The Best Cleanser for Blackheads in 2024

Last Updated on July 23, 2024 by Prissila Murillo

Nobody wants to deal with blackheads and clogged pores. Unfortunately, it’s a part of life for the majority of us. And although we can never truly ‘get rid’ of pores themselves, we can keep them clean and free of debris that causes blackheads and texture. These cleansers will help you achieve just that and the perfect appearance of pores. But which one is right for you? Which is the best cleanser for blackheads?

If you’re ready to say sayonara to pesky blackheads, we’ve got you covered. We have researched and even tried some ourselves, and have found the best cleansers for blackheads on the market, whether you have acne-prone skin, dry skin, oily skin, or any other standard skin type. Let’s get rid of those blackheads, gal pals.

Top Pick: Paula’s Choice

The Paula’s Choice cleanser is one of the best gentle cleansers for blackheads on the market. It’s the do-it-all facial cleanser that works for just about anyone. There’s plenty to love about this comprehensive cleanser, including:

Exfoliates smooths and brightens

With the inclusion of BHA (beta hydroxy acid), this facial cleanser has the power to unclog and clean pores and blackheads while exfoliating dead skin cells. In the end, you’re left with a face that’s smoother, brighter, and clearer than ever before.

Less abrasive

Some might run for the hills when they hear “exfoliate.” They don’t want something overly rough on their skin, especially if they have delicate skin types. However, Paula’s Choice is non-abrasive as it’s a chemical exfoliant vs physical, so this is a much gentler option that can work on all skin types – including delicate and sensitive skin.

Safe and effective

Don’t think it can get any better? Think again. Paula’s Choice is entirely void of fragrances, parabens, and other nonsense, making it a safe and science-backed formula you can trust.

Paula’s Choice is the way to go if you’re looking for a cleanser to handle all kinds of skin concerns – from blackheads to oil production and more. What more could you ask for?

Runner-Up: The Inkey List Salicylic Acid Cleanser

For those looking for a more affordable yet just as effective facial cleanser with blackhead busting ingredients, The Inkey List Salicylic cleanser is it. This fantastic cleanser comes with a slew of components designed to mop excess sebum production and improve skin texture in a flash since they are physical exfoliants.

With The Inkey List Salicylic Cleanser, you get 2 percent Salicylic acid, Zinc compound, and Allantoin. What does all of this mean?

Well, salicylic acid is a chemical exfoliant that works by plowing away dead skin cells, therefore unclogging pores and smoothing out texture, leaving you with a brightened and smooth appearance. The Zinc compound mops up the excess oils, and allantoin soothes the skin and supports the growth of healthy skin tissue.

This is the best cleanser for blackheads in terms of skin care products, but it’s also notably one of the better options for those looking to improve their skin texture and skin surface with salicylic acid cleansers.

Best For Oily Skin Types: Vinopure Pore Purifying Gel Cleanser. 

If you have oily, normal, or combination skin, you will appreciate the Caudalie Vinopure Purifying Gel Cleanser. This is a gel cleanser that lathers up with water and works great at breaking up the oil on the surface of the skin. It works wonders for digging down into the pores to help remove debris and unwanted excess oils, helping to significantly reduce blackheads and congested pores, giving you the perfect skin clean look.

It contains an all-natural form of Salicylic acid and Caudalie’s special ingredient – grape water, which provides antioxidant, prebiotic, hydrating, and soothing benefits.

Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Skinfix Acne+ 2% BHA + Azelaic Acid + Niacinamide + AHA Cleanser

It can be challenging for people with acne-prone skin to find a facial wash that works for them. Finding ones with active ingredients that tackle your concerns without drying or irritating the skin isn’t easy.

