A face mask made from PVA glue and pharmaceutical activated carbon has long gained wide popularity. It allows you to remove blackheads or comedones, which are constant companions of people of both teenage and older age. In most cases, those with oily skin suffer from them. Sometimes no other means give the desired result. A mask made of glue and charcoal, on the contrary, turned out to be very effective. What's the secret?
Comedones, or blackheads, appear on the face due to excess sebum secretion
Why do comedones appear?
Comedones, or blackheads, appear for many reasons. The most important of them is disruption of the sebaceous glands. A number of factors can trigger their development:
- Hereditary predisposition. If mom or dad has encountered a similar problem, the chance of the child having it reaches 97%.
- Hormonal imbalances. In most cases, adolescents and women during menopause and before menstruation suffer from comedones.
- Use of certain medications. We are talking about long-term therapy here. Due to the aggressive action of medications, hormonal imbalance occurs. The result is the formation of dots.
- Insufficient or improper care. This could be unsuitable makeup or skin care products.
- Unbalanced diet. A lack of fruits and vegetables not only leads to the appearance of comedones, but also disrupts the functioning of the entire body.
- Frequent stressful situations, pathologies of the nervous system, depression.
Plus, such defects appear in those who live in areas with unfavorable environmental conditions.
Treatment methods
Unhealthy skin is not just a problem for teenagers. Urban ecology, unhealthy diet, inappropriate cosmetics – there can be many reasons. All of them lead to the formation of comedones (blackheads).
Cosmetologists recommend three treatment options for blocked sebaceous glands:
- In the most advanced cases - antibiotics.
- Chemical peeling is a cosmetic procedure with synthetic acids.
- Mechanical peeling – scrubs.
Each of the proposed paths has side effects. Antibiotics do not have the best effect on our digestion and stomach condition. Chemical peeling is not always safe and can cause irritation and allergic reactions. And scrubs injure the upper layers of the epidermis.
The effectiveness of glue and coal - myth or reality?
Until recently, it was possible to completely clean pores only in beauty salons, resorting to one of the expensive procedures. But now, thanks to the advent of a face mask made from activated carbon and PVA glue, you can even do this at home.
Thanks to the properties of PVA, pores are freed from dirt and oil.
According to reviews from those who have already tried the product, the effect of the procedure is similar to cleansing the skin in a salon and chemical peeling. There are no side effects such as redness or burning sensation, and the result is visible immediately. This mask helps remove not only comedones, but also inflammation, acne and overly enlarged pores.
The glue contains polyvinyl acetate. This is an absolutely safe substance that can penetrate deeply into even the smallest pores. After applying the glue to the skin, the water evaporates, and the PVA becomes viscous and sticks to it.
Activated carbon, sold in pharmacies, can:
- Absorb accumulated toxins and impurities.
- Remove spots, inflammations and other defects.
- Narrow pores.
- Normalize the activity of the sebaceous glands.
- Make skin smoother and silkier.
A homemade mask should be applied with a brush so as not to stain your fingers black
Does PVA glue help with blackheads?
If you believe the reviews, then yes, and not bad. What causes this effect? PVA glue is an emulsion of polyvinyl acetate in water, equipped with a plasticizer and additives. It has a characteristic smell, and most often it is used not in cosmetology, but in construction, production, printing, etc. (depending on the specific type of PVA).
How does glue help deal with clogged pores? Firstly, it has excellent adhesive ability. Secondly, when applied, the glue is able to fill small gaps, several millimeters in size, when hardened, it becomes glassy and has a slight shrinkage. However, it is not fragile, so it is removed from the skin as a film and does not get stuck in the pores.
Those who use PVA for facial procedures give the following argument to skeptical girls: it is diluted with water, and is also non-toxic, therefore harmless.
Preparing to apply the mask
Application of the product does not require preparation. The only condition is that it is recommended to apply it only to steamed skin:
- Pour hot water into a wide container. If necessary, add medicinal herbs or a few drops of any essential oil.
- Bend over the container and cover your head with a towel. Stay in this position for several minutes.
- For complete cleansing, wipe the skin with a cotton swab dipped in tonic.
After steaming, you can use a mask of glue and activated charcoal.
A mask of activated carbon and glue can be applied to the entire face or locally to problem areas
Recommendations
A few simple recommendations will allow you to get the best results from the procedure without side effects:
- Do not store the mask. Use fresh composition every time.
- Choose components without fragrances or dyes.
- Be careful when using natural oils and herbal infusions. They can cause allergies.
- Grind solid ingredients as thoroughly as possible so as not to injure the skin.
- The mask should not be too hot or cold. The optimal temperature is 20–25.
How to carry out the procedure
To make a mask, the product must be applied to the face in a thick layer. Leave until completely dry. This usually takes about 10 minutes. After the specified period of time, the resulting film must be removed. The comedones will go away along with it. The last step is washing with cold water, which will close the pores. At the end, the skin should be lubricated with a rich cream.
If glue gets on your clothes while making a mask, don’t worry - it can be removed using simple methods.
How to prepare the epidermis?
In order for a mask made of PVA glue to bring only positive results and not cause harm, before using the product you will need to adhere to the following recommendations:
- Wash your face using foam or gel, which will get rid of residual cosmetics and impurities.
- Use a tonic that eliminates excess secretions from the sebaceous glands.
