These Pore Cleansing Strips Are Basically DIY Extractions

Nose strips (also known as pore strips) are basically the O.G. version of today’s beloved, pore-cleansing black charcoal masks. They’ve been around since the ’90s, and if you’re a millennial, you probably remember the iconic Bioré commercials, in which models with supposedly clogged pores placed the little strips over the bridge of their noses to get rid of blackheads and congestion. Because ’90s trends are back in the realm of fashion, I think it’s a timely moment to bring some of the decade’s best skincare products. Sure, these adhesive nose strips may be a staggering 20+ years old, but that certainly doesn’t mean that they’re not effective.

Just like modern-day peel-off masks, the quasi-disgusting results that result from treating clogged pores with a nose strip are actually embarrassingly satisfying—even I can admit it. In fact, if you do a quick internet search, the used nose strips covered in sebum, dirt, and grime dominate most of the results. It may be kind of nasty, but to be honest, it’s kind of like a car crash or something—I can’t bring myself to look away, and apparently I’m not alone in bizarre fascination. Aside from their visceral appeal, these old school strips actually do what they promise to and definitely can prevent clogged pores from becoming bonafide blackheads.