The facial feature people focus on most is your mouth and just north of your pearly whites is your nose - noticeable from most angles and usually crammed with impurities and closed pores, this part of your face can be annoying to keep blackhead free. I know people do suffer from blackheads on other parts of the face, and even the body - luckily I only get them on my nose. Blackhead removing strips are a great way to remove those yucky blackheads, reduce excess oil and reduce the appearance of pores. 

Sephora Charcoal Nose Strips are a new product from their facial/body masks line. These anti-blackhead nose strips are enriched with charcoal - known for powerful absorption and cleansing. These strips retail for $3 each (just one strip). The Bocsia Black Strips retail for $28/2.33 per strip (12 nose strips). I wanted to like the Sephora strips, but was disappointed with the results. The strips have an unpleasant chemical scent. I think the goal was to make them smell fresh, but it's too strong and not nice. The strips went on easily, but after 20 minutes of drying, I pulled off the strip and was left with globs of black glue-like stuff on my face (pictured here). 

Boscia Pore Purifying Black Strips are my favorite. Like Sephora Charcoal Nose Strips, Boscia Black Strips contain charcoal that draws out impurities. These detoxifying strips are easy to apply - cleanse face, wet your nose, place the strip across your nose, press (I like to wet the strip for extra contouring around my nose), wait 15-20 minutes and peel off from the outer-corners in. These strips are odor free and get the job done. 

I've also tried Nivea Clear-up Strips in the past and they too have an intense smell. Dear cosmetic companies, nobody wants a sheet of perfume sitting their nose for 15 minutes. While Nivea does have nose, chin and t-zone strips in one box (excellent idea), the scent is too much for me.