A: Blackheads often follow oily skin, which may in turn follow makeup use, explains nurse practitioner Kristen Cantwell of the Vitality Aesthetic Institute in La Jolla, California. Instead of traditional foundation, try a matte tinted moisturizer with SPF such as MyChelle Sun Shield Stick SPF 50 Tinted and Raw Elements USA Tint Formula Facial Moisturizer SPF 30.
Also, exfoliate a few times a week with a gentle scrub that uses dead sea salt, sugar or oatmeal to help ensure you’re removing product and toxin buildup without drying out the skin and stripping it of healthy oils.
Caitlin Hoff, health and safety investigator for ConsumerSafety.org, adds, “No matter what you put on your face—makeup, serums—your skin will look its best only with a solid foundation of healthy habits. Even if you don’t have any makeup to remove, washing your face every night is a great way to remove any dirt, oil or grime that has built up over the course of the day. If you have sensitive skin, find a cleanser that doesn’t dry out your skin, irritate it or leave it greasy,” all of which can actually increase the number and frequency of blackheads.
Also, change your pillowcase frequently, keep makeup brushes clean and wipe down your phone receiver on the regular.
