Review of oils for blackheads

Various acne are frequent companions of a person throughout his life. The most annoying of them are blackheads, or comedones, which are formed due to clogging of pores with fatty secretions. Such acne can settle on the skin at any age, and fighting them takes a lot of time and effort. More often they give preference to folk remedies, which are effective but inexpensive. They use lotions, masks, scrubs made from herbs and products. But not everyone knows that oil against blackheads acts in such a way that there is no need for other remedies.

Cause of the problem

Cosmetic problems must be solved by eliminating the causes of their occurrence.
Otherwise, all measures taken will only give temporary results. And even more so, homemade ones, which are still weaker than professional methods. Black dots on the surface of the epidermis, which so greatly spoil the appearance of the skin and make it unkempt, are nothing more than ordinary dirt and exfoliated dead cells. They stick to the fat accumulated in the pores and clog them, causing the formation of acne and comedones. Yes, there are practically no blackheads on dry skin, or they are very small and can be easily removed with soap.

Conclusion - first of all, you need to try to eliminate the causes of increased skin greasiness, which most often are:

love of sweets and fast foods, which contain a huge amount of carbohydrates;
improper skin care, causing hyperactivity of the sebaceous glands;
excess cosmetics, especially abuse of foundations with silicone;
constant heating or air conditioning of the room;
prolonged exposure to the sun or hot climates;
frequent peelings, including a compensatory mechanism to restore hydrolipid balance;
constant or prolonged stress, chronic fatigue, frequent lack of sleep.

In addition, there are internal factors such as hereditary predisposition, hormonal imbalance and chronic diseases. They are more difficult to deal with, but they must be taken into account when purchasing cosmetics.

Why do you need peeling to fight blackheads?

Acid peels provide deep cleansing of pores from comedones thanks to:

Acids effectively remove accumulated horny scales from the surface of the skin and inside the sebaceous hair follicle. To do this, you need to choose peeling with fat-soluble acids.
Acids dissolve sebaceous plugs (blackheads) and cleanse stretched pores.

The right exfoliation increases the effectiveness of home care in keeping pores clean, which prevents them from stretching and looking gaping.

Ready-made cosmetics

Being a cosmetologist, I still give preference to high-quality finished products, although many believe that traditional recipes are healthier, since they do not contain chemistry. I won’t argue, I’ll just list the advantages of good store-bought cosmetics:

balanced composition - it is developed and tested in well-equipped laboratories;
hypoallergenic - most products are also designed for people with sensitive skin;
safety - all ingredients are subject to thorough cleaning and quality control;
focus on a specific problem - if the product is for oily skin, then it not only removes excess fat, but also regulates the activity of the sebaceous glands;
long shelf life - even organic cosmetics can be stored for up to six months in the right conditions.

And a plus is ease of use, no need to waste time mixing ingredients. In addition, there are clear instructions on exactly how to apply and how long to leave the product on the skin. Decide for yourself whether you like these benefits. For those who are suitable, I can advise you to pay attention to such products.

Hydrophilic oil

A relatively new cosmetic product that is an excellent alternative to cleansing gel. It was invented for dry and sensitive skin, but it also works great on oily skin if you know how to use it correctly.

Hydrophilic oil is actually a mixture of fatty acids that, when in contact with water, easily turns into a gentle emulsion. It perfectly cleanses the skin, but does not dry it out, but additionally moisturizes it - isn’t this a miracle?

It can be used to gently remove makeup. In this case, it is applied to a cotton pad and then left on the eyes for a couple of minutes. Or to effectively combat blackheads, then wipe the entire face with a cotton swab and oil. Then just wash your face with lukewarm water and your skin will become smooth and radiant.

From well-known brands I can recommend the following hydrophilic oils:

Na ï ve from Kanebo – with rosehip extract and a fresh mint scent.
Deep Cleansin Oil Refresh from Laneige - with green tea extract that promotes wound healing and eliminates rashes.
Apple Juicy Cleansing Oil from Innisfree - with the addition of green apple juice containing fruit acids that stimulate the skin and reduce its oiliness.
Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizing Cleansing Oil from JUJU - with hyaluronic acid that provides deep hydration and refreshment to the skin.
Clean Dew Lemon Seed Cleansing Oil from Tony Moly - lemon seed extract in this product provides it with an antibacterial effect and whitening properties.

But it is now easy to find many products from other brands in stores. Do not confuse hydrophilic oil with two-phase makeup liquid. A high-quality product does not separate, but has a uniform consistency and is transparent.

Massage mixtures

Who said that oily skin doesn't need a massage? This is another myth that misleads many people. In fact, a correctly performed procedure allows you to better cleanse the pores, activate blood circulation and lymph flow, and correct the oval of the face. And in order for the skin not to stretch, it is necessary to ensure that your fingers glide over it. This is why massage mixtures are used.

