So I quite recently discovered a cool little trick to use with Biore Pore Strips that will greatly improve the results, because we all know that Biore Pore Strips are expensive, and they aren’t always very effective at removing all of those blackheads.
Please note that this method works well with homemade pore strips as well and makes them work even better! It’s truly the BEST way use any type of pore strip.
In the video below I explain how to use this simple trick to ensure that you get every last blackhead out. It really is the ultimate pore strip secret =) check it out below…
Ultimate Pore Strip Secret – Steps to Unclogged Pores Using Biore Pore Strips
Things You Will Need
• Biore Pore Strips
• “Squeaky clean” facial cleanser
• Bentonite clay
Step One
Begin by opening your pores. You can do this by steaming your face over a bowl of hot water, during a shower, or even over the sink by holding the hot water cupped in your hands over your nose a few times. Just be careful not to burn yourself!
After a few minutes, your pores will appear larger when they have opened.
Step Two
Wash your nose (or the area you plan to use the pore strip) with a cleanser that has NO moisturizing properties. You want that “squeaky clean” feeling. I DON’T recommend using this cleanser on your whole face as it will aggravate your acne, just use it on your nose.
Be sure to wash your nose for a good minute to ensure that you really get into the pores. The goal is to make the tops of the blackheads as adhesive as possible.
Step Three
Apply a thick layer of bentonite clay to your nose. Make sure to really get every pore. The Biore Pore Strip needs the blackheads to be as sticky as possible, so make sure you really get the clay in there.
Allow the clay to dry for 15-20 minutes. You’ll know it’s dry when it begins to crack a little and you see little oil dots all over your nose.
Before you rinse off the bentonite clay, get your pore strip ready beside the sink. I just take it out of the pouch it’s in and lay it on top of it. If you don’t do this, you may find it difficult to open the pore strip pouch with wet hands. Not to mention your pores will rapidly close while you’re trying to get it open.
You can also cut one of the pore strips to fit down the center between your nostrils to get those stubborn blackheads as well.
Step Four
Thoroughly rinse off the bentonite clay with very warm water. Your goal is to open up your pores again so that the glue on the Biore Pore Strip can adhere to the blackheads better.
While your nose is still wet, apply the pore strip and press firmly onto the nose. You want the glue to really stick to the blackheads. This may sound weird, but you can place your thumb on the inside of your nose while pressing the pore strip firmly on the outside of that nostril.
I find that this really gets the strip to stick to the blackheads in those difficult areas. Make sure you nose is clean before doing this 😉
Allow the pore strip to dry completely. You’ll know it’s dry when it feels very stiff like very stiff like concrete. You can check it by tapping the pore strip. If it’s dry it will make a sound that indicates a hard surface.
Step Five
Gently grab the upper outer corners of the pore strip. Begin pulling it off up and away from the skin. This ensures that you are going to pull out the blackheads in the most effective way possible. Try to peel it off as slowly as you can because blackheads can easily tear in half, leaving the end of it still in your pores!
If this happens, you can use a good pair of tweezers to grab the remaining blackheads, but be sure that they are sanitized and do not dig into the skin. Anything left can easily be buffed away by using a good face exfoliant.
Step Six
Once you have peeled off the Biore Pore Strip, you may notice some residue, or maybe even a couple “broken blackheads”.
Simply use a facial scrub the remove them. I will usually use the scrub for about 30 seconds. Don’t scrub too hard, it’s important to be gentle so that you don’t stimulate too much oil production.
Rinse with cold water and apply some jojoba oil. Jojoba oil will not clog your pores and will heal and nourish your skin. You can also close the pores with an astringent like witch hazel or calcium carbonate and then follow it with your moisturizer of choice.
I recommend using pore strips once a week to keep your pores nice and blackhead free!
For more clear skin articles look below:
How to Remove Blackheads Using Floss??
The Best Vegan Pore Strips Recipe
Cheap DIY Vegan Pore Strips
How to Remove Blackheads Naturally
Could Jojoba Oil be your Cure for Blackheads?
Morrocan Red Clay- Blackheads be Gone!
