There’s a high chance you’ve experienced at-least a fleeting encounter with blackheads in your life (if you haven’t, please tell me your secret). An all-too-common skin bugbear, these tiny little dots of oxidised oil might not be the end of the world, but it’s fair to say they’re pretty annoying – especially when a month of festive partying is approaching and you want to ditch the full-coverage foundation.
If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably tried a fair few pore-clarifying treatments in the past, and while there are plenty of products touting ‘miracle’ results out there, few truly deliver.
Sure, you can prod and poke at them in front of a magnifying mirror, but that won’t get you anything other than an angry complexion. Barrier-stripping astringent cleansers are an equally bad idea: while they might make your skin feel satisfyingly squeaky -clean for a few minutes, they’ll only upset your moisture balance in the long run.
Your best bet? A salicylic acid serum – specifically, this one. Strivectin’s Super Shrink Pore Minimizing Serum is hands-down the most impressive skincare launch I’ve tried this month, and if blackheads (or indeed, any breakouts) are your skin concern right now, it may well be the solution you’re seeking.
I’m a sucker for anything promising to keep my adult-acne prone complexion in check, so this targeted new treatment was always going to grab my attention. But truthfully, it’s understandable if Strivectin isn’t a brand you gravitate towards: in an industry dominated by buzzy new ingredients, hypey formulas and Instagram-worthy packaging, it doesn’t always steal the spotlight.
But Strivectin should be on your radar, because its no-fuss formulas get the job done – and when the job is bringing down breakouts, it’s almost always best to opt for sensible, science-based products than that beautifully fragranced, spa-style serum that’s trying to catch your eye.
So, on to my new favorite thing: the Super Shrink Serum. The name isn’t ideal (you can’t shrink your pores, nor should you feel compelled to) but trust me, the formula delivers. A dense, silky serum, it contains betaine salicylate: a beet-derived BHA that works just like spotlight-hogger salicylic acid, yet is gentler on inflamed and sensitive skin. This pore-purger is combined with resurfacing enzymes that lightly exfoliate the uppermost layers of skin, sweeping away in the process.
Strivectin claims Super Shrink is able to minimize the appearance of blackheads and overly enlarged pores in just three days, and this is exactly the kind of marketing claim I’d usually roll my eyes at. However, in this case I am in total agreement: this potent serum works. What’s more, it’s not just a great blackhead-melter: I tried it after a run-in with a too-thick moisturizer left me with a batch of breakouts along my jawline, and not only did it visibly reduce them After just one night, but the redness and inflammation was noticeably calmed in the process.
This is exactly where many spot serums fall down: a hefty dose of salicylic acid can indeed stop a spot in its tracks, but if the formula is too harsh, you’re only left with dry, peeling skin in its place. Strivectin has got the balance just right – so no matter how sensitive you are, you’re in safe hands with this one.
If you’re looking for something to bring clarity back to your complexion in time for Christmas, this is it – in fact, it’ll get the job done in time for this weekend.