Best pore strips
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Clog pores with excess sebum, makeup, dirt, and dead skin cells, and what do you get? Blackheads. They’re a type of mild acne that can be incredibly annoying, leaving many to poke, prod, or reach for pore strips to try to remove them.

Pore strips can be lifesavers when you need a quick fix or self-care. It can be satisfying to see what the strips pull out.

If used frequently, sticky pore strips can be very irritating on the skin. It can be difficult to find the best product for your skin.

We’re here to help by rounding up some of the best options out there. Read on for our top choices for your nose and T-zone.

We looked at ingredients and online reviews when choosing the strips. We wanted to include different price points and types of strips.

We also considered Environmental Working Group (EWG) ratings. The EWG rates makeup and skin care products based on their possible health concerns. Products are scored on a 10-point scale, with 1 being the best possible score and 10 being the worst.

We tried to find products that have a good EWG rating. Some products are not in the EWG database.

Pricing guide

  • $ = under $10
  • $$ = $10–$20
  • $$$ = over $20

Most products come with 6 to 8 strips. Some brands may be different. If you want to get the most bang for your buck, you should look at the package size.

Best pore strips for all over

Peace Out Pore Treatment Strips

  • Price: $$
  • Pros: ethically sourced and cruelty-free, infused with vitamins, can wear overnight
  • Con: time-consuming
  • Best for: oily skin

Peace Out pore strips are made with hydrocolloids, which help remove sebum and dead skin. They also contain dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE) and vitamin A to reduce the appearance of pores.

Although this product hasn’t been rated by the EWG, it’s free of certain potentially harmful ingredients, including formaldehyde, parabens, phthalates, and triclosan. It also contains less than one percent of artificial fragrances and is gluten-free.

Each pack includes both nose strips and face strips that you can use anywhere on your T-zone.

The directions suggest wearing the strips for 6 hours or overnight, or 1 hour if you have sensitive skin. This is longer than the time required by other pore strips, so they’re best used when you’re not in a rush.

Shop now at Sephora

Best pore strips for oily skin

Formula 10.0.6 Down to the Pore Strips

  • Price: $
  • Pros: includes strips for chin and forehead, good scent
  • Cons: can be drying, leaves behind residue
  • Best for: oily skin

If you want to remove blackheads from your entire T-zone, this Formula 10.0.6 variety pack might do the trick. In addition to nose strips, it includes strips for your chin and forehead. They’re made with charcoal and witch hazel, which helps remove excess sebum.

The strips also help control oil with kaolin clay, Moroccan lava clay, and aloe leaf extract.

According to users, the strips have a nice herbal scent. They’re also bigger than some other strips out there, so you can get more coverage.

Shop now at Ulta

Best pore strips for chin and forehead

Pacifica Cosmic Vanish Pore Strips

  • Price: $
  • Pros: made with natural fibers, affordable, individually wrapped
  • Cons: not for sensitive skin
  • Best for: combination skin

This Pacifica multipack includes separate strips for your nose, chin, and forehead. The strips rely on tea tree oil, hemp seed oil, and witch hazel extract to control excess sebum. Some people are sensitive to tea tree oil, so if you’re not sure how your skin will react, it’s best to do a patch test.

Rated a 1 by EWG, the strips are made with natural fiber instead of synthetic materials.

Shop now at Target

Best value

Bioré Combo Pack Deep Cleansing Pore Strips

  • Price: $
  • Pros: easy to apply, deep cleans
  • Cons: drying, doesn’t remove makeup, some reviewers complain about the scent
  • Best for: all skin types

This combo pack includes both nose and face strips. They’re dermatologist-tested, hypoallergenic, and made with witch hazel extract.

In each box, you’ll get more strips than other combo packs on this list. These have an EWG rating of 2 though they do contain methylparaben.

The reviews for this product are mixed. Some users say the strips effectively unclogged their pores, while others say they didn’t work. Still, this product is a popular choice among skin care enthusiasts.

Shop now at Amazon

Best nose strips

Bioré Deep Cleansing Charcoal Pore Strips

  • Price: $
  • Pros: easy to use, good value
  • Cons: contains parabens, painful to pull off
  • Best for: combination skin

These deep cleansing charcoal pore strips from Bioré are designed to remove blackheads, dirt, and excess oil. They’re dermatologist-tested, hypoallergenic, vegan, and cruelty-free.

These strips are rated a 2 by the EWG. They do contain methylparaben, though, so if you’re looking to avoid parabens, this product may not be a good choice.

Shop now at Ulta

Best scented pore strips

TONYMOLY Strawberry Nose Pack

  • Price: $
  • Pros: smells good, lightweight
  • Cons: greasy, irritating for some
  • Best for: combination skin

This product from TONYMOLY is a multi-step pore treatment that comes with three separate strips. First is a gel strip made with sage extract, witch hazel extract, and strawberry seed oil. It brings blackheads and sebum to the surface of your pores.

