8 Best Blackhead Removers for Clearer Skin, Based on Testing
Decongest clogged pores with the expert-recommended products our beauty pros personally use.
Expert consulted: Chiara ButlerBeauty and Personal Care Lab Reviews AnalystMedically reviewed by Caroline Chang, M.D.Board-Certified Dermatologist
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for anyone prone to congested skin, it can feel like you’re constantly battling blackheads, especially on your nose. Luckily, there are a variety of blackhead removers on the market that can help unclog pores. "One form of acne, blackheads are a collection of sebum (oil), keratin, and dirt that get trapped inside pores and are oxidized by air, making them appear a darker color," says Mona Gohara, M.D., associate clinical professor of dermatology at Yale School of Medicine. They can appear anywhere on the body, but tend to show up most often on the nose, forehead, and chin.
Our top picks:
✔️ Best overall: Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel
This chemical peel contains five AHAs and BHAs to exfoliate skin and dissolve sebum to help unclog pores and smooth skin.
✔️ Best value: Neutrogena Stubborn Blackheads Daily Acne Facial Serum
Clarify skin with a slew of potent acids without causing irritation.
✔️ Best peel pad: QRxLabs Acne Clearing Pads
A formula using 2% salicylic acid and 10% glycolic acid keeps blackheads and breakouts at bay.
✔️ Best spatula: DERMAFLASH DERMAPORE+ Pore Extractor and Serum Infuser
Our top skin scrubber, it refines pores and extracts blackheads.
✔️ Easiest to use: Peace Out Pore Perfecting AHA & Blackhead Exfoliator Stick
Kaolin clay helps draw out oil and impurities, plus mushroom extract works to minimize the appearance of pores.
To round up the best blackhead removers, we considered recommendations from the scientists in the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab and GH editors. We also researched online reviews and some top-performing picks from our tests that won a past GH Beauty Award. The Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel was a standout for its excellent exfoliating powers that help prevent clogged pores.
Pros
- Powerful ingredients
- Helps reduce appearance of pores
- Three variants for different skin types
Cons
- Two steps are slightly more time consuming
WHY WE LOVE IT: This splurge-worthy chemical peel is packed with exfoliating ingredients that help unclog pores and smooth skin.
Dr. Gohara is a big proponent of using chemical peels to help get rid of blackheads, as they "often use salicylic acid or glycolic acid to dissolve the accumulation in the pore." Dr. Dennis Gross's two-step peel is the gold standard for at-home treatments, as it contains five AHAs and BHAs to exfoliate skin and dissolve sebum, plus a neutralizing wipe to hydrate skin and prevent irritation.
"They have three variants: gentle, original (featured here), and extra strength," explains Danusia Wnek, GH Beauty Lab's senior chemist. "I like all of them, but the original ones are my go-to. I apply this product at night and when I wake up, my skin is super smooth and [my] pores look smaller." The Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel is a two-step system, but it's worth the extra time.
| Key ingredients | Salicylic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid |
| Type | Chemical peel |
Pros
- Budget-friendly
- Effective level of salicylic acid
- Layers nicely under other products
Cons
- Unpleasant scent, according to some Amazon reviewers
WHY WE LOVE IT: At just $20, this drugstore buy contains an impressive list of keratolytic agents to help clarify skin without causing irritation.
In addition to blackhead-busting salicylic acid, this oil-free serum from Neutrogena contains a mix of glycolic, polyhydroxy, and mandelic acids to exfoliate and clarify skin. Dr. Gohara loves that it "goes on smoothly, is not irritating, and is easy to layer under products." The Amazon's Choice serum is already a great deal, and it’s often on sale for less. A few Amazon reviewers found the product had an unpleasant scent, though.
| Key ingredients | Salicylic acid, glycolic acid, mandelic acid, polyhydroxy acid |
| Type | Skincare product |
Pros
- Help prevent breakouts
- Delivers strong exfoliation
- Ingredients help replenish moisture
Cons
- May be too strong for sensitive skin
WHY WE LOVE IT: These exfoliating pads make it easy to incorporate a peel into your routine—and for a more affordable price compared to other products.
One of her go-to exfoliating products, GH Beauty Lab Reviews Analyst Chiara Butler says these pads really help keep her skin clear and blackheads at bay. “With 2% salicylic acid and 10% glycolic acid, they are quite strong, but they really do work to break down the dead skin that causes blackheads,” she says. “I recommend using these pads every other day to start and then building up to daily use. I used up the whole tub and I’m about to restock!”