Most often it is a combination of natural and essential oils. Natural ones are the base, as they contain a lot of fatty acids. They form a thin film on the surface of the epidermis, which allows you to massage for 10-15 minutes. Then the remaining oil must be washed off. They will contain released fat and toxins.

The best oils for massage and care for oily skin are:

“Warming” from the “Green Pharmacy” - contains a large amount of plant extracts (cinnamon, black pepper, orange, etc.), helps to open and deep cleanse pores.
Oily Skin Face Massage Oil from Lemongrass House is a light and very high-quality Thai product based on jojoba oil and bitter almonds with coffee, mint and lemongrass extracts. Has a whitening effect and perfectly moisturizes the skin.
Atopikderm from Saloos . The oil is designed specifically for problem skin and stimulates cell regeneration well. Contains evening primrose essential oil and plant extracts.

To remove blackheads with massage oil, you must first wash and lightly steam your face. Then heat a small amount of the product in a water bath to a temperature of 40-45°C. Use a cotton swab to wipe your face along the massage lines several times. Leave the oil for 3-5 minutes, remove any residue by blotting your face with tissues. Then apply a new layer of oil and massage. After the procedure, wash with warm water and a small amount of gel.

How oils fight comedones

It is a common belief that oil is a taboo product for oily skin, since its use will make the skin even greasy, which means the problem will only get worse. But this is a huge misconception. If you choose the right oil, it will not cause damage, but will get rid of blackheads forever. It operates according to the following algorithm:

penetrates into pores;
dissolves fat plugs;
helps cleanse pores;
removes comedones and dirt out;
with prolonged use, it tightens pores.

Often the reason for the appearance of blackheads is trivial - lack of sebum. And we get rid of fat with soap, alcohol lotions and tonics. Barbarically degreased skin, having received a signal about an acute deficiency of protective secretion, begins to act in emergency mode and produces it in huge quantities. The result is an increased number of comedones. The presence of oil on the skin, on the contrary, soothes it, increased activity stops, and irritating points disappear.

Natural oils

Natural oils perfectly dissolve fat, so they are also good to use for high-quality skin cleansing. Products with a light consistency and not subjected to heat treatment during production are best suited:

avocado – light, perfectly absorbed, rich in vitamins and perfectly moisturizes the skin;
olive is a traditional basic cosmetic product that is perfectly absorbed by the skin and contains a large amount of Omega-6 and Omega-9 fatty acids;
peach – does not overload the skin, has a slight whitening effect, penetrates deeply enough and smoothes out fine wrinkles;
wheat germ – contains a large amount of antioxidants, protects against the negative effects of ultraviolet radiation, slows down the aging process;
sesame – the most neutral, can be used even on inflamed and very sensitive skin, accelerates the healing of wounds and cracks;
grape seeds – has pronounced antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, reduces the activity of the sebaceous glands and tightens pores;
apricot – contains a large amount of carotene, prevents the early appearance of wrinkles and significantly reduces existing ones, eliminates flaking of the skin;
macadamia - it’s not for nothing that they call it liquid gold, it is absorbed almost completely, whitens, rejuvenates and deeply moisturizes the skin.

This simple technique will help you quickly remove blackheads with natural oil. Wash your face with water with a small amount of gel and lightly steam. You can also perform the procedure in a sauna or while taking a bath. Apply a little preheated oil to the skin. Cover the top with a cotton or terry towel soaked in hot water. Lie quietly for 5-10 minutes, carefully collect the remaining oil with the same cloth and wash again with warm water.

Essential oils

It makes no sense to use essential oil in its pure form for blackheads. It can be applied undiluted to the face only as small applications, so as not to cause severe irritation and burns. Therefore, it is used as part of masks or oil mixtures for massage or washing. You can also add a few drops of oil to your favorite cream, but this is to maintain the result obtained using more intensive methods.

Essential oils can help get rid of blackheads and prevent their further appearance:

lemon – reduces the activity of the sebaceous glands, tightens pores, dissolves fat well, refreshes and whitens the skin;
tea tree – has anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, regenerating and wound-healing properties;
cedar – relieves inflammation and irritation of the skin, fights acne, acne and dermatitis;
eucalyptus - can kill most pathogenic microorganisms, tightens pores, evens out skin texture;
rosemary – stimulates subcutaneous blood circulation, strengthens capillaries, increases immune defense, has analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties;
sandalwood – perfectly removes itching, redness, acne and blackheads, suitable for dry and cracked skin;
anise is an excellent natural antiseptic that creates an unfavorable environment for pathogenic microorganisms;
castor oil – has bactericidal, anti-inflammatory, cleansing properties, reduces the activity of the sebaceous glands, smoothes the skin;
sage – tones the skin, gives it an even, beautiful color, is a strong antiseptic, eliminates pimples, blackheads and blackheads.

