What Were Looking For
Skin type: Before you pick out a cleanser, you kind of need to figure out what your skin type actually is. Aside from being acne-prone, your skin can also be extra oily, dry, or sensitive, which impacts which cleanser you should choose. Those with sensitive skin should opt for a low dose of acne-fighting actives , whereas those with extra-oily skin might want to use something strong, and people with dry skin need to look for more hydrating actives, like hyaluronic acid. If youre not sure what skin type you are, your dermatologist should be able to help you.
Cleanser texture: Personal preference plays a big part in what texture to choose for your cleanser, but your skin type matters too. Foaming cleansers can be very drying, as can some gel cleansers, whereas creamy textures are more hydrating. And for normal-to-oily skin, a cleansing oil might be a good choice because oil is attracted to oil that means itll suck out any excess oil on the skin, but it wont strip your skin in the process.
Noncomedogenic formula: Noncomedogenic means the product wont clog your pores, which is key for all acne-prone skin, regardless of skin type. Dermatologist Dr. Whitney Bowe says, I advise all my patients, but especially those with acne, to avoid sulfates, because those are a proven pore-clogging ingredient along with fragrance. Sulfates are aggressive surfactants that can wash away your healthy fats and lipids and dry out the skin, Bowe adds.
Facial Cleansing Brush Head Replacement Facial Cleansing Brush Head Exfoliator Facial Brush Heads For Acne Prone Clogged Enlarged Pore Deep Pore Sensitive Skins
- After long-term use, the bacteria will be hidden in the bristles of the brush head. It’s suggested to change the brush head every 3-4 months to ensure better performance & health.
- Premium quality replacement brush heads made by advanced PBT materials, which is much gentler and softer. Great for extra level of exfoliation and deep cleansing.
- Sensitive brush heads are precision designed for effective use on the face, decolletage and body for sensitive skin types. Professional cleaning brushes for facial cleansing meets all your daily cleansing needs. Suitable for all types of skin, even sensitive skin.
- Silky soft bristles without causing irritation, reach deep into pores for thorough cleansing. Effectively improve blood circulation, removes oils, dirt, make-up residue and blackheads, revealing a smooth complexion without causing irritation to the skin.
- Best used with natural soap or cleanser and will help get rid of any invisible make up stains, The replacement brush heads will offer a super-soft yet intense cleansing on your skin, removing impurities while causing no abrasions.
What Can You Do To Get Rid Of Clogged Pores
If you have clogged pores, then just washing your skin wont get the pores cleaned. Whether you have blackheads or not, youll need special products and some simple treatments to get that stuff out of your pores so that your skin looks clean, healthy and attractive.
The good news is that you can do a lot of effective skin treatments to unclog your pores yourself, without seeing a doctor but, a warning, this topic is a little gross.
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The Bottom Line With Clogged Pores
Clogged pores are frustrating and common. No one likes them. But with the right keratolytic products and cleansing techniques for your unique complexion it’s possible to have clean, healthy-looking pores, and great looking skin that you’re proud of!
Dr. Cynthia Bailey M.D. is a Board Certified dermatologist practicing dermatology since 1987. She has done well over 200,000 skin exams during her career and authors the longest running physician written skin health blog in the world.
References:
Frederic Flament, Ghislain Francois, et. al., Facial skin pores: a multiethnic study, Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2015 8: 8593.
Lizelle Fox, Candice Csongradi, Treatment Modalities for Acne, Molecules. 2016 Aug 21: 1063.
Magdalena Boer, Ewa Duchnik, Structural and biophysical characteristics of human skin in maintaining proper epidermal barrier function, Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2016 Feb 33: 15.
Heng, A.H.S., Chew, F.T. Systematic review of the epidemiology of acne vulgaris. Sci Rep 10, 5754 . https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-62715-3
Patterson, W.M., Fox, M.D. and Schwartz, R.A. , Favre-Racouchot disease. International Journal of Dermatology, 43: 167-169.
Why Trust Verywell Health

As a seasoned health writer, Alena Hall understands how important it is to know exactly what youre getting in a wellness product. Over the years, she has reviewed dozens of products, from athletic recovery aids to homeopathic essential oils to ever-trendy CBD topicals, to help readers like you discover products that can help you live your best life.
Additional reporting to this story by Jennifer Nied
As a seasoned health writer, Jennifer Nied understands how vital quality product recommendations are for treating symptoms safely and effectively at home. For over 10 years, she has reviewed products, interviewed experts, scrutinized ingredients, and pored over research studies and claims, to help readers like you understand what works for your specific conditions. Every product in this piece was selected taking into account recommendations from doctors, published research, and real customer reviews.
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Best Salicylic Acid Cleanser For Blackheads Vichy Normaderm Daily Deep Cleansing Gel
Vichy Normaderm Daily Deep Cleansing Gel doesnt only contain salicylic acid. It also contains LHA and glycolic acid. What does this present to you as the user?
