Photo By: Elin Chow

I am constantly bothered by those pesky little blackheads on my nose. It makes my nose feel rough and looks dirty. I usually rely on pore strips to help get rid of the ugly blackheads even though they are not going to solve the problem permanently. 

Pore strips are a quick but short term solution to get rid of blackheads that would give you a smoother skin. I believe they are so much better than squeezing blackheads out with your fingers.  But it works best for people with non-sensitive skin that is oily and prone to blackheads. 

There are many different brands of pore strips in the market. I have tried the Holika Holika Pig Nose Clear Blackhead 3-Step Kit recently after reading so many rave reviews about it. It is a three step program that will help to remove blackheads more effectively. 

Launched in 2012, the Holika Holika Pig Nose Clear Blackhead 3-Step Kit has gained a lot of international success. With 1 pack sold every 2 second, it is one of the best selling 3-step nose pack in the market. 

The 3 steps kit in packed in 3 individual different colored plastic sachets. The packaging is super cute, which comes in pastel colors with drawings of pig nose. 

Each sachet is labelled clearly with numbers and can be detached. The labelling ensure that you would not messed up the steps even when you separated the sachets. 

It is called pig nose clear blackhead kit because there are apparently no blackheads on a pig nose. After using this 3-step kit, your nose is supposed to feel like a pig nose, which is smooth and clear of blackheads. 

Step 1 prepares the pores for blackhead extraction. It comes in a grey plastic sachet, containing a cotton nose mask that claims to soften and loosen the stubborn blackheads so that they can be removed easily.

WATER, HAMAMELIS VIRGINIANA (WITCH HAZEL) WATER, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, SODIUM LAUROYL SARCOSINATE, SALVIA OFFICINALIS (SAGE) LEAF EXTRACT, VISCUM ALBUM (MISTLETOE) EXTRACT, JUNIPERUS COMMUNIS FRUIT EXTRACT, ARCTIUM MAJUS ROOT EXTRACT, MENTHA PIPERTIA (PEPPERMINT) LEAF EXTRACT. CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, SAPONARIA OFFICINALIS ROOT EXTRACT, HYPERICUM PERFORATUM EXTRACT, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, PROPANEDIOL, ILLICIUM VERUM (ANISE) FRUIT EXTRACT, CITRUS LIMON (LEMON) FRUIT EXTRACT, CHRYSANTHEMUM INDICUM FLOWER EXTRACT, CAMELLIA SINENSIS LEAF EXTRACT, MELISSA OFFICINALIS LEAF EXTRACT, ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS (ROSEMARY) LEAF EXTRACT, ASPALATHUS LINEARIS LEAF EXTRACT, THYMUS VULGARIS (THYME) FLOWER/LEAF EXTRACT, JASMINUM OFFICINALE (JASMINE) EXTRACT, VACCINIUM MYRTILLUS FRUIT/LEAF EXTRACT, SACCHARUM OFFCINARUM (SUGAR CANE) EXTRACT), ACER SACCHARUM (SUGAR MAPLE) EXTRACT, CITRUS AURANTIUM DULCIS (ORANGE) FRUIT EXTRACT, ALOE BARBADENIS LEAF JUICE, FRAGRANCE

It is free from parabens, silicon, sulfates and alcohol but contains fragrance. Thus, this mask might not be suitable for people with sensitive skin. Seriously, I really think that they should not include fragrance in their ingredients. The lemon extract should be enough to give the mask a really nice citrus scent. 

The cotton nose mask is soaked in plenty of clear liquid essence and has a mild citrus scent. I like the citrusy scent because it smells refreshing and not overpowering. Be careful when you tear open the sachet to avoid any spillage. It is recommended that you apply the mask for 15 minutes. I did not wash the remaining essence off and proceeded straight to Step 2.

As there are still quite a bit of the essence left in the sachet, I dabbed it on my chin area as well to prepare the pores for blackhead extraction. 

WATER, PVP, DIMETHICONE COPOLYOL, KAOLIN, TITANUM DIOXIDE, VP/VA COPOLYMER, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, METHYLPARABEN, CITRUS LIMON (LEMON) FRUIT EXTRACT, CI 17200

It is free from alcohol and sulfates but contains paraben. 

The pore strip is lovely pink in color. Thoroughly wet the nose with water in order for the strip to become adhesive and stick well to it. Ensure that the strip sticks to all the creases of the nose to get the best results. 

It takes about 15 minutes for the strip to dry and harden. Once it harden, slowly and gently peel it off. Just like all pore strips, it is a little painful to remove, but it is still very bearable. I am glad that there is no irritation, redness or inflammation after peeling off the strip. 

The used strip look extremely gross. But surprisingly, there is always something satisfying about peeling off a pore strip and inspecting all the prickly little gunk that you have been trying to get rid of on it. I can spend a few minutes staring at the grossness.

Step 3 comes in a green plastic sachet, containing a calming mask that claims to soothe and hydrate the stressed skin after extraction, as well as tighten the pores for a smooth and clean look.

WATER, GLYCERIN, PROPANEDIOL, SODIUM HYALURONATE, HYDROZYETHYLCELLULOSE, PEG-60 HYDROGENATED CASTOR OIL, ERYTHRITOL, TREHALOSE, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL. 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, DISODIUM EDTA, DIPOTASSIUM GLYCYRRHIZATE, ILLICIUM VERUM (ANISE) FRUIT EXTRACT, CITRUSMEDICA LIMONUM (LEMON) FRUIT EXTRACT, DIOSPYROS KAKI LEAF EXTRACT, CITRUS AURANTIFOLIA (LIME) FRUIT EXTRACT, ALOE BARBADENSIS LEAF JUICE, VITIS VINIFERA (GRAPE) FRUIT EXTRACT, CHLORPHENESIN, PHENOXYETHANOL, FRAGRANCE (PARFUM)

This mask is formulated with Sodium Hyaluronate, Citrus Lemon Fruit Extract and Aloe Vera, which are known for its soothing, moisturizing and healing properties. It is free from parabens, alcohol, sulfates, silicon but contains fragrance. As I said, fragrance is not really necessary here.