Dr. Pimple Popper Fans, These Blackhead-Removal Tools Will Help You Safely Squeeze Juicy Blackheads (2024)

JPNK’s six-piece set is modeled after tools you’d find in any given dermatologist’s office. While it might seem excessive to own this many tools, they feature loops of various shapes and designs that target different areas of the face and body.

Every kit has explicit instructions, so you can extract like a pro. It’s designed with stainless steel to mitigate irritation, while textured, grippy handles give you full control over what can become a sticky situation (gross, but true).

DeRosa says this is a good option because it’s made with that stainless steel — her favorite blackhead-extractor material — and comes in a handy travel pouch. “The only thing I’d caution is that one may get carried away with so many tools included and end up damaging one’s skin, so go slowly,” she says.

While all of these tools are impressive, the standout is the skinny removal tool on the far left, which JPNK designed with acne-prone skin in mind, removing open and closed comedones from the surface without irritating side effects or swollen areas (because the last thing you need right now is to worry about extraction side effects).

More: Red Light Therapy Devices for Wrinkles, Acne, and Fine Lines

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Face-cleansing brushes are epic: They penetrate further into the surface of your skin, removing oil, dirt, and debris. Foreo’s popular Luna 4 is my favorite option.

Blackheads are my biggest skincare concern, and the Luna takes a high-tech approach to skincare. After connecting my brush via Bluetooth to the Foreo app, I can create a fully customized skincare experience at home. There are 10 speed settings to choose from, so blackheads don’t stand a chance. It’s safe enough to use twice daily, but even with occasional use, I notice my pores are clearer than if I just cleansed with my hands.

According to DeRosa, this silicone face brush is great for gently cleansing the skin and lifting dirt and debris off without the damage that can occur with traditional bristle cleansing brushes. “What’s also great about the silicone brush is that it is easier to keep clean after use so that you don’t end up pushing bacteria and debris into your skin inadvertently,” she says.

A bonus: The Luna device is waterproof and has soft ridges and vibrations to massage your face as you cleanse.

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Remember when blackhead-removing pore strips launched in the early aughts? DeRosa and I sure do: We used them growing up. “What’s cool about these strips is that they have a patented technology that has the pore strip stick to the blackhead and not the skin, so it decreases damage to the skin when you pull them off,” says DeRosa.

I love them because they’re fast-acting — you only need 10 to 15 minutes max for them to dry down. After carefully peeling them off, I always feel satisfied (and a bit grossed out) by how much gunk is stuck on the other side of the pore strip. It’s pretty incredible how affordable yet effective these tools are at removing sebaceous filaments and blackheads from my nose.

These pore strips feature a curved design that accommodates various nose widths and bridges. There are are also rectangular strips for other areas of the face, but TBH I’ve definitely used the nose strips all over my face. I find they’re both equally effective, but when I’m in a pinch I don’t mind using the leftover nose strips.

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Tweezerman is our go-to for all beauty tools, so should it surprise us that the brand also specializes in blackhead-removal instruments? No, no it should not. This double-ended tool — aesthetically twinning with a cross-stitch needle, BTW — uproots blackheads and whiteheads in a cinch.

If you’re one of those people who thoroughly enjoys popping pimples (sometimes yours, sometimes others), this is a hygienic step up. The flat end forcefully presses out darkened sebum from hair follicles, while the thin, angled loop rolls out white-topped blemishes.

The trick is to open up your congested pores with a facial steamer or, for budget-conscious shoppers, a hot washcloth for 5 minutes. It’ll take only a few seconds for this tool to pop out the blackhead with zero pain. The high-quality tool also has rounded edges on the loops that press into the skin pain-free.

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Something that extracts, infuses, and lifts? Do sign us up. The latest release from beauty tool bigwigs PMD, the Wave Pro, has all you need to keep skin both smooth and snatched.

