22 Natural Ways How to Get Rid of Blackheads
Got blackheads? Most often, the hated black dots appear on the nose and chin. The reason for this is the accumulation of dirt, dust, sebum and dead skin particles in the pores. Insufficient cleaning, improper nutrition and low-quality decorative cosmetics eliminate the situation, which leads to clogging of pores. At the same time, not only teenagers, but also adults suffer from this aesthetically unsightly defect.
Mechanical impact or, simply, squeezing the formed plugs out of the pores can cause another unpleasant problem — burning and purulent pimples. Therefore, don’t squish and squeeze! There are several simple ways to get rid of them without using harsh chemicals and peels.
1. Honey and Cinnamon Strips
These delicious strips do wonders for me. Honey and cinnamon is a popular combo used in baked goods, drinks, facial and hair masks, and other homemade beauty rituals. Cinnamon helps to increase blood flow, making your skin glowing, soft, and healthy. Honey, known for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, prevents bacteria that cause acne and sometimes blackheads.
Combine cinnamon powder and raw honey to get enough mixture to apply to your blackheads. Apply a thin layer, press clean cotton strips, and remove them after 4 minutes. Rinse your face with warm water and apply a light moisturizer.
2. Steam
The steaming method helps prevent the appearance of new blackheads and get rid of the old ones. Fill a large bowl with hot water, cover the head with a thick towel, and let the steam work. Ensure you don’t sit for more than 10 minutes, and be careful with hot water. 5 minutes is typically enough for it. Then, rinse your face with warm, tepid, and cold water (stick to this order) to close the pores. Finally, Pat dry with a soft, clean towel and apply your moisturizer.
To get rid of blackheads, it is best to do it twice a week, and once you see the positive results, cut it to once a month.
Read also – 6 Essential Bedtime Skincare Tips to Prevent Acne
3. Baking Soda
Baking soda has many fantastic beauty benefits, which are slightly underrated. When used correctly, baking soda can help you eliminate blackheads for good. Baking soda is a mild exfoliator that cleans pores deep down, preventing acne and blackheads. Combine baking soda and water and apply the paste to your skin.
You should massage it very, very gently and rinse it off with warm water to remove blackheads. Don’t overdo it. Pat the skin dry and apply moisturizer.
4. Clay Masks
Clay masks are great at removing blackheads, whether a mixture of clay and water, clay and apple cider vinegar, or clay, water, and a drop of raw honey. Not only do they clear clogged pores, but they also improve circulation, improving your skin health.
Moreover, clay masks help to get rid of acne too. Choose the ideal clay mask for you and use it once a week. Don’t forget to moisturize your skin, and don’t let your clay mask dry fully, especially if you have very sensitive skin.
5. Egg White Mask
While some women use egg whites for hair masks, you can use them for your face to get rid of blackheads. Egg white mask doesn’t look and feel amazing but promises effective results. Apply a thin layer of homemade egg white mask to your face or blackhead areas.
Once this layer is completely dry, apply another one and then one more layer. This is a time-consuming beauty ritual, but the results are worth the effort. When you finish the layers (3-4 will be enough), rinse your face with warm and cold water. Moisturize as usual.
6. Cheap Yet Effective Toner
Homemade toner requires a lot of time yet contains natural ingredients only. Mix apple cider vinegar with chopped mint leaves, add water, and let it stand in a dark place for a week. After straining and adding water again, place your toner in the fridge and use it once a day. Next, grab clean cotton balls and apply the toner to your blackhead areas. Leave for 6 hours or overnight, rinse it off, and apply a light moisturizer.
Apple cider vinegar helps to get rid of blackheads, and fresh mint reduces inflammation, creating a cooling, tightening feeling.
Read also – 7 Awesome French Beauty Tips to Try
7. Sugar Scrub
Many famous women use this natural exfoliator once a week to get rid of dead skin. In addition, you can use sugar scrub to prevent and get rid of blackheads. Combine sugar and coconut oil (or any oil you have, like almond oil, jojoba oil, olive oil, or grapeseed oil) and massage the mixture into your skin, using gentle circular motions. Rinse thoroughly with warm and cold water, dry your skin, and apply moisturizer. Use once a week.
8. Everyday Treatment
All the above methods can be used only once twice a week, but what to do each day to prevent blackheads? There’s one trick that you can use every day. Wash your face with fresh, warm, or cold water twice daily – before bed and afternoon. If you use overnight masks, wash your face in the morning too. Moisturize your skin each time you wash your face.
9. Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is a natural astringent that can help get rid of blackheads by tightening the skin and reducing the appearance of pores. The acidic nature of lemon juice also helps to dissolve and remove excess oil and dead skin cells that can clog pores and contribute to the formation of blackheads.
To use lemon juice to get rid of blackheads, you can simply apply fresh lemon juice to the affected area using a cotton ball or your fingertips. Let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing it with warm water. It’s important to note that lemon juice can dry, so moisturize your skin after using it.
10. Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil possesses natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that effectively remove blackheads by reducing the growth of bacteria and inflammation on the skin. By controlling bacterial growth and reducing inflammation, tea tree oil can help prevent the formation of blackheads and minimize their appearance.
After diluting tea tree oil with carrier oil, such as coconut or jojoba oil, you can apply the mixture to the blackhead area using a cotton ball or your fingertips. Allow the mixture to remain on your skin for a few minutes before rinsing it with warm water. Since tea tree oil can cause dryness, it’s crucial to moisturize your skin after use to keep it hydrated and healthy.
