Why didn't anyone tell me about using a spatula for extractions?

I've been in the game for about 8 years now, mostly doing facials in a small spa over in Columbus, and I always struggled with getting those stubborn blackheads on the nose without causing redness. So last month I was watching some old esthetician from Texas on youtube and she just used a metal spatula, like the kind for makeup mixing, to gently press and scoop instead of my usual metal loop. It worked so much smoother and my client barely flinched. Has anyone else found a random tool that beats the standard stuff?

3 comments

3 Comments

lopez.quinn1mo ago

Great, now you're out here weaponizing makeup tools against blackheads. Pretty soon we'll be doing extractions with eyeshadow brushes and tweezing brows with salad tongs. But honestly, that spatula trick sounds way better than digging around with a loop like some medieval torture device. My coworker uses a cuticle pusher for super stubborn gunk and swears by it, which is basically the same energy just slightly more terrifying. Maybe I need to raid my girlfriend's makeup bag and see what other tools are secretly esthetician gold.

mila_campbell251mo ago

Has your coworker actually tried using a tweezerman spatula for that, @lopez.quinn?

wesley_adams1mo ago

Gotta say I had the same moment of clarity when I grabbed a tiny frosting spatula from my kitchen for those stubborn extractions around the nose. Works way better than my metal loop and leaves way less red marks. Makes you wonder what other random household stuff has been hiding esthetician potential this whole time.