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I don’t know about you, but sometimes I get really sick of looking at my blackheads every day. I feel like they’re always super apparent on my nose. Surely, I'm not the only one who feels this way.
But, you and I are in luck. Pore vacuum cleaners have officially entered the chat. The handheld skincare devices use vacuum suctioning power to remove debris (mainly blackheads) off the skin, says dermatologist Tiffany Clay, MD. They also remove oil and dirt buildup from your skin, adds dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD.
Check out a preview of some of the best pore vacuum devices of 2023 here:
Do pore vacuums actually work?
They can. Pore vacuums are most beneficial for people who have blackheads, are acne-prone, or have oily skin, says Dr. Gohara. However, if you struggle with rosacea, eczema, or cystic acne, Dr. Gohara and Dr. Clay both recommend staying away from a pore vacuum, because it could make those conditions worse. Using a product with BHAs, AHAs, salicylic acid, or retinol might be a better alternative for reducing blackheads and clearing pores in those skin types, Dr. Gohara and Dr. Clay say.
Meet the Experts: Tiffany Clay, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at Dermatology Affiliates in Atlanta. Mona Gohara, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at Dermatology Physicians of Connecticut in Branford, Connecticut. She is also a Women's Health Advisory Board member.
See below for the 18 best pore vacuum cleaners in 2023.
Pros
- Comes in four colors
- Dermatologist-approved
- Affordable
Cons
- It stopped working after a few months, a reviewer wrote
Dr. Gohara recommends this two-in-one pore extractor and serum infuser, saying it's high-quality device. It clears the skin while also infusing it with the serum of your choice. "If you're removing something, I kind of feel like you should be replacing it with something else, too."
Rave Review: "My skin feels clean, bright, and rejuvenated. I am prone to getting blackheads on my nose, but I wouldn't necessarily say they were a huge problem. After using this product, I can't find one blackhead."
I had to include this highly-reviewed pore vacuum device, as it has over 15,000 ratings on Amazon. 8,000 of those are five-star ratings. Reviewers say they literally felt it shrunk their pores, and that it works well on the entire body.
Rave Review: "I have sensitive skin and was worried about how this was going to work. Well, no worries at all!! You can adjust the strength of the suction yourself. Wow. This works! It gets everything out."
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Pros
- Effective
- Portable and rechargeable
- Well-reviewed
Cons
- Isn't great for everyone's skin, according to reviews
This pore vacuum device has three adjustable strength levels and six changeable heads to get into every contour of your face. Some of the heads are bigger than what other brands offer, so people like that you can cover a larger surface area at once.
Rave Review: "I am not a person who writes reviews, but this thing is AMAZING! Do you have gnarly, deep blackheads that won’t ever come out? Well, THIS IS FOR YOU! I’ve tried a lot of these little suction devices, but never one so powerful! I went from Pluto pores that were dark black to regular blackheads, and I now have CLEAR skin."
Pros
- Battery lasts for hours
- Low speed gets a lot of gunk out
- Exfoliation head helps to smooth out skin
Cons
- Can cause bruising for some people, per a review
This pore vacuum cleaner isn't just pretty. It's functional and ultra unique, too. It has three suction levels and five different heads. One is actually a face massager, and another has a pumice at the end to exfoliate the skin.
Rave Review: "I ended up buying this because I started getting a lot of blackheads on my chin and haven’t gotten a facial in a while. In the first week of use, my face was clear! This thing was a miracle worker for my skin. I have never seen it look this great."
Pros
- Camera works well
- Effectively removes blackheads
- Reduces appearance of pores
Cons
- Suction may be too much for sensitive skin types
Interested in something high-tech? Prabensei's pore vacuum cleaner may be for you. It comes with a magnification camera so you can see your skin on your phone as you're sucking blackheads out. With that and the three suction levels, this is a great value for the price.
Rave Review: "This thing is amazing. It has helped me clear up my nose and cheeks quite a bit. It's so satisfying to watch that nasty crap come out of your face in the camera."
Pros
- Comes with five brush heads and has three cleansing levels
- Great battery life
- Cleans the face well
Cons
- Some people say it didn't do as well on their skin as they would've liked
This three-in-one blackhead remover vacuum is seriously versatile. It comes with a face scrubber to cleanse and exfoliate your skin before you actually go in with the suction to remove blackheads. Then, simply replace the head with the silicone rubber or soft sponge attachments to massage the face afterwards.
