My girlfriend and I have been consuming our fair share of YouTube videos in isolation, and in doing so have learned a new thing or two about skincare. Recently, I stumbled upon Nayamka Roberts-Smith, a licensed esthetician otherwise known as LA Beautyologist, and her advice, which helped us build a new step into our routine to tackle my girlfriend’s blackheads.
The two main ideas I learned from Nayamka are that oil cleansing – cleansing with an oil-based cleanser or a natural oil – is an essential first step to a beauty routine, and that it’s important to cleanse for at least 60 seconds. According to her YouTube channel, oil cleansing breaks down “oil plugs” of naturally produced sebum mixed with dirt and makeup in our pores. Cleansing for at least 60 seconds allows for maximum efficacy of your cleanser.
We decided to take these principles and turn them into a fun little routine for ourselves, and as we did it, we realized that all my girlfriend’s blackheads were loosening and coming out. Here’s our routine broken down into three steps!
1. Pick an oil
There are many oil blends and oil based cleansers on the market, but our preference is to go simple. We already had jojoba oil in our cabinets because it’s part of our usual skincare routine, so we use that.
2. Get comfortable
Our typical setup has me watching videos on my laptop and Sufi playing a game on her phone. We’ll sit together on a bed or a sofa, and she’ll put her head in my lap.
3. Get oily!
I apply the oil generously and evenly over her skin, and rub it in with my clean fingers in circular motions. The first time I spent around 20 minutes working it into her skin before I saw plugs come out – it took a lot of time for them to loosen up. The next time it didn’t take as long for them to come out, and by the time I was done, all her blackheads had popped out of her pores. Gross, but so satisfying when we saw how smooth her skin was!
We love that we can do this routine together, because it’s a relaxing way for us to end the night and unwind. However, this can definitely be done alone, too.
This has become a regular routine for us, something we do once or twice a week to keep my girlfriend’s skin clear and smooth. What are your favorite ways to get rid of blackheads? If you try out this method, what were your results like? Let me know in the comments below!
i tried this tonight and omg it worked so well! i’m glad you specified how long it takes because i would’ve tried it for a few minutes and given up if i hadn’t seen results. but it got so many blackheads out without damaging my skin.
Author
Hi Sahana, I’m so glad you liked it! Thank you so much for sharing!
Hi, Anjali, I want to know how to remove little pimples from my face by not using chemicals on the face? I apply face oil and also apply turmeric powder mixed with honey. Can you suggest more powerful techniques for this problem?
Author
Hi Salo, I don’t have much experience with removing pimples – I’d consult an esthetician!
This sounds so great and simple! Can I use olive oil for this? And so I leave the oil on my face or do I clean it off with face wash and water? Thanks x
Author
Hi Nikki! Yes, you can use olive oil. I take the oil off Sufi’s face with a damp cloth when we’re done, or she’ll wash it off with her usual cleanser if it’s time for bed!
My way to get rid of black heads is just steaming my face and afterwards rubbing it gently upwards with a towel, but on my nose i am not so gentle I SCRUB IT. Another method is just making my own scrub and scrubbing my face with it, i mix tea leaves , honey, a little bit of turmeric and leaving it on my face for 15 minutes.
Author
Sakina,
I’ve heard great things about steaming! I would be careful with a towel though – I’ve read that they can cause more harm than good by introducing more bacteria to freshly-steamed pores. I’ll have to give tea leaves a try!
Best,
Anjali
Hey Anjali,
Love the aesthetic of your page, the pastel colour scheme, the cute pictures, the layout and everything in between. I genuinely enjoyed reading this 🙂 I am looking forward to see more content like this. I was wondering if you had any tips about acne/pimples, let’s start a conversation about normalising acne and talking about how there’s no “bad skin”; skin is skin and your face is what makes you who you are but there’s things you can do to make your skin healthier 🙂 I think you’d be great at talking about skin love and also guiding girls like me and many others regarding how having pimples doesn’t make you ugly and nor do other skin conditions. Nonetheless , I appreciate this informative and beautiful written content you’re making! Thank you!
Sending lots of love and stay safe,
Haya Hamid
Author
Hi Haya,
I love that idea! I think accepting your skin the way it is first is so important – even if I’m not the best at it myself! I’d love to start having those discussions once I practice reframing my skin “issues” as normal health concerns to be addressed. Thank you so much for your kind words about the site! I put a lot of thought into those aspects so I really appreciate it 🙂
Best,
Anjali
Author
You’re so sweet, thank you!