We Tested the Weirdest New Korean Blackhead Treatments
Photos: Courtesy of Staff
1/6Cosrx Blackhead Brush
"You use this alongside your regular face wash to dig deep into your skin and brush out all the stubborn stuff. Using the brush felt really good, and I definitely think it got rid of a bunch of those surface blackheads that don't go away when you just wash your face, but some of the deepest ones were still there when I rinsed." —Renee Jacques, associate digital editor
2/6Goodal Phytowash Yerba Mate Bubble Peeling
"I liked this! The creamy serum started lightly bubbling as soon as I applied it, and within about 15 minutes (the time it took me to Google the directions, since they were written in Korean), my whole face was covered in about an inch-thick coat of fluffy foam. After I massaged it into my skin and rinsed, my face felt supersoft and my pores looked smaller. The effect had faded when I woke up the next day, though." —Lauren Caruso, senior digital editor
3/6Lindsay Charcoal Modeling Mask
"This mask is just plain fun to use. There's something so satisfying about being able to peel it off in one big layer, and it feels soothing even as it's deep-cleaning your skin. I can't say I noticed a major difference in my pores, but my skin did feel supersmooth and glow-y afterwards." —Stephanie Saltzman, associate digital editor
4/6Yoon Dermaline Marine Complex Exfoliator
"I opened the little vial, and there's this giant cotton swab, which is daunting. But I took a deep breath and used the applicator to wipe the clear liquid all over my face. Afterward, my skin was completely baby soft. I'm obsessed. My face has never looked more dewy. Even 24 hours later, my skin is like velvet, and my pores are the cleanest they've ever been. Despite my initial fears, it's actually the tidiest skin product I've ever used—no messy or heavy creams. I plan to use this every night!" —Jennifer Yee, senior market editor
5/6Tonymoly Strawberry Seed 3-Step Nose Pack
"This product comes with three nose strips, and each step does something different. The first opens the pores, the second removes blackheads (this one was like the sticky Bioré one that hardens after application), and the third one was really gooey and moisturizing. The packaging is so cute, and it smelled so deliciously like strawberry that I wanted to eat it. The whole process took about 45 minutes, and I'm not sure the results were impressive enough to make me want to do it all over again. It takes a lot of dedication. I really liked the moisturizing step, though." —Nicole Chapoteau, accessories director
6/6Cosrx Blackhead Silk Finger Ball
These things are little exfoliating scrubbers for your face. They're made out of silk, so they're not too rough, but the texture buffs and gets rid of dead skin and maybe a few surface blackheads. It's not unlike using a washcloth, but the size and application on the tip of your finger made it easy to reach the spots around your nose. You need only one per wash (I put on a handful of them for the picture), and you can reuse each one up to three times, so the package will last you awhile. Ultimately I think a Clarisonic works better, but I'll use them once in a while.