It has three modes: Mode 1 uses negative ions for blackhead extraction. Lucero-Lee noticed a difference in smoothness immediately after application: “The instructions are pretty easy: Just dampen your face first before usage, and run the spatula upward from your chin — you’ll notice some steam coming off and a slight (yet painless) microcurrent. Keep going! I have sensitive skin, and it was gentle enough that I didn’t incur any redness. My serum went on smoothly afterward, and it really helped clear the congestion around the nose area.”

Mode 2 uses positive ions for serum infusion, and perhaps the most exciting level is Mode 3, which uses E-Wave technology (a painless electrical current) for lifting and contouring — particularly clutch near the crow’s feet, marionette line, and forehead areas. It also has a special Extract Mode to gently squeeze out blackheads and the occasional breakout.

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Let’s be real: There are dozens of more affordable skin scrubbers on the market, but I know this one actually works because I use it whenever my pores are clogged. It has a smooth edge that doesn’t overly dig into my skin, the pressure is light but effective, and it’s easy to clean.

I wouldn’t declare Dermapore as a game-changing alternative to professional deep cleansing facials, but rather a supplement. The key is to hold it at an angle while the 35,000-Hz vibrations per minute effectively remove gunk from my pores. As part of my at-home skincare routine, this tool helps minimize the number of breakouts I experience.

DeRosa also considers this an innovative ultrasonic device that helps unclog pores while also infusing products into your skin, so you get double the benefits. One side is for the extraction mode to unearth blackheads, oil deposits, and other gunk stuck in your pores. The flip side is for infusing your favorite face serums, oils, and creams deeper into your skin.

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The tweezer-like appearance might seem intimidating, but you’ll likely find it is less painful than pore strips. You’ll quickly be enamored with this cheap blackhead-removal tool because it’s simple yet incredibly effective.

Designed with surgical-grade stainless steel for premium quality at a low cost and hook-shaped tips to avoid the chance of injury, this tweezer saves you having to finger-wrestle deep-rooted blemishes. Grip the ergonomic handles to secure blackheads in between the comedone extractors, pinch, and pick up the impurities, pain-free. The curved shape ensures this cheap beauty tool also quickly pushes out blackheads without making a mess.

Plus, Cynamed’s blackhead-removal tool also doubles as a splinter extractor, which is especially handy if you’ve got kids who might be playing with wooden toys or know someone who gardens or works with wood or glass.

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I can’t be the only one completely skeeved out by the mere thought of squeezing blackheads to a pulp, so if you need an alternative, this rechargeable blackhead-removal tool is just as effective and (probably) won’t leave you as squeamish.

Here’s how it works: Similar to how a vacuum extracts dirt from the hard-to-reach corners of the kitchen floor, this brand developed a facial version that features three levels of suction pressure to completely remove impurities from the skin.

Need more perks? Ottleba is one of the rare pore vacuums equipped with a tiny camera, allowing you to see a close-up of the blackhead-removal process via the Android and iOS-compatible smartphone app.

At just under $43, this is one the best investments for alleviating your struggling pores. You can use this tool a few times weekly to start, and increasing usage as necessary. Just don’t be too surprised when people notice how much cleaner your skin looks. They may just want to borrow your precious new blackhead removal tool.

As a bonus, it comes with a set of six manual blackhead removal tools if you want the flexibility of using both manual and automatic gadgets.

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Treating yourself to microdermabrasion is an incredible way to remove blackheads stuck in your pores, and it has the bonus of fading hyperpigmentation, shrinking the look of enlarged pores, and dramatically improving skin texture.

This blackhead-removal tool earned a spot on our list because it has multiple speed settings, so you don’t over-exfoliate your skin. Instead, the nifty gadget will leave your skin smooth, clean, and blackhead-free. Plus, it comes with a handy USB charger for easy travel.

DeRosa considers the unique fine mist a major win because you can spritz your face during and after treatment to help lock in hydration, as well as dampen the skin before treatment.

Bonus? Unlike other blackhead-removal tools that leave problem areas a bit red, this microdermabrasion tool improves skin tone and encourages elasticity!

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