There’s a crazy new blackhead removal trend

We’re not sure how we feel about it

(Image credit: Yuri_Arcurs)

We’re not sure how we feel about it

It’s the ultimate beauty quest: getting rid of blackheads. Even though we know for a fact that nose stripes are really bad for your skin, but there’s something so satisfying about seeing that gunk come out that we just carry on doing it.

But now it looks like there’s an even more satisfying solution that doesn’t involve removing all your skin’s protective oils.

Introducing ‘skin gritting’ which has taken Reddit by storm. It involves massaging oil into your skin, applying a clay mask, and then massaging your face again with oil.

By applying pressure when massaging, the ‘grits’ come out, which those who practice the method say are blackheads and gunk. Seriously, have a look at the thread, there is picture evidence (maybe not before breakfast though).

Naturally, ‘skin gritting’, which is not dissimilar to the ‘oil cleansing method’ (which is just massaging oil into your faces for ages until blackheads come out) has caused quite the reaction.

There are those that swear by it: ‘OCM can lube up your pores so little plugs of dried skin and oil and dirt and gunk come popping out. It's really satisfying!’

Others weren’t too sure, ‘Yeah you don't want to massage your face too long. That can cause broken capillaries which are impossible to get rid of without surgery.’

We’ve no doubt ‘skin gritting’ is probably quite satisfying, but as ever, we’d advise removing blackheads in a safer way, such as cleansing and exfoliating and definitely NOT squeezing,

Penny Goldstone

Penny Goldstone is the Digital Fashion Editor at Marie Claire, covering everything from catwalk trends to royal fashion and the latest high street and Instagram must-haves.

Penny grew up in France and studied languages and law at the Sorbonne Nouvelle University in Paris before moving to the UK for her MA in multimedia journalism at Bournemouth University. She moved to the UK permanently and has never looked back (though she does go back regularly to stock up on cheese and wine).

Although she's always loved fashion - she used to create scrapbooks of her favourite trends and looks, including Sienna Miller and Kate Moss' boho phase - her first job was at MoneySavingExpert.com, sourcing the best deals for everything from restaurants to designer sales.

However she quit after two years to follow her true passion, fashion journalism, and after many years of internships and freelance stints at magazines including Red, Cosmopolitan, Stylist and Good Housekeeping, landed her dream job as the Digital Fashion Editor at Marie Claire UK.

Her favourite part of the job is discovering new brands and meeting designers, and travelling the world to attend events and fashion shows. Seeing her first Chanel runway IRL at Paris Fashion Week was a true pinch-me moment.