Beatrice says
April 21, 2017 at 8:21 pmI thought I had the Biore routine down pat. NOPE!!! This process is long, but worth it.
Tash says
April 24, 2017 at 10:22 amGlad it worked for you Beatrice! It is long, but it works every time!
Serina Baker says
January 25, 2016 at 8:29 amI’ve used pore strips twice, but they’ve only taken some blackheads off the side of my nose, not one it. I also use Bentonite Clay about once a week. will the clay right before the strips help get blackheads off my nose, or just get more off the side?
Tash says
February 9, 2016 at 3:14 pmHi Serina!
The clay really sucks out the oil from the blackheads and the pores so that the pore strip can REALLY adhere to the blackheads.
Leah Morris says
July 1, 2014 at 9:09 amHelpful, thanks
Lonn says
June 28, 2014 at 3:18 pmWhy are these videos so long? All of this information could be communicated in half the time. People who make these videos should write a script to know what they really need to say and then stick to it. People on television know how to do this.
Gemma Freedholfstieniu says
April 12, 2014 at 7:59 pmSimple chemistry here…
Oil and water don’t mix. So the pore strip is water based glue. And the sebum is oil based. Removing the fresh oil on your skin allows the glue to adhere to more things (dirt, makeup, skin cells, dried sebum). Alcohol, detergent, rice paper, and clay all will remove fresh oil coating the skin surface allowing better adhesion and therefore better cleaning and removal.
It’s just that simple.
Kat Sullivan says
March 8, 2014 at 10:33 pmI only watched parts of this, but people shouldn’t use bar soap on their
faces, steam their faces (you’re risking broken capillaries!), and pores
don’t actually open or close. Aztec Healing Clay is an awesome mask for
lots of people, but I definitely wouldn’t recommend someone strip their
skin, and then on top of that use a bentonite clay mask! Sooo bad for it!
There’s other ways to make pore strips more effective if you’re hell bent
on using them, and there’s other ways to make sebaceous filaments (most
people don’t have that many blackheads on their nose) less noticeable.
Tash says
March 10, 2014 at 11:01 pmPlease share your most recommended methods =) I’m always open to feedback!
yuerong88 says
January 29, 2014 at 7:57 pmthanks
Dil3MM4 says
August 14, 2013 at 6:31 amThese strips have never worked for me at all. They always leave glue all over my face, and never pull out any blackheads.
Tash says
August 14, 2013 at 3:18 pmUsing the tips I’ve mentioned in the video seemed to work best for me as the clay made my blackheads stickier and easier for the strip to stick to. I hope they work out for you!
Chelsea Meeker says
July 25, 2013 at 8:03 amThis is what I’m going to attempt next time 🙂 I get very dark black heads on my nose and I remember just the pore strips not being very effective. Thank you!
royalbeauty105 says
July 9, 2013 at 6:52 pmWhat about a exfoliator
Bri S says
June 26, 2013 at 4:56 pmI realize everyone’s skin reacts differently, but Citrus Clear has worked wonders for me after only using it twice. It does leave my skin a little dry, but I expected that. Now I can’t even see my pores in my lighted 10x magnification mirror, and Citrus Clear has greatly reduced the slight redness I had around my nose and on my chin.
Knections18 says
April 30, 2013 at 4:29 amYou have really nice teeth 🙂
Tash says
April 30, 2013 at 8:38 pmHaha! Thanks! =)
Dante Sparda says
March 25, 2013 at 2:41 pmi subbed because you have a jar in the back 🙂
Tash says
March 25, 2013 at 10:32 pmWouldn’t you know that I’m obsessed with jars 😉
MaidOfHerbs says
January 2, 2013 at 11:20 amYou’re very welcome! Good luck!
MaidOfHerbs says
January 2, 2013 at 11:20 amI used bentonite clay. The brand is Aztec Secret. Thanks for your comment =)
MrBlackchevy11 says
December 30, 2012 at 8:21 pmWhat type of clay did you say it was?
Harman Kaur says
December 26, 2012 at 8:54 pmThank you for helping