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They'll help remove impurities for brighter and clearer skin.
Although you can't beat a targeted skincare routine for clearing skin of blackheads, sometimes you just need a quick fix. Step in the humble blackhead face mask. Traditionally made from clay, new formulas now also contain AHA and BHA acids like Salicylic and Glycolic which work more effectively to treat blackheads.
Blackheads form when pores get clogged up with oil and dead skin cells so you want to use products that "have a resurfacing effect on the skin, digesting dead cells and stimulating cell renewal for a smoother skin appearance," according to facialist Sarah Chapman.
Here we roundup our beauty team's favourite blackhead face masks for clearer, brighter and glowing skin. You can thank us later...
Medina Azaldin, Beauty Assistant: "Since glycerine is one of the main ingredients, it does what a traditional clay mask does but without any of the dryness. The creamy, milky texture feels almost cocooning – rare for a clay mask – and I like the gentle exfoliation you get when you wash it off."
Phoebe-Jane Lee, Beauty Intern: "This is perfect before a big event. It clears my skin and because it's super gentle it doesn't cause any irritation or redness. Once it's dry you emulsify it with water and then massage it into skin which helps to exfoliate away any dead skin cells leaving my skin glowing and feeling clean."
Gillian Davies, Beauty Editor: "Firstly I love the colour of this mask but secondly I love the results I get after I've used it. Although the Florence By Mills range is designed for younger skins I find this works brilliantly at clearing blackheads on my t-zone - plus it's super satisfying to peel it off!"
Alexandra Friend, Senior Beauty Editor: "This feels like a treat to use, with a silky texture you paint on with a little brush and it smells delicious – delicately rosy. It’s not gloopy so you can carry on pottering around while it dries, then you just rub and roll it off with your fingers. It leaves my skin looking tight, bright and glowing and boosts my mood too, because it feels so refreshing."
Eve Cameron, Group Beauty Director: "Although this isn't technically a mask it's as good as! You apply it onto congested areas and let it become warm before massaging it with the rubber nodule-y end which dislodges the blackheads. You may have to use it few times before you see a difference but it's definitely worth the wait."
Budget buy: Packed with oil-absorbing kaolin clay, this handy pouch can be used up-to four times (which makes it £1.49 a go!). The rose quartz is a nice edition but whether it helps to regulate pore-size we're still not sure. The formula doesn't feel drying and leaves skin clean and fresh.