Banishing them forever is as simple as committing to cleansing. NIVEA Scientific Affairs Manager, Ken Lee, explains how…
Cleansing is the first step in maintaining the natural health and beauty of your complexion. It is important to do so daily in order to remove any make-up, sweat, dirt, grime and dead cells that will have collected on your skin throughout the day.
If your complexion is not properly cleansed it can begin to look dull and flaky and your pores clogged with excess oil, making your skin more susceptible to blackheads and blemishes.
While water alone will remove some of the grime, it can’t dissolve oil-based substances. Face-specific cleansing products contain special solvents that gently but thoroughly free skin of make-up and impurities, without drying it out or damaging it’s natural protective layer.
Q: So what exactly is a blackhead?
A: A blackhead is a non-inflamed skin blemish that appears as a brown or blackish plug within the pores in your skin. When your pores are open, they gradually fill with sebum (your skin’s natural oils) and dead skin cells, which reacts with the air (known as oxidation) turning it into the typical brown/black colour of a blackhead. Even though the pore is open, it is important to note that the content of the blackhead is not dirt and cannot be simply washed away.
Q: How can I get rid of these nasties?
A: Blackheads do not necessarily have to be removed – the body will take care of this itself as part of its normal skin functions. However, if your complexion is not treated with care (think not cleansing regularly, forgetting to remove your make-up, and exposing it to cigarette smoke and other pollutants), it won’t be able to function as effectively and you may find a build up of blackheads. Incorporating a gentle exfoliant and products containing salicylic acid and/or lactic acid into your cleansing regime will help to unclog pores and remove excess sebum. Try: NIVEA Visage 2in1 Wash & Scrub, or NIVEA Visage Young Clean Deeper! Daily Cleansing Wash Scrub for younger skin.
Are you trying to banish blackheads? What do you do to maintain a clear complexion?