To replenish moisture and balance their exfoliating powers, the pads are infused with vitamins B5, C, and E, as well as green tea and calendula extracts to help calm redness. However, their strength could be too much for those with sensitive skin.
| Key ingredients | Salicylic acid, glycolic acid, green tea and calendula extracts, vitamins B5, C, and E |
| Type | Skincare product |
Pros
- Rounded spatula head
- Extracting and infusing modes
- Leaves skin smooth
Cons
- May need to be replaced after a few years
WHY WE LOVE IT: Our best overall skin scrubber, this pore extractor visibly removes gunk from clogged pores.
If you want to experiment with face spatulas (or skin scrubbers), the DERMPORE+ is a great place to start, despite the higher price tag. It features a stainless steel spatula with a rounded head to comfortably scrape across the skin and around the nose. According to the manufacturer, the Pore Extractor and Serum Infuser will refine pores, extract blackheads, and even boost circulation.
There are two modes: one for unclogging pores and another for improving the absorption of active ingredients in your skincare products. A staffer used the DERMAPORE+ once a week and found it left her skin smooth and refined. Although gross, she said it was satisfying to watch yucky gunk push out of her pores. After years of use, the skin scrubber no longer turned on, and she had to purchase a new one.
| Key ingredients | N/A |
| Type | Skin spatula |
Pros
- Gentle
- Works fast
- Minimizes pores
Cons
- Some Sephora shoppers were not impressed with the results
WHY WE LOVE IT: Peace Out is an expert-recommended brand also featured in our guide to the best pimple patches.
Just like our best overall pick, this exfoliating stick features a five-acid blend that is designed to gently exfoliate skin and improve its texture. Simply massage onto clogged areas and wait 10 minutes before rinsing off. Additional ingredients include kaolin clay, which helps draw out oil and impurities, as well as mushroom extract, which works to minimize the appearance of pores.
Satisfied Sephora shoppers reported the product was easy to use and worked fast. "It is so gentle and works great with my sensitive, dehydrated acne acne-prone skin," wrote one five-star reviewer, while another said it "helped to minimize my pores and give me a smoother looking skin texture." Note that some shoppers weren't as impressed with the results.
| Key ingredients | Glycolic acid, salicylic acid, kaolin clay, mushroom extract |
| Type | Skincare product |
Pros
- Applies even pressure
- Successfully removes debris from the pore
- Affordable
Cons
- Should be used with caution
WHY WE LOVE IT: This affordable blackhead extractor features an oval loop design that is best at removing impurities from a pore, according to our pro.
Comedone extractors come in varying shapes, but Butler likes ones with a circular spoon-like end, such as this one from Seki Edge. "In my personal experience, these extractors apply more even pressure around the blackhead than those with an oval loop design," she said. In turn, this "makes it easier to get all of the debris out of the pore," Butler explained.
She does warn that using an extractor can be risky and cause redness, so be gentle and use it with caution.
| Key ingredients | N/A |
| Type | Extractor |
Pros
- Helps unclog pores
- Gentle
- A little goes a long way
Cons
- Can be drying
WHY WE LOVE IT: This gentle cream is a great way to introduce retinoids into your skincare routine while combatting clogged pores.
When it comes to multitasking skincare ingredients, retinoids are at the top of the list. In addition to being anti-aging all stars, retinoids help to regulate skin cell turnover, meaning fewer dead skin cells and clogged pores.
Dr. Gohara recommends this adapalene gel from La Roche-Posay which could formerly only be used with a prescription. "It is gentle, cosmetically elegant, and effective," she says. "You only need a pea-sized amount over the whole face," she adds, improving its overall value. Start the application gradually (every other night), increasing slowly, as it can dry out your skin.
RELATED: The Best Retinol Creams
| Key ingredients | Adapalene USP 0.1% |
| Type | Skincare product |
Pros
- Shrinks the appearance of pores
- Smooths and brightens skin
- Works quickly
- Global top seller
Cons
- Can potentially irritate sensitive skin
WHY WE LOVE IT: This liquid exfoliant has acquired a cult following—and for good reason. It smooths and brightens skin while unclogging pores along the way.
Boasting a potent 2% salicylic acid, "this is honestly a workhorse when it comes to reducing the appearance of pores," said Wnek. It is a personal favorite of hers as "it keeps my skin looking and feeling smooth." Wnek isn't alone; the brand says that this is their top-selling product globally as it works quickly to unclog pores, brighten skin, and reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
While most users find this leave-on exfoliator to be gentle, a few noted that it can irritate sensitive skin.