Rave Review: "Wow. This is the best face tool I’ve ever used. You have a choice on brushes and speeds, and the suction works well. I’m in my sixties and still get breakouts sometimes. This helps."
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7
Most Investment-Worthy Pore Vacuum Cleaner
PMD Beauty Personal Microderm Elite Pro
Pros
- Editor-approved
- Easily customizable with different discs
- Exfoliates well
Cons
- Pricey
WH senior commerce editor Neha Tandon has this pore vacuum and she absolutely loves it. People say it's great for exfoliating and one reviewer even called it a "must-have skincare item."
Editor Review: "I used to have tons of blackheads on my nose and large pores on my cheeks. Both have gotten worse since I moved to NYC—mostly because of the pollution. This has really helped keep my pores clean and my nose blackhead-free. I also like that clearing my pores makes my skincare products penetrate more deeply after using this." —Neha Tandon, WH senior commerce editor
8
Best Pore Vacuum Device For Exfoliating
Microderm Glo Mini Diamond Microdermabrasion And Suction Tool
Now 17% Off
Pros
- Can work to clean up multiple types of acne
- Can suck up dry skin
- Easy to use
Cons
- The larger suction heads might leave marks
Microderm Glo's highly-rated device has a suction head that's literally has a diamond in it. The unique head is meant to exfoliate the skin while vacuuming pores. Reviewers say it's helped brighten and plump their skin while keeping it clean.
Rave Review: "It is disgusting and amazing how much gunk this gets out! My skin is showing so much improvement after a month and even my frown lines look plump. It's easy to clean and use."
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Pros
- Effectively extracts blackheads
- Strong suction
- Works well after a hot shower or bath
Cons
- It might bruise you if you use the suction for too long
A pore vacuum cleaner with a camera can be really satisfying (as long as it doesn't gross you out). Ottleba's device comes with six replaceable heads and six blackhead removal tools for particularly stubborn spots. Just be sure to ask a dermatologist or an aesthetician for guidance before using the additional tools.
Rave Review: "First and foremost, the suction power of this blackhead remover vacuum is truly remarkable. It effortlessly extracts impurities from deep within my pores, leaving my skin visibly clearer and smoother after each use."
Pros
- Can improve product absorption
- Exfoliates
- Has four suction levels
Cons
- May cause a breakout at first
This device isn't labeled as a pore vacuum. But, it still uses suction to clear pores and exfoliate the skin. The four suction levels are a lot less intense than what you'll find in most pore vacuums, so this is great for people with more sensitive skin.
Rave Review: "I like that this has four different strengths of suction. My skin feels smooth and refreshed after each session. Since after my first session, my skin has been great."
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Pros
- Has blue light
- Has 28K high frequency ultrasonic waves for penetrating the skin
- Easy to use
Cons
- The edge is a bit sharp, a reviewer wrote
Equipped with bacteria-killing blue light, consider this an LED light and pore vacuum cleaner in one. Yah, your face will be cleaner than ever after using this. It even has a little spatula at the end to move gunk out of the way once you extract it.
Rave Review: "You think your face is clean until you use this product and discover all the gross gunk in your pores. It's easy to use and a super fast way to deep-clean your face. I like this product so much. It’s a game-changer!"
Pros
- Has three suction modes and three probes
- Has an easy LED display
- Effective
Cons
- Learning curve
An affordable option, this comes with three removable heads and four extra extraction tools. The heads are made with a soft silicone that feels gentle on the skin, too. You'll get a great bang for your buck with this one.
Rave Review: "This product is amazing. My skin is very oily and gets easily congested. This product helps me keep my skin under control."
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Pros
- Cute design
- Lots of versatility
- Works for multiple skincare concerns
Cons
- Can be too strong on the highest setting
Poppyo's pretty-in-pink pore vacuum looks tame, but it has four different nozzle shapes and five suction levels, the highest of which can get really intense. Whether you're dealing with extremely oily skin or an aggressive amount of blackheads, reviewers say it's effective and stronger than it looks.