Gentle skin exfoliation is the first gift. This is important to help you get rid of all the dead cells on your skin. The huge benefit you enjoy with Vichy Normaderm is that it carries out its work on your skin without irritation. This means it is great for sensitive skin as well.
You dont have any worries about skin dryness when you use this face wash. Beyond clearing skin imperfections, the salicylic acid helps to smoothen and soften your skin. This gel is translucent and it gives you a refreshing feeling that keeps your skin clean soft, and fresh. Lets see a few pros and cons of Vichy Normaderm.
Pros
Facewash Vs Other Soaps/cleansers
Even though it may be convenient to wash your face with whatever you have in your bathroom, there are a lot of reasons why you want to avoid that like the plague. Summed up in one word, those reasons are ingredients. Because different people have different skin types, not all ingredients will work the same for everybody, but the general principle remains the same.
Harsh soaps have ingredients that strip your skin of oil will put anyone at risk of pimples and clogged pores due to dry, tightened skin. Almost all body washes, no matter how gentle they claim to be, are designed to remove excess oils from your body quickly and easily. That includes removing dirt and oil from around tougher bodily hairs and pores. But the skin and hair on your face is nothing like the rest of your body. Facial skin is thinner than body skin, even though it has more sebaceous glands . This makes it more tender, more prone to acne and even more susceptible to aging. Thus, it has to be treated differently than the rest of your body.The best acne face washes are designed for a gentle cleansing that removes excess oil, dirt and dry skin, but they shouldnt dry your face out. Instead, they should leave your skin feeling soft and moisturized.
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Hemp Seed Oil For Clogged Pores
The hemp seed oil has essential fatty acids that are useful for the skin. It can balance any excessive sebum, which are produced by your sebaceous glands. Hemp seed oil can be used effectively for clearing clogged pores on the cheeks, forehead, and nose.
With this treatment, start by washing your face with lukewarm water. Next, squirt some hemp seed oil onto your palm, applying it across your face and rubbing it lightly for one minute. Focus on the cheeks, the nose, and the forehead. Afterwards, wash it off with water and use a towel to dry your face. Reapply with more hemp seed oil if your face feels too dry. Repeat this routine once or twice a week.
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Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay
Aztec Secret cleansing mask formulated with 100% natural calcium Bentonite Clay. Bentonite Clay helps to generate a blockade between the skin and possible irritants. It cleanses the pores deeply and provides a hand to heal pigmentation problems.
It is a deep, pore cleansing mask that also serves hair and body. It works best as a mixture with apple cider vinegar. But you can blend it with mineral water as well. Blend the mixture well and create a smooth paste. Apply a thick layer to the face or the affected area. Leave it for some minutes. Do not let it stay for more than 10 minutes. Longer than that may negatively affect the skin or create itchiness, redness, etc.
If you have any allergic issues or sensitive skin, do not use the formula before conducting a forearm skin patch.
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What Ingredients Should You Look Out For In A Face Wash To Get Rid Of Spots
Your average face wash wont cut it if you suffer from breakouts. You need one with some active ingredients to see a noticeable difference in your skin’s appearance, but its important to not over-exfoliate either, as this can damage your skins barrier which causes, you guessed it, more spots.
To combat the problem, Dr Ejikeme advises choosing a cleanser with salicylic acid: salicylic acid is a key ingredient for acne. Choose 2% cleansers and use through the week ensuring you do not over-strip the skin.
Vinopure Pore Purifying Gel Cleanser
| Pore Purifying Gel Cleanser.
Vinopure stemmed from Caudalie, a respected French luxury beauty brand. Created from grape plants, the purpose of Vinopure products is to address womens daily skin problems of oily skin, blemishes, enlarged pores, and skin texture. Their pore purifying gel cleanser is said to be a miracle cleanser suitable for even sensitive skin types due to the use of delicate properties in the form of grapefruit extracts.
The natural salicylic acid unclogs and tightens pores while the grape water moisturizes and soothes the skin barrier. After coming into contact with water, the gel cleanse creates a foam to whisk away any debris and reveal a refreshed face. This face wash can be used twice a day to ensure noteworthy improvement.
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Discovering The Best Solution For Open Pores And Blackheads
A good face wash will help your get rid of open pores and reduce blackheads. Do you feel like because of your age, face washes may not be healthy for you? Dont worry, there is always one to suit your age and skin type.
There are a few characteristics you should watch out for when choosing a face wash. Check them out below:
With these tips, youll be able to narrow down your options to get the best one for your skin. Without further ado, heres our list of face washes to help you with open pores and blackheads.
Lemon Juice For Clogged Pores

Lemon juice is a great natural astringent that tightens pores and cleanses the skin. The citric acid plays the role of an exfoliating agent, clearing away both dirt and oil. To use this home remedy, divide a lemon into two halves, and then use one piece to scrub over the affected skin. Let the juice sit for about five minutes and then rinse off using tepid water. This routine can be performed once a week.
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Outside Of Cleansing What Habits Or Products Can Help Acne
After cleansing, moisturizing with a gentle, oil-free moisturizer to reduce peeling and irritation from anti-acne active ingredients in your cleansers and treatments can help manage acne.