- Steam the skin, which will make it possible to expand the pores, as a result of which blackheads will be removed as efficiently as possible. To steam, you will need to hold your face over the steam bath for 10 minutes. You can also resort to using a hot cloth, which should be applied to the epidermis and left for the same period.
- Apply the prepared mask immediately after steaming so that the pores do not have time to narrow.
Similar Recipes
The recipe for the black mask may change, but its effectiveness remains the same. Only the ingredients will be different. In any case, the product will help in the fight against ugly spots.
Replacing glue
Glue is often replaced with chicken egg white. You can prepare the product according to this recipe:
- separate the white from the yolk;
- crush a couple of tablets of activated carbon into powder;
- combine the ingredients and mix thoroughly.
Apply the resulting mixture to the skin of the face and leave until completely dry. Remove and wash with warm water. PVA can also be replaced with gelatin. This substance is often used to make masks. It needs to be filled with water and after swelling, put in the microwave. After complete dissolution and cooling, mix with crushed activated carbon.
Cooking method
It is better to prepare the mask in advance so that it can be applied immediately after cleansing, while the pores are sufficiently open. The recipe is very simple:
- Grind 1 gram of activated carbon (about 4 tablets) in a mortar until it becomes flour or soda.
- Mix with PVA. You will need 2 teaspoons of glue.
- Mix everything thoroughly.
If you are not allergic to natural oils, then the effectiveness of the mask can be increased with their help. For example, drop a little lavender, grape seed or almond oil.
This volume is enough for the area around the nose, forehead and chin.
Distribute the mask evenly on the skin and wait for the mask to dry. Avoid facial activity during this time. When the mask is completely dry, an elastic film should form. Remove the film from the edges to the center.
After removing the mask, wash with boiled water. Water temperature 18–20 degrees. This temperature helps shrink pores. If you feel tightness, you can moisturize your skin with whipped shea butter or regular cream.
We recommend watching the video:
Contraindications and possible harm
A mask for blackheads on the face with PVA glue is contraindicated for those who suffer from an allergy to one of its components. It is quite easy to detect such a reaction. It is enough to apply the prepared composition to the elbow and leave for a quarter of an hour. If after rinsing the skin turns red or a burning sensation appears, you should not use the product. Another contraindication is dry and dehydrated skin. According to experts, this mask can speed up the process of wrinkle formation. In this situation, it is better to use other home recipes.
PVA glue and regular activated carbon are good helpers in the fight against comedones on the face. A mask prepared on their basis effectively cleanses and tightens pores. If one of the components is not available, it can be replaced with improvised means.
PVA as a means of combating skin imperfections
Is PVA glue harmful to leather? Reasoning logically, we can come to the conclusion that if children are allowed to use this glue to make paper crafts from a very early age, then most likely PVA does not pose any threat, with the exception of cases of contact with mucous membranes.
Face mask
Polyvinyl acetate (abbreviated PVA) is an emulsion dissolved in water, odorless and colorless, absolutely non-toxic and non-hazardous. It is also used in the production of acrylic and water-based paints.
Having great adhesive power, when applied, PVA fills all the pores on the face and gradually dries, drawing out impurities from them. The adhesive mask can be removed very easily - in one piece. The effect of such a mask is superior to expensive hardware procedures performed in beauty salons. Unlike chemical peeling, it does not cause irritation or redness on the skin.
Despite the harmlessness and absence of obvious contraindications to the use of PVA glue as a means of combating blackheads, an allergy test must be performed before the first use. To do this, apply a small amount of the substance to the bend of the elbow and observe the skin reaction for 10-20 minutes. If the skin is not red, there is no burning or itching, you don’t have to worry.
Reasons for visiting a doctor
You should consult a doctor if the wound or abrasion is accompanied by problems. In the following cases, you should definitely visit a specialist:
- The wound was caused by a rusty object - it could be a simple nail, but in such cases a tetanus vaccine may be required.
- If the edges of the wound diverge greatly and require suturing. If stitches are not applied, the result will be a strong and deep scar, and healing will be slow.
- If the wound is accompanied by severe bleeding that cannot be stopped within 20-30 minutes. In such cases, either blood clotting may be impaired or a large and important vessel may be damaged.
- If the area around the wound is very swollen, swelling and suppuration appear, all this is accompanied by twitching pain and fever. In such cases, surgical debridement and, probably, drug therapy are necessary, since the symptoms indicate infection of the wound.
IMPORTANT : even the smallest and most insignificant wound is a violation of the skin, which pathogenic microbes and bacteria can use as an entrance gate. Tetanus bacteria are especially dangerous. Be sure to treat everything, even minor abrasions and cuts.
What to replace it with?
Egg white, which has similar properties, can replace PVA in preparing a face mask.
Protein, which is familiar to everyone, has properties similar to glue. Based on it, the following mask is prepared:
- Grind 3 tablets of coal.
- Mix the ingredient thoroughly with the protein.
- Treat the epidermis of the face.
- Allow the product to dry.
- Remove and wash with cool water.
If you don’t have activated carbon on hand, cosmetic clay will replace it. With its help, it is possible to thoroughly cleanse the skin, making it more well-groomed and healthy. A mixture of PVA glue and clay is prepared in the same way as with coal. However, there is one caveat: clay can overextend the skin, so when preparing the product, it is recommended to add 2-3 drops of your favorite essential oil to it. You can take tea tree or lavender extract.
