul 16, 2014

Kitty K.

Are you using anything else besides that cleanser? A moisturizer, spot treatment?

Jul 16, 2014

Kaitlin M.

Oh yes, I use my neutrogena moisturizer for sensitive skin. It's oil free. I don't use a spot treatment, I have to look around for a good one :)

Jul 16, 2014

Kitty K.

Well, here's the deal Kaitlin..

I am taking a look now at that cleanser. There are certain issues I want to address with it.

'It's a cream cleanser with salicylic acid. It's gently for my sensitive and dry skin, but it helps keep my skin clear. Well it was helping before my skin did this.'
Salicylic Acid is a BHA and also provides a form of chemical exfoliation. This cleanser also includes beads so by all means... it is not doing anything except irritating your skin. I'll go into depth how that works out in a bit.
Any cleanser with any kind of anti-oxidant ingredient, or acne fighting ingredient is next to use less. Why? These ingredients need to actually stay on the skin, otherwise they are washed down the drain. Salicylic Acid in a lotion or as a spot treatment can do a lot more than Salicylic Acid in a soap. Think of it this way: You wouldn't put lotion on your face and then just wash it off whilst expecting your skin to be moisturized would you?

Getting back to skin irritation, I see this cleanser contains Fragrance and a form of Menthol.
Here is why your skin is having a negative reaction to this.

Irritation can occur, with or without symptoms. Your skin does not need to immediately become red or burn in order for it to be irritated.
Fragrance, whether it be synthetic or natural, is the biggest no-no in skin care. Especially when it concerns acne prone skin and sensitive skin. Menthol follows right behind it.

When irritation occurs, and here is the worst part... you end up triggering nerves that are in your pores. These nerves, trigger a hormone know as androgens.. which are actually mostly present in oily skin.. end up increasing oil production, which can also increase acne. Irritation is a lot worse than what we typical dismiss it as, because it can even decrease collagen production and cause free radical damage.



You generally want to look for a cleanser that does nothing more. Cetaphil, Cerave foaming cleanser, Olay foaming face wash for sensitive skin, Neutrogena Fresh foaming cleanser are great drug store face washes.


Your next product I want to tackle is your moisturizer

I could scream everytime I see this ingredient. Your moisturizer is based off of Ethylhexyl Palmitate.
What is this? It is simply a highly comedogenic emollient that I see present amongst both high end and low end products. If you really want your clogged pores to stop, kick this product to the curb. Oil free means nothing as there are non-comedogenic oils that provide great benefits to the skin, and including oils in your skin care can help control oil production. Why? Like dissolves like... Good oil will replace the bad oil. It basically tricks your skin into believing there is enough oil.
The Cetaphil or Cerave Lotion are both better options, CeraVe is great at providing the benefits your skin needs for a good moisture barrier.


As for blackheads, the most efficient way is to get them extracted, period. Keeping them away is more easier than dealing with that's already there. However, for exfoliation and helping keep those white heads/blackheads/acne at bay is very important. A chemical exfoliant penetrates deep into the pore to exfoliate, unlike a physical scrub which offers little benefit in comparison. The Neutrogena Rapid Clear Acne lotion is a good BHA Exfoliant.
The Philosophy clear days ahead oil-free salicylic acid acne treatment & moisturizer is also a great product which I recommend as well. I currently use a liquid bha from Paula's choice which works great.


For a spot treatment... Benzoyl Peroxide, gentle alternative is Tea Tree Oil. Both are great spot treatments, I dilute my tea tree oil using a non-comedogenic oil.

Jul 16, 2014

Kendra H.

Wow! NO ONE is going to give you any better of advice or info than Kitty just has! Listen to her! She's never steered me wrong and I recommend her advice to my friends! Hope that your skin gets better girl! :)

Jul 16, 2014

Kaitlin M.

Thank you SO much Kitty. I will be going to the store soon to pick up all the products you recommended. Thank you again, you were really helpful and very informative. I appreciate it.

Jul 16, 2014

Kaitlin M.

Thank you Kendra! ☺️

Jul 16, 2014

Kitty K.

You are most welcome, Kaitlin ♥

( I apologize for the novel. I'm not good at shortening up what I have to say. )

Jul 16, 2014

Rida S.

Blackheads on my nose keep coming back too, I have oily skin and I live In a super humid climate which makes it more harder to keep pores clean..I recently discovered aspirin mask n it is working wonders..my skin looks bright clean n much less blackheads in only a couple of days...its super easy n cheap too..take a couple of aspirins in your hand, drop a few drops of water on it n make a thick paste..be careful not add too much water it will become too runny..apply the paste on face, leave it on for 15 minutes..wash it away with water while scrubbing it..you will see instant results! also use Soap and Glory's Peaches and Clean as a cleanser..it is amazing
*do not use aspirin mask if you are allergic to aspirin or salicylic acid or are pregnant or breastfeeding because skin does absorb aspirin contents
give it a try n let me know if it works for you the way it did for me :-)