If there is one persistent skincare issue, that is blackheads. Caused by the oxidation of an open comedo, blackheads are a sign your pores are overwhelmed by excess sebum and bacteria has accumulated in the area. Not a nice picture, I know. Now, if you are past adolescence and feel your hormones have started a truce, blackheads should be under control. Don’t believe me? I challenge you to adopt these three war-on-blackhead steps and let the world know you’re on charge of your skin.
One, double cleanse every night: oil cleanser + foam cleanser is a heavenly deep cleansing duo and much appreciated by oily and combination skin types, which tend to overproduce natural oils. Two, adopt a low pH toner. Low pH toners are important to kill bacteria sitting on your pores and therefore prevent clogged pores and help combating active acne breakouts. Plus keeping your skin pH optimal is crucial to its overall health. Medium-low pH is associated with healthy skin whereas high pH skins are an environment for bacteria and acne flares. There is no way we can simply know the pH of our skin by looking at the mirror, but if breakouts are frequent and cleansing leaves a tight sensation behind, your skin pH may be out of balance and probably higher than desirable. Three, never spend a week without clay masking. The third is the one step that will give you the most immediate results.
A real clay mask like Missha Black Ghassoul Tightening Mask is a vacuum cleaner for your pores. It will draw all the dirt out of your pores and make them look cleaner than ever. That’s to say you may not need to forcibly remove blackheads with the help of strips. In fact, if you have active acne, you should stay away from pore strips as they can pop the comedos and spread the infection to other parts of the face. Clay masks are a safer option in this case and my favorite pick for very sensitive, troubled skin, as they are pain-free and won’t distress your skin. After trying many clay masks (nowadays there is a clay mask for each color of the rainbow!), I was happily surprised by Missha Black Ghassoul Tightening Mask.
A few things caught my attention here. First, this mask contains a great deal of Moroccan Black Ghassoul, a natural mineral clay that deep cleanses by absorbing excess oils. Second, it has kaolin and charcoal, also big friends with happy oily/combination skin. Third, this mask is gentle. Like really gentle. If you have tried clay masks before and were happy about the results, you may have also encountered their not-so-pretty drying effect. Tightness is an issue with masks and some clay formulas tend to over-cleanse. When your skin is ripped from its natural oils, it will go on code red and work as fast as possible to replenish those oil goodies. The result is an even more imbalanced skin with further breakouts. But after applying Missha Ghassoul, my skin felt rested and happy. No tightness or dehydrated feeling: my skin felt smooth and very, very clean. It’s the kind of comfortably refreshing sensation that oily and combination skin seldom experience. Yet, as a good skincare worshiper, I went ahead and immersed my free pores in my favorite toners and essences (more on toner and essence layering soon). You shouldn’t try your luck when you’re doing this well!
Application is fairly simple: scoop some of the product and use your fingers to spread over the affected areas. If your skin is truly oily, you can use it as an all-over face mask. If your skin has an oily T-zone only, you can choose to apply the product on your forehead, nose, and chin (or just one of these areas, if you think the others are doing well). After 10 minutes the once moist mask will harden and show some cracks. That means it’s time to rinse it all with some lukewarm water. Missha Black Ghassoul Tightening Mask scores again: the mask comes off right away and there is no need for intensive rubbing like with other masks. The last thing you want is to upset troubled skin.
If you’re confronted with blackheads, the three tips above should help you gain control over them. The nasty thing about them though is that blackheads may keep on returning for a while. Yet, by adopting a routine with double cleansing, low pH toner, and an effective clay mask such as Missha Ghassoul, you are sure to slow them down and prevent further blackheads from forming and developing into inflamed acne. Plus, nothing says skin pampering like a good old mask!
The 95g jar will last you a long time and could be applied on other parts of the body where acne has been showing its face, such as arms and back. This is a lifesaver for anyone with oily skin and a must-have for combination skin types out there. If your skin tends to normal/dry and blackheads decided to pay you a visit, this mask is a great choice. Just keep in mind your thirsty skin will need some extra moisture and love after that!
Find Missha Black Ghassoul at Honeysu!