However the Skinxfix Acne+ 2% BHA + Azelaic Acid + Niacinamide + AHA Cleanser is everything you could need and more for helping to control Acne. If you know anything about this brand, you know they’re a brand that specializes in developing clinically proven, non-irritating products for inflamed skin that are even personally used by dermatologists in acne treatments. They focus on keeping our skin barrier healthy whilst using active pharmaceutical/cosmeceutical ingredients which really help target concerns effectively but safely.

As you can tell, this brand is very serious about tackling skin concerns without ruining your skin health. This groundbreaking Acne cleanser of theirs features a cocktail of acne-busting ingredients such as a concentration of Salicylic acid (we already know how this works), Azelaic Acid, which helps to kill bacteria and unclog pores, as well as helping to diminish acne marks/scars that give you that uneven skin tone, Niacinamide, which controls acne-causing sebum, and Glycolic acid which is another chemical exfoliant that works by killing the dead skin cells on the surface of the skin, revealing smoother and brighter skin.

Overall this is an amazing cleanser for not only reducing blackheads but also reducing acne, and preventing future acne breakouts – without drying out, irritating, or damaging your skin barrier.

Best For Dry Skin: Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant Exfoliator

Oily and acne-prone skin isn’t the only skin type that needs to be careful when choosing the best cleanser for blackheads. Those with dry skin have to be picky about finding a product that won’t further dry out and irritate their skin.

The Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant Exfoliator is an option that dry-skinned ladies (or gents) can trust. This cleanser works by starting out as a rice-based powder, which is a natural ingredient, to which you then add water and it becomes a foamy paste. It is a very gentle form of physically exfoliating without being too harsh. This product also includes several blackhead-fighting ingredients, including standout ingredients like salicylic acid, Papain Enzymes, Rice Bran-Derived Phytic Acid, and Colloidal Oatmeal. Together, these ingredients along with the gentle rice-based powder exfoliation will fight against blackheads while also removing and smoothing those dry flaky skin patches.

Those with dry skin will appreciate that this cleanser is safe for dry skin and sensitive skin, and is gentle enough to use every day in your skincare routine.

How to Say Sayonara to Blackheads for Good

If you struggle with blackheads, you know what a problem they can be. It seems like no matter what you do; they just keep coming back. If you’re tired of dealing with these pesky little things, consider these top tips for saying bye-bye to blackheads for good.

Wash your face two times a day to get the excess dirt out of your face

You should be washing your face in the morning and night, preferably with one of the best cleansers for blackheads above. Just make sure you’re buying one that works with your skin type.

Consider a face mask

A face mask once a week can work wonders in relieving your face of unwanted blackheads. Clay masks tend to be the best option, specifically kaolin clay!

Use topical retinoids

While skincare products like cleansers and exfoliants are a must, some may prefer to do spot treatment, too. Find a topical retinoid with antibacterial properties and apply it to your most troublesome areas.

Consider a chemical peel

This might sound a bit scary, but I promise you, it’s not. Sure, it’s not something you’d want to do on your face daily. But doing a chemical peel every once in a while can work wonders for your skin. Chemical peels get rid of blackheads but also work to reduce fine lines, age spots, and wrinkles.

Extract

This is another frightening word, but it’s not as bad as you think. However, I will say this much – a professional dermatologist should do the extraction. Using pore strips and other at-home extractors can remove the bad and the good, leading to further problems.

Regardless of the options, there are a few ingredients you should be on the hunt for like Salicylic acid, glycolic acid, azelaic acid, and lactic acids that tend to work best at destroying blackheads in their paths. Some may also seek an antibacterial face wash to ensure that no other skin problems form along the way.

Final Words

There are many skincare products on the market that claim to get rid of blackheads, but the five listed above are undeniably the best of the best and our personal favorite cleansers. Paula’s Choice can work for just about anyone, but if you want something specific – such as something for oily or dry skin – make sure you buy the appropriate products, especially if you have any type of acne.

Have you ever used one of these blackhead cleansers? Which one do you think is the best cleanser for blackheads? Let us know which one gave you the beautiful skin you always wanted.

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