Clogged Pore Extractor By Eyes2theocean on Oct 30, 2007 - Updated Oct 15, 2011

I admit it. From time to time, I get the occasional zit or blackhead. And I like to pop them. Yes I do. It's bad for my skin, blah blah blah, I know, so I went to Sephora and purchased a metal extractor tool so that I would minimize the damage I usually do to my skin.

The extractor is the model that has a pointed end on one side for "lancing" and a small metal cup-shaped end with a hole in the bottom of the cup to press down upon the offending blemish. This method works well on blackheads that are otherwise ready to be popped, and small whiteheads also already near the surface. Deeper acne cannot be reached, and increasing the pressure only leaves an angry red mark on the surface area of the skin. I recently spoke with a dermatologist about the safety of using this method, and she informed me that it was in fact WORSE for your skin than using your own fingers, if clean and wrapped in clean tissue.

End result? Stick with what's natural. This thing is overrated.