You can use the same essential oils to cleanse your face of blackheads and acne for a maximum of two months. Then they need to be replaced with others so that there is no addictive effect, or a break should be taken.

How to make masks from essential oils

When making masks, esters are not taken in their original form; they are added to base oils, a couple of drops per 1 tablespoon.

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Cosmetologists advise choosing an oil that does not have a strong aroma as a base oil, it can be peach or almond. But olive and castor oils are used less often because of their rich aroma.

Esters help reduce sebum, fight clogged pores and add radiance to the face.

Suitable base oils:

Jojoba (well moisturizes);
Grape seeds (contains vitamins for growth);
Almond (nutritional properties);
Olive (rich in vitamins, perfectly nourishes the skin).

Essential oils suitable for reducing oil content:

Grapefruit – rich in vitamins, reduces sebum secretion;
Ylang-Ylang – reduces skin oiliness and inflammation;
Tea tree – suitable for excessively oily skin.

To reduce oily skin on the face and clean out pores, you can use a cleansing mask with grapefruit oil.

It is rich in vitamins A, B, D, C and P, optimizes the functioning of the sebaceous glands, and normalizes the body's immune defense. They give the face a radiant appearance and reduce sebum secretion.

For the base, take 1 tablespoon of almond or olive oil and add 3-5 drops of grapefruit essential oil.

The product is applied to the skin and washed off after a couple of hours.

Clay masks

An almost immediate effect is achieved by using any oil for removing blackheads on the face when used in masks based on cosmetic clay. For oily skin, it is better to choose white, green or blue - these are the most powerful adsorbents. Of course, the impact will be superficial, and to completely solve the problem, an integrated approach is needed.

But clay masks are an excellent and very cheap home remedy that allows you to immediately remove dirt and oil from your pores. When used regularly, it also helps fade shallow age spots.

To prepare, take a tablespoon of cosmetic clay and dilute it with still mineral or filtered water to the consistency of thick sour cream. For inflamed skin, it is useful to use herbal decoctions or plant hydrosols (roses, lavender, sage). Add 1-2 teaspoons of natural oil (from those listed above) and 5-6 drops of essential oil (you can use three drops of two different ones) to the base.

The clay mask is applied to a previously cleaned and well-washed face. The layer should be thick enough so that it takes at least 15 minutes to dry. Then you need to soak the crust with a damp cloth and carefully rinse off the clay with pleasantly warm water. If there is no rosacea, finish by wiping the skin with a luda cube (you can use water acidified with lemon juice).

My whole face is covered in blackheads**: what to do?

The answer is simple - go to a dermatologist. Only a doctor can determine what causes blackheads** and choose the right treatment. One of the drugs that is used in the fight against acne is Azelik®5,9 gel. The drug is prescribed for mild to moderate acne5,9. Its main active ingredient is azelaic acid5. The foundation also contains the emollient squalane, which helps soften and moisturize the skin1.

*acne

**open comedones

Summing up

When used correctly, natural and essential oils are effective for cleansing the face and help quickly get rid of acne and blackheads. In addition, they contain many useful biologically active substances that provide additional nutrition to the skin. So they may well become an alternative to salon procedures.

It is worth paying special attention to two important points. Oils must be of high quality, so you can only buy them from trusted suppliers. And you cannot abuse them, so as not to get the opposite effect to the desired one. Oil procedures should be carried out no more than 2 times a week.

I will be very glad if you would like to share your recipes and reviews of your favorite oils in the comments.

How to choose the right remedy for blackheads: a mini-guide

To choose the right product for how to clear blackheads, you need to focus on your skin type:

For dry and sensitive people, choose a cream or mask to apply only to the problem area of the face; fabric ones are not suitable. You need to choose only cosmetics with intense moisturizing, avoid drying agents, components of the composition that can cause allergies.
Combination skin is cleansed with tonic and gel. If you choose a mask, it should cover the T-zone.
Oily and problematic skin requires more thorough comprehensive care. It includes the minimum: tonic, gel, scrub, mask and cream. We recommend choosing options for daily care. You can supplement your care with matting wipes.
Young skin can be cleansed with tonic and gel. Use a scrub with hard abrasive particles once a week.
After 25 years, facial care includes masks, creams, and serums. Mature skin will require more cosmetics and daily care.

There is no need to give up decorative cosmetics. It is recommended to opt for creams from the SS or BB series, choose mineral powders and cushions, foundations with a light texture, with eperulin and salicylic acid. It is better to avoid products containing wax and paraffins.