Automotive
Baby Products
Beauty
Books
Business, Industry & Science
Computers & Accessories
DIY, Garden & Tools
Electronics & Photo
Fashion
Grocery
Health & Personal Care
Home & Kitchen
Large Appliances
Musical Instruments & DJ
PC & Video Games
Pet Supplies
Sports & Outdoors
Stationery & Office Products
Toys & Games
Household goods
PC and cameras
Home appliances and electronics
Cosmetics and skincare
Health
Food and drinks
Kitchen supplies
Clothing
Shoes
Accessories
Kids and baby
Interior and furniture
Hobbies
Outdoor
DIY and tools
Sports and fitness
Pets
Books, CDs, DVDs
Games
Cars and motorcycles
Gifts
Housing equipment and renovation
Travel
Smartphones and mobile phones
Music
Smartphone applications
Pore strips help to unclog dirt and oil buildups from around your nose, T-zone, chin and forehead. You've probably tried to follow at least one tutorial on how to make a homemade DIY pore strip using egg whites, honey or sugar to reduce the appearance of blackheads, but the difference is that a drugstore one is much more likely to actually work!
If you want to know how to get rid of enlarged pores and how to get clearer skin, you can find everything you need right here. We've looked at Amazon, Boots and more to find you a wide selection of strips using popular ingredients like salicylic acid, charcoal and aloe suited to oily and sensitive skin alike. Trust us, you'll be amazed at the before and after results!
A recommendation service that carefully researches each product and consults with experts across many disciplines. We are constantly creating new content to provide the best shopping experience from choosing ‘cosmetics’ to ‘food and drink’, ‘home appliances’ to ‘kids and baby’ products, reaching users all across the United Kingdom.
Table of Contents
First up, let's talk about the key factors that make a good pore strip. We'll tell you all about the best ingredients, which areas they can help with, and how long it takes to use them.
It goes without saying that the ingredients you put on your face need vigilant inspection, so be sure to do swatch tests on a small part of your skin before you use the strip. To make sure that you see the best results, the following ingredients need to be on your radar.
Witch hazel is the most-used ingredient for targeting oily, clogged up pores. It acts as an astringent which helps to shrink your pores, soothe sore areas and reduce inflammation. Plus, not only does it remove bacteria from your skin, but it also combats signs of irritation as you rip the strips off.
Often used in conjunction with witch hazel, tea tree is another good ingredient to look for as it has strong disinfectant abilities that lower the possibility of infection when dirt finds an open pore. It penetrates deep into the skin to break up any blockages in the sebaceous glands to bring your pores back down to normal size.
You've probably seen charcoal used in lots of other products for oily or congested skin such as face masks and cleansers, so it's no surprise that it's a great one for pore strips too. It acts as a toxin magnet, sucking all of the grime out of your pores and removing impurities and buildups of oil.
In addition, you'll notice that your face has a smoother surface as a charcoal pore strip helps to remove dead skin cells to enhance your healthy glow.
Not only does aloe vera have a myriad of healing properties, but it also shrinks pores too. That's right, this powerful anti-inflammatory can reduce the appearance of your pores in just 10 minutes.
Thanks to its high water content and cooling nature, you're less likely to see any dry skin patches or redness after using an aloe vera pore strip which is super helpful for those with dry and sensitive skin.
Pore strips are used to open up the pores in the skin and remove blackheads. The main cause of blackheads is when dead skin cells and sebum oil blocks the pore and solidifies, causing a bump on the surface of the skin.
These bumps can often be found on the nose, chin, and forehead. Usually, you can apply your pore strip to any problem area of your face and the results will come out the same either way. However, strips that are designed for specific areas are shaped differently to make them easier to apply and more comfortable to wear.
If you have a specific area on your face that you want to detox, be sure to check out the focus area in the specifications chart below the product, just to be clear.
Pore strips should not be used more than 1-2 times a week, no matter what type of product you pick. This is because the potent ingredients and harsh ripping sensation aren't good for your skin on a regular basis. If you use them too much, your skin will become desensitized and you'll be back to square one.
Make sure that you choose a time of day when you have between 10-20 minutes free as that's how long the majority of the treatments can take, though it's best to check if you'd prefer something on the speedier side.
As a general rule, you have to wait until the strip is completely dry before removing it, otherwise, the suction won't be strong enough and you won't get the best results.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Price | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Bioré Witch Hazel Ultra Deep Cleansing Pore Strips | £5.99 Mid | These Strips Get the Job Done | ||
2 | Garnier Pure Active Anti-Blackhead Charcoal Nose Strips | £3.99 Mid | A Charcoal Formula That Scrubs Away the Dirt | ||
3 | 7th Heaven Activated Charcoal T-Zone Strips | £1.49 Low | An Oldie but a Goodie | ||
4 | Beauty Formulas Deep Cleansing Nose Pore Strips | £2.20 Low Mid | Infused With Antibacterial Tea Tree From the Outback | ||
5 | Revolution Pore Cleansing Charcoal Nose Strips | £5.00 Mid | Extra Purifying Pore Strips Great for Dry Skin | ||
6 | Procoal Blackhead Remover Strips | £7.99 High Mid | Super Precise Blackhead Hunters | ||
7 | Pretty Pore Deep Cleansing Tea Tree Strip | £2.07 Low Mid | A Very Affordable Option for a Go-To Product | ||
8 | BAGLAK Blackhead Remover Pore Strips | £11.59 High Mid | Larger Pore Strips Not Just for Men | ||
9 | Bioré Ultra Deep Cleansing Pore Strips | £8.00 High Mid | No-Nonsense Pore Attackers | ||
10 | Holika Holika Pig Nose Clear Black Head 3-Step Kit | £13.90 High | Cute but Oh So Powerful |
This set of four nose strips can instantly unclog the oil build-ups in your nose and reduce the appearance of blackheads. After a few uses, you'll notice fewer issues with blocked pores and you're bound to be happy with the long term results.