RELATED: The Best Pore Minimizers for the Smoothest Skin Ever
| Key ingredients | Beta hydroxy acid (2% BHA), green tea, salicylic acid |
| Type | Skincare product |
How we chose the best blackhead removers
The Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab scientists are constantly testing the newest skincare and acne products. We combined our decades of expertise with advice from dermatologists and Beauty Lab experts, plus editor recommendations, to compile this list. Our pros also evaluated specifications like ingredients, and we considered tons of online reviews.
What to look for when shopping for the best blackhead remover
✔️ Type: As you may have observed from our guide, there are a variety of different types of blackhead removers. We break down each type we recommend below so you can weigh the pros and cons of each when deciding on the best product for your skin.
- Extractors: These are metal tools that can be shaped like a looped stick, a small spoon with a hole in the center, or a tweezer that has curved ends to press out the dirt and sebum from the pore. They aim to apply even pressure on a single blackhead to help squeeze it out of the pore. Dr. Gohara likes to use these.
- Skin spatulas: Also known as skin scrubbers, these vibrating metal spatulas scrape the surface of the skin. While some skin spatulas claim to use ultrasonic vibrations to loosen up oil in clogged pores, Butler says, "but it’s likely the pressure of scraping the tool over the skin that causes skin oils to accumulate on the end of the spatula."
- Pore strips: Both Butler and Dr. Gohara also warn against pore strips as they "are a quick fix and don't do anything to help the process of the blackheads forming," explains Dr. Gohara.
- Skincare products: The best skincare products that will treat and prevent blackheads contain keratolytic agents and exfoliating ingredients, explains Butler. Choose from cleansers, face masks, creams, and more.
✔️ Ingredients: "Look for products with salicylic acid, glycolic acid, benzoyl peroxide, retinoids (such as adapalene), azelaic acid, alpha hydroxy acids, or sulfur," says Butler. "All of these ingredients help loosen up dead skin cells and prevent them from clogging pores."
Note: "Be aware of products that pretend to be quick fixes," warns Dr. Gohara. "You want to both eliminate blackheads and help prevent new ones from forming." Blackhead removers like nose strips only provide temporarily clearer skin instead of addressing deeper concerns.
What’s the best way to remove blackheads?
"It can be hard to resist removing blackheads with quick strips or tools, but the best long-term results and least risk of injury will come from regular use of skincare products with keratolytic ingredients," says Butler.
Dr. Gohara agrees and suggests using a gentle cleanser and following with a product that contains either salicylic acid, glycolic acid, retinol, or some combination of them. "You can add in something mechanical like an extraction tool, but make the skincare steps your first order of business."
What draws out a deep blackhead?
"I am a huge fan of the good old comedone extractor for stubborn blackheads," Dr. Gohara says. "Gentle pressure can extract the contents, and consistent use of a retinol will keep the follicle from getting blocked up again."
If you’re dealing with a very large or deep blackhead that won't come out despite your best efforts, "it’s best to see a dermatologist who can extract it in a sterile environment and treat the pore that is left behind," advises Butler.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Contributing Beauty Editor Dori Price compiled the product list above and interviewed experts about blackheads. GH Beauty Lab Reviews Analyst Chiara Butler provided details about how blackheads form, the right ingredients to look for in blackhead removers, and her top product picks. Butler conducts hands-on testing of health and beauty products.
Temporary Beauty Editor Celia Shatzman most recently refreshed this story.
Board-certified dermatologist Caroline Chang, M.D. reviewed our guide.
Chiara (she/her) is a reviews analyst in the Beauty and Personal Care Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she’s been doing hands-on testing of beauty products since 2022. She also covers aesthetic treatments like injectables and lasers. She earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Columbia University. Before joining GH, she worked as a cosmetic chemist, formulating skincare products for a variety of brands and learning to decode ingredient lists, evaluate ingredient efficacy and scrutinize product claims. When not at GH, you can find her wandering the beauty aisles of the drugstore.
With more than a decade of experience, board-certified dermatologist Caroline Chang, M.D., is nationally recognized as a top doctor in both medical and cosmetic dermatology. She is also the founder of Rhode Island Dermatology Institute, the state’s first direct care dermatology practice with the goal of providing high-quality, customized care.
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