Rave Review: "I freaking love this thing! The first time I used it, I was hooked. I'm an aesthetician and I think this is a great at-home skin treatment."
Pros
- Charge lasts for a long time
- Effective
- High-quality
Cons
- Doesn't work for everyone
With different levels of suction for dry, oily, and sensitive skin, this device really caters to a range of skin types. It even has an ergonomic handle and reviewers say it survives for up to an entire month on one charge.
Rave Review: "I was skeptical but this actually works! Use it on the lowest setting at first. I used it on my nose and could clearly see all the gunk that had come out. It comes with multiple attachments and the charge lasts a long time. I highly recommend it!"
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15
Best Pore Vacuum Cleaner For Stubborn Blackheads
DIY Thinker Blackhead Remover Pore Vacuum Cleaner
Now 15% Off
Pros
- Affordable but highly rated
- Works on multiple body parts
- Gets blackheads out quickly
Cons
- The metal tools might not be the most high-quality, a reviewer wrote
The gold tip on this cleaner isn't just super pretty. It also rotates while it suctions in order to get a 360-degree pull on the blackhead you're trying to extract. For just $14, you can't go wrong.
Rave Review: "I had so many blackheads on my nose and chin. Thanks to this remarkable blackhead remover, they are gone. I put it on the second level for my nose and chin. OMG! All of that stuff is now sucked out."
Pros
- Easy to use
- Doesn't cause skin to peel
- Effective
Cons
- Doesn't come with very good instructions, a reviewer wrote
Vueix's device comes with a convenient and user-friendly LED screen that'll show you how much battery your device has left and what level you're on. It has a blue light to help kill bacteria and help with inflammation, too.
Rave Review: "This device truly lives up to its claims, providing an effective and hassle-free solution for improving the appearance of my skin. It's also easy to use. It's lightweight and has a comfortable design. The intuitive controls make adjusting the settings a breeze, catering to my skin's sensitivity."
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Pros
- Effective
- Has an LED screen
- Massages and exfoliates face
Cons
- Directions might be a bit confusing
Honestly, this one's a whole self-care moment for under $20. It has an LED screen to easily see its settings, and two scrubber attachments to cleanse and massage your face before and after you vacuum.
Rave Review: "It gets the grossest crap out of my face and I love it. I have tried so many pore suckers and face washes but nothing has scared the blackheads out like this."
Pros
- Affordable
- Powerful
- It has a large suction to not hurt the skin
Cons
- Doesn't pull out everyone's blackheads
With four suction heads, this blackhead remover has over 1,000 five-star reviews on Amazon. People love how well it gets blackheads out and that the gentle suction doesn't leave skin feeling inflamed afterwards. It's powerful and gets the job done—what else could you want?
Rave Review: "This removes blackheads that I've had trouble removing. It has four suction levels, but I only need the second or third one. I'm definitely happy with it."
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How Our Team Chose The Best Pore Vacuum Devices
Women’s Health editors, including our editorial assistant Addison Aloian and senior commerce editor Neha Tandon researched the bestselling, most popular, and top-rated pore vacuum devices. Our team consulted dermatologists Tiffany Clay, MD, and Mona Gohara, MD, then evaluated thousands of customer reviews and ratings to narrow down the 18 best items for a wide range of skincare needs and preferences.
What is the best blackhead removal vacuum?
Since the main purpose of a pore vacuum is to get rid of blackheads, all of them, in theory, should help with blackhead removal.
However, Dermaflash's Dermapore Skin Care Device is the one that comes most recommended by dermatologists. PMD Beauty's Personal Microderm Elite Pro is the one our editors recommends, and the Voyor Blackhead Remover Pore Vacuum is the highest-rated one on Amazon.
Addison Aloian
Assistant Love & Life Editor
Addison Aloian is the assistant love & life editor at Women’s Health and a NASM-certified personal trainer (CPT). She covers all things lifestyle, astrology, relationships, and fitness. In her free time, you can find her lifting weights at the gym, running on the West Side Highway in New York City, and watching (and critiquing!) the latest movies that have garnered Oscars buzz. In addition to Women's Health, her work has also appeared in Allure, StyleCaster, L'Officiel USA, V Magazine, VMAN, and more.