Next is a normal nose strip that’s designed to lift away impurities. The third strip soothes and tones with aloe and strawberry fruit extract.

This product has a strong strawberry scent, which some users love and others don’t. Each package contains enough strips for one treatment.

Shop now at Ulta

Best pore strips for sensitive skin

Hydropeptide Bambusa Blackhead Banisher

  • Price: $$$
  • Pros: gentle, soothing
  • Con: pricey
  • Best for: sensitive skin

These dermatologist-approved nose strips are jam-packed with natural ingredients. Volcanic ash and charcoal exfoliate and cleanse the skin. Bamboo extract, witch hazel extract, sacred lotus flower extract, and aloe hydrate and soothe.

These strips are free of gluten, sulfates, parabens, and phthalates. They’re more expensive than other pore strips and are only meant for the nose.

Shop now at Amazon

Name Price Pros Cons Best for
Peace Out Pore Treatment Strips $$ ethically sourced and cruelty-free, infused with vitamins time-consuming oily skin
Formula 10.0.6 Down to the Pore Strips $ includes strips for chin and forehead, good scent drying, leaves behind residue oily skin
Pacifica Cosmic Vanish Pore Strips $ made with natural fibers, affordable, individually wrapped not for sensitive skin all skin types
Bioré Combo Pack Deep Cleansing Pore Strips $ easy to apply, deep cleans drying, doesn’t remove makeup, bad scent all skin types
Bioré Deep Cleansing Charcoal Pore Strips $ easy to use, good value contains parabens, painful to pull off combination skin
TONYMOLY Strawberry Nose Pack $ smells good, lightweight greasy, irritating for some combination skin
Hydropeptide Bambusa Blackhead Banisher $$$ gentle, soothing pricey sensitive skin

Pore strips are strong and stick to your skin. It can be painful to remove them.

If you have sensitive skin, you might notice redness, itchiness, or discomfort after using them. There have been reports of damage to the skin from the strips.

Keep these tips in mind when protecting your skin.

  • Follow the directions on the package. Some strips are designed to be worn for a few hours, but others are only used for a short time.
  • Use the strips away from your eyes.
  • Never use pore strips on sunburns, inflamed acne, very dry skin, or open wounds.
  • If you notice your skin is irritated, stop using the product.
  • Carefully remove the strips. Adding water to help them is a good idea. This will make it easier to remove them.

There are a number of factors to consider when selecting the right strips.

Ingredients

Some common skin care ingredients, like parabens and phthalates, are considered unsafe by the EWG. If you prefer to avoid these substances, check the label. Also, look out for any ingredients you may allergic or sensitive to.

Preferences

You can also consider your lifestyle and preferences. Some products may be vegan, cruelty-free, and/orgluten-free.

Intended use

Most strips are designed to be used on the nose. If you want to use them on another area of your face, look for a variety pack that also contains chin and forehead strips.

Recommendations

“If you don’t know where to start, you can ask a dermatologist for a recommendation. They may be able to suggest a product that is suited to your skin type.”

Before using a product, read the directions. Here is what you will do.

  1. You should wash your face. Pat dry.
  2. You can apply the strips to your nose, chin, or forehead.
  3. Dry your hands. The plastic lining has a strip called a pore.
  4. The smooth side should be applied to your skin. Press on the strip to smooth it out.
  5. Wait for the time that is suggested. The strip will eventually become hard.
  6. Pull the strip from the outer edges. Slowly peel toward the center.
  7. Put your skin to dry.

It is recommended to use the strips once per week. If you use them on the same part of your face, it might cause irritation.

Use the strips where they are supposed to be. Only use nose strips on the nose. The strips are designed to curve around the nose, so they might not fit in other areas.

If you want to apply face strips to another area of your face, use face strips. These are shaped to sit on your head. Some brands use different ingredients.

Blackheads are difficult to get rid of and only temporary fixes are available. Follow a proper skin care routine and you will be able to remove dead skin cells. There are some at- home remedies that can help with the problem of blackheads.

  • An exfoliant scrub can be created by mixing coconut oil, Jojoba oil, and sugar.
  • Leave the paste on for 15 minutes.
  • Leave the paste for 10 minutes.

Do dermatologists recommend pore strips?

“Most dermatologists don’t recommend using them frequently. Save them for special occasions as the glue may harm the skin.”

How do I remove a pore strip without pain?

Pull the strip from the outer edges. Slowly peel toward the center.

Is it bad to pick blackheads?

Avoid picking at blackheads as it can lead to inflammation, hyperpigmentation, and scarring.

There are many types of strips. When selecting a product, make sure to check the ingredients. Follow the directions to get the best results.

If you want to avoid unwanted side effects, never apply a strip of skin. This includes open wounds and sunburns. Pull the strip off fast if you want to peel it off.

Pore strips are a fix. To prevent and remove blackheads, you should follow a regular skin care routine.