Try to use noncomedogenic cleansers, moisturizers, and makeup products. Remove makeup and sunscreen thoroughly every night.
It may also help to regularly change or wash your pillowcase, avoid touching your face, and regularly wash your hair.
Aha Cleansing Research Wash Cleansing
AHA Cleansing Research is one of the top cosmetics brands in Japan for exfoliating care. The brand produces a range of cleansing products featuring AHA , a naturally derived ingredient in fruits, which promotes to regenerate skin layers by removing dead skin cells and leads to smooth skin.
AHA Cleansing Research Wash Cleansing is a scrub type facial wash which acts as makeup remover, face wash and exfoliator. Its formulated with exfoliating ingredients such as malic acid, kiwi extract and papain enzyme which help to clear away makeup and impurities from pores. It also prevents blackheads and acne caused by dead skin cells and dirt, and leads to clear and bright skin. Every time you wash, it gives a fresh feel of the skin rejuvenating.
Price: 1,100 yen Shop Now
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Tip #: Use A Toner To Help Shrink The Appearance Of Pore Openings
If you have extremely large pores, use my Naturally Hydrating Pore Minimizing Toner. This toner is made with natural ingredients, including the astringent witch hazel, that work together to tightens pores to help refine their appearance.
I was really impressed by this toner. It’s super refreshing and doesn’t leave my skin feeling tight or dry. My pores were noticeably smaller and my skin had that fresh dewy look even after makeup. So glad I found this little bottle! Kelly
The Best Face Wash For Blackheads And Daily Use: Clean & Clear Blackhead Eraser Oil
Price: $9.88 with Amazon Prime
Wed be remiss not to mention Clean & Clear when it comes to cult drugstore favorites for busting blackheads. As a bonus, you get two for the price of one of the other products on our list, meaning youll sort your blackheads weeks in advance.
Like the other products on the list, this product has salicylic acid covered to target your blackheads. The products other ingredients, like the exfoliating beads, are gentle enough to make this a suitable product for daily use, leaving your skin with a clean feeling.
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The Best Face Wash For Blackheads And Fighting Inflammation: Paulas Choice Clear Pore Normalizing Cleanser
Salicylic acid combines with Vitamin B5, making this fash wash both a skin purifier and a skin calmer. The combination of ingredients works to reduce inflammation and redness of the skin. There are no parabens and no fragrances, yet you will have impeccably clean skin.
The gel texture of this face wash soothes and cools the skin. You can also use this face wash to remove your makeup. Paulas Choice recommends using it twice, so you get both the makeup removing and skin-clarifying effects.
Best Pore Cleansing Mask: Pca Skin Detoxifying Mask
If clogged pores aren’t a norm for you but you want to do a deep cleanse once in a while, a mask is a great option. This one is formulated with white charcoal and kaolin clay that absorb and draw out impurities and dirt left in your pores. Since this detoxifying mask can be drying when used too often, you’ll only want to reach for it once a week. Simply apply a thin layer and let it sit on your skin until it dries, then remove with warm water to reveal transformed skin.
One user said, “I love this product. It’s clearing out my pores and smoothing out my skin without over drying. Even stubborn blackheads on my nose are clearing out.”
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The Best Face Wash For Blackheads And An Overall Refresh: Neutrogena Blackhead Eliminating Daily Facial Scrub
Price: $43.74
Never buy another blackhead product again. Or, at least not for a while when you can get six of Neutrogenas daily blackhead scrub tubes in one go. Salicylic acid penetrates the pores and removes imperfections.
There are no plastic microbeads in the exfoliator of this product which means its gentle on the skin. The fragrance is refreshing and a great way to start your day.
Alpha Hydroxy Acids And Sulfur

Good for: exfoliation, collagen promotion, excess oil
Alpha hydroxy acids and sulfur are two ingredients that remove dead skin cells that clog pores, Mokaya says. These ingredients can also promote collagen production and remove sebum from the skin, which can be beneficial to aging and oily skin types.
AHAs are primarily used to exfoliate and remove dead skin that clogs pores. However, they can also help to correct discoloration and promote collagen production, she says.
Similarly, sulfur helps remove excess sebum from the skin and also works to remove excessive dead skin cells that clog pores. Its also antifungal and antibacterial, which can inhibit the growth of
- Skin type: oily, acne-prone
- Pros: dermatologist recommended, budget-friendly, doesnt overdry skin
- Cons: contains dyes, fragrance can be irritating, some user reviews report side effects like burning and peeling
You dont have to spend a fortune on acne-fighting products that actually work. Board certified dermatologist , FAAD, says your local drugstore is filled with budget-friendly options that stand tall against breakouts, blackheads, and whiteheads.
This salicylic acid cleanser from Neutrogena is a good example of a drugstore product to consider, as it helps keep excess oil and dead skin cells under control with each wash.
However, you wont have to worry about disturbing painful cysts or breaking the bank when using this deep cleaning cleanser.
- retinol
- sulfur
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