So there I was in Superdrug last Tuesday, queuing behind this woman buying about twenty packets of nose strips. Twenty! I am like, either she has the worst blackheads in the world, or she has discovered something I haven’t.
Has me thinking about nasal strips for blackheads all over again. You know the things; they look like little plasters that apparently pull out all the gunk out of your nose. My nan raves about them, but then she thinks putting toothpaste on spots is cutting-edge skincare.
My Strip Disaster Story
Right, confession time. So when I saw some TikTok girl ripping one off and it seemed like a hedgehog was attached, I tried them myself a few months ago. Proper gross but weirdly satisfying.
Went to Boots and picked up the cheapest ones they had. The bloke at the counter looked at me like I was buying dodgy gear. “First time?” he asks. Apparently, I looked terrified.
Made it home and steamed my face, as if I were prepping vegetables. Stuck the strip on and waited fifteen minutes, watching Bargain Hunt. Peeled it off, expecting miracles.
Nothing. Absolutely sod all.
Well, it kind of happened that I did everything wrong. Face too wet, strip not pressed down correctly, ineptitude all round. My nose looked the same but rather more reddened, and felt like I’d been slapped.
Second Time Lucky (Sort Of)
A week later, I tried again with proper determination. Read the directions as if my life depended on it. I went through the routine again: face wash in the basin, followed by a hot flannel and pat dry, but leave the nose slightly damp. Applied the strip like I was defusing a bomb.
This time, when I peeled it off, there were these tiny white bits stuck to it. Not exactly the satisfying blackhead forest I’d seen online, but definitely something. My mate Aaron reckons those strips just pull off dead skin, not actual blackheads. Cheers, Aaron, really helpful.
The Best Ones According to My Sister
My sister Rachel has tried every strip known to humanity. She has strong opinions on just about everything, and, as it turns out, she says nose pore strips are no exception.
“The charcoal ones from Amazon are alright,” she tells me over Sunday roast. “But honestly, the cheap ones from the chemist do the same job. Don’t waste your money on fancy packaging.”
She rates the Bioré ones, says they’re the best nose strips for blackheads and whiteheads. I’m still not convinced any of them actually work, but Rachel’s got proper nice skin, so maybe she’s onto something.
What to Use Instead of Nose Strips
Asked my mate who’s training to be a beautician what she reckons. Proper rolled her eyes when I mentioned strips.
“Just use a clay mask,” she says. “Or get some salicylic acid cleanser. Those strips are just skincare theatre – makes you feel like you’re doing something but doesn’t actually fix anything.”
Fair point. Clay masks are dead boring compared to peeling strips off your face, but they don’t leave you looking like you’ve been in a fight with a Hoover attachment.
The Science Bit (Don’t Worry, It’s Simple)
Looked this up because I’m sad like that. Turns out blackheads are just blocked pores filled with dead skin and oil. When they’re exposed to air, they go black. Not dirt, not because you’re mucky – just oxidation doing its thing.
Strips work by sticking to whatever’s poking out of your pores and yanking it out when you peel them off. The problem is, they only get the surface stuff. The deeper gunk stays put, so your blackheads come back pretty quickly.
It’s like trying to remove blackheads from the nose at home by picking at them – satisfying in the moment but completely pointless long-term.
My Mum’s Wisdom (And Why It’s Wrong)
Mum reckons you should steam your face over a bowl of boiling water, then squeeze everything out with your fingers. This is possibly the worst skincare advice ever, but try telling her that.
“Worked fine for me in the seventies,” she says, conveniently forgetting that skincare in the seventies involved Pond’s cold cream and prayer.
The Reality Check Nobody Wants
Here’s the thing about nasal strips for blackheads – they’re not magic. They might pull out a few surface-level bits, but they won’t give you poreless skin like some Instagram filter.
Your nose is going to have blackheads. That’s just how faces work. Those perfect skin photos you see online? Editing, lighting, and probably about three layers of foundation.
When They Actually Work
Had coffee with my cousin last week. She’s one of those people with naturally perfect skin (properly annoying). Even she uses strips occasionally.
“They work best when you’ve been wearing loads of makeup,” she explains. “Gets rid of the built-up gunk. But I only do it maybe once a month.”
Makes sense, actually. If you’re caking on foundation daily, strips might help clear out the accumulated mess. But if you’re expecting them to solve all your skin problems, you’re going to be disappointed.
The Verdict from Someone Who’s Tried Everything
So are strips worth it? Depends on what you’re after. If you want that satisfying peel-off moment and don’t mind that the results last about five minutes, crack on.
If you want actual long-term skin improvement, save your money and buy proper skincare products. Boring but effective.
My personal verdict? They’re harmless, as long as you don’t think too much about them. Just don’t expect any miracles from a five-pound packet of glorified plasters.
And whatever you do, don’t be like that woman in Superdrug and buy twenty packets of it. That way madness lies.