Ensuring a deep clean, Bioré has infused these strips with an invigorating witch hazel extract that penetrates through the oil and dirt to relieve pressure from the blockage. Needless to say, this is one of the top-sellers in drugstores across the UK and we highly recommend you try them!
Garnier will never let you down and that's a fact. You can be confident that this pack of four nose strips will change the way you see your pores, quite literally. Priding themselves on reducing the visibility of open, clogged pores, Garnier's innovative strips contain bubbling charcoal.
These pore strips are soaked in formula that seeps below dead skin cells to target unwanted grime, tightening your pores and reducing inflammation. For a weekly detox to leave you feeling clean and fresh, this is the one for you.
We love that this pack provides a strip for every target area on your face, leaving no room for disappointment. 7th Heaven has been ruling the face mask game for years now, so there's no denying that this three-step mask is a reliable choice.
You can apply all the strips at once so it shouldn't take longer than 20 minutes to see a difference in your skin. With a charcoal-infused formula, this product will leave your skin glowing and feeling super refreshed.
This Australian deep cleansing pore strip collection will have your skin shining in no time. It has instant detoxifying abilities and the witch hazel infusion will tighten up your pores after the first use.
This product removes dirt as well as working to reduce the chances of future skin problems by minimising the size of the pores to keep harmful bacteria out. With over 2,100 ratings on Amazon and an average of 4 stars, this is a reliable product to try for your first time using a nose strip.
Revolution is paving the way for gender-neutral cosmetics with one of the most inclusive makeup and skincare selections out of every brand in the UK. Setting it aside from the rest, this product contains not just purifying charcoal but also vitamin E extract to add moisture and strengthen the skin's barrier.
After using pore strips too many times, your skin may become weaker, so this is a fantastic, forward-thinking preventative measure. And, the extra aloe vera helps to avoid swelling and angry-looking red patches.
Targeting blackheads in just 15 minutes, these strips have been specifically designed to remove impurities, not dead skin. This means that the strips latch on to the sebum blockages and yank them out without pulling strongly on the skin around the area.
If you have sensitive skin that's often irritated, this is a really great feature. However, you can only use these strips once a week due to their high salicylic acid content, although that does mean this affordable pack should last you a month and a half.
The Pretty pore strips are also available in charcoal, although tea tree is the more popular choice as it helps to minimise the pores. At such a low price, you could easily stock up on these as a self-care essential to keep lying around.
Reviews have shown that the strip can be quite painful to pull off as it tends to dry up rather quickly which is important to note if you have sensitive, easily irritated skin. On the other hand, the company states that if the strip is too dry, it simply needs wetting so it should work just fine.
Deep cleaning charcoal strips like these are exactly what you need to remove the grime and oil from your nose, especially in the nostril creases. That said, you can use them just about anywhere on your face thanks to the versatile design.
With 28 strips for just over £10, this is probably the best value for money you'll find. The packaging is not exactly inclusive, but don't be put off by the wording. While this product says that it's designed for men, the only reason for that is the large size of strips, so anyone can use them really.
Enriched with a tingling tea tree extract, this deep penetration pore strip can tackle any buildup, big or small. Its extremely effective formula is backed by an army of positive reviews, so it's clear to see that these strips mean business.
Our only qualm was that the price is fairly high for just 6 strips – although it could be worse, it's definitely not the best value for money on our list. Pore strips are a beauty and hygiene essential, so it's smart to make your go-to products affordable.
This adorable kawaii-style kit uses three different strips to clean, detox, and tone your pores to help reduce their appearance. On Amazon, you can get 5 packs of this 3-step miracle for under £15, which is quite the bargain.
Unfortunately, this mask will have to be saved for a pamper evening at home as it can take up to 50 minutes to complete all three steps. That's the only setback though, so if you've got the time, you should definitely try it out!
No. 1: Bioré|Witch Hazel Ultra Deep Cleansing Pore Strips
No. 2: Garnier|Pure Active Anti-Blackhead Charcoal Nose Strips
No. 3: 7th Heaven|Activated Charcoal T-Zone Strips
No. 4: Beauty Formulas|Deep Cleansing Nose Pore Strips
No. 5: Revolution|Pore Cleansing Charcoal Nose Strips
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
Automotive
Baby Products
Beauty
Books
Business, Industry & Science
Computers & Accessories
DIY, Garden & Tools
Electronics & Photo
Fashion
Grocery
Health & Personal Care
Home & Kitchen
Large Appliances
Musical Instruments & DJ
PC & Video Games
Pet Supplies
Sports & Outdoors
Stationery & Office Products
Toys & Games
Household goods
PC and cameras
Home appliances and electronics
Cosmetics and skincare
Health
Food and drinks
Kitchen supplies
Clothing
Shoes
Accessories
Kids and baby
Interior and furniture
Hobbies
Outdoor
DIY and tools
Sports and fitness
Pets
Books, CDs, DVDs
Games
Cars and motorcycles
Gifts
Housing equipment and renovation
Travel
Smartphones and mobile phones
Music
Smartphone applications