11. Green Tea
Applying green tea is also considered one of the natural ways to get rid of blackheads. Green tea can minimize inflammation and get rid of impurities from the skin, preventing the development of blackheads and minimizing their appearance.
You can soak a green tea bag in hot water for a few minutes, cool it down, and apply it to the affected area using a cotton ball or your fingertips. You can also create a natural exfoliating scrub by mixing green tea leaves with honey or baking soda, which can help to get rid of impurities and exfoliate the skin.
12. Eat a Healthy Diet
Eating a healthy diet can help to get rid of blackheads by reducing the amount of oil and impurities in the skin and providing the nutrients needed for healthy skin. For example, a diet that is high in processed foods, sugar, and unhealthy fats can contribute to the production of excess oil and impurities in the skin. In contrast, a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats can help reduce oil production and promote healthy skin.
Some specific nutrients that are important for healthy skin and may help to prevent blackheads include:
- Vitamin A is important for maintaining healthy skin and preventing clogged pores. Foods high in vitamin A include sweet potatoes, carrots, spinach, and kale.
- Vitamin C: This antioxidant helps protect the skin from damage and promotes collagen production, which can help reduce the appearance of blackheads. Foods high in vitamin C include citrus fruits, strawberries, bell peppers, and broccoli.
- Zinc: This mineral is essential for regulating oil production and reducing inflammation in the skin. Zinc-rich foods include oysters, beef, pumpkin seeds, and lentils.
In addition to eating a healthy diet, it’s also important to drink plenty of water and avoid smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, as these can also produce excess oil and impurities in the skin.
13. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is a vinegar that is made from fermented apple juice and contains acetic acid, known for its ability to loosen and break down tough skin. Apple cider vinegar can also restore your skin’s pH level, which predicts the appearance of blackheads in the future.
The product’s composition indicates how useful apple cider vinegar is, the use of which turned out to be in the context of cooking. It is filled with minerals, acids, ballast substances, and vitamins.
There are several ways to use apple cider vinegar to remove blackheads, but the most popular way is to use it as a wash in the morning. Apply the liquid to your face, blotted with a tissue, and then rinse your face with warm water.
14. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is one of the most amazing plants: it has been used in medicine and cosmetology for over a century. Fleshy aloe vera leaves contain 99% water, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, protein molecules, and other substances.
Aloe vera is a rolling plant that retains moisture in its leaves and contains a gel that is absorbed into the skin faster than water. Aloe vera extracts deeply moisturize the skin and are suitable for dry and oily skin. Aloe gel soothes and softens irritated skin, reduces redness, accelerates cell regeneration, and forms a protective layer to retain moisture.
Aloe vera juice helps exfoliate dead skin cells and accelerates the process of forming new ones. In addition, aloe stimulates the production of collagen and hyaluronic acid, thanks to which the skin remains elastic and smooth longer, and also contains vitamins C and E, which are antioxidants. Aloe gel also creates an invisible barrier on the skin that protects it from external irritants.
If you want to make a mask, cut the bottom aloe leaf close to the base. Lower the leaf in a container with the cut side down so the yellow resin flows. Then, with the help of a vegetable peeler or a sharp knife, carefully cut the green peel from one side of the leaf. Scrape out all the gel with a teaspoon. It is best to use it immediately or put it in a sterile container in the refrigerator. Do not store the gel for more than two days.
15. Oatmeal
People all over the world use oatmeal as one of the ingredients in face masks. It is rich in fiber, omega-3s, fatty acids, complex carbohydrates, magnesium, phosphorus, iodine, potassium, zinc, iron, vitamins, and biotin, which is very useful and important for the skin.
The fact is that oatmeal has anti-inflammatory properties that soothe itching and burning on the skin. It helps in the treatment of eczema and psoriasis. Oatmeal also contains antioxidants, which help to repair skin damaged by ultraviolet rays.
In addition, oatmeal effectively cleanses the skin of dirt and chemicals you use daily. When faced with problems such as acne, blackheads, and acne, which most often appear on the nose, cheeks, and chin, many people do not know how to get rid of them properly.
Therefore, an oatmeal face mask, if prepared correctly, can become your favorite food for your skin. Pour cereal into a hot liquid (water, milk, cream, tea, herbal decoction) in a ratio of 1:2/2.5. You must wait for the “porridge” to boil and the flakes to soften and swell. You can grind them in a coffee grinder.
16. Papaya
A tropical fruit that tastes like a melon has found its niche in the cosmetic world and is firmly entrenched in it. The main component of papaya extract is the enzyme papain, which can break down proteins.
This feature made papain one of the main active substances in enzyme peeling. This substance is useful for the skin of the face because it exfoliates dead cells, evens out the relief of the skin, cleanses, and stimulates regeneration.
Papaya is extremely rich in ascorbic acid. One fruit contains up to 300% of the daily norm of vitamin C. Plus, the pulp of this fruit contains malic acid. And this means that in addition to all the properties mentioned above, it has a whitening effect, narrows pores, toning effect, and smoothes surface wrinkles. So, mash-up papaya and apply it to your face. Leave it on for 10-15 minutes. Rinse with warm water.
17. Strawberries
Juicy, sweet, incredibly tasty strawberries can be useful for the body, not only from the inside. Natural strawberries contain a lot of vitamins A, B9, and C, as well as calcium and potassium. Cosmetologists recommend using fresh strawberries as a skin care product for the face, hands, décolleté, and body. The berry is rich in such useful substances as biotin, pectin, fiber, anthocyanin, ellagic acid, rutin, and iodine.
All these components, which are contained in strawberries, help not only to avoid the appearance of black dots on the face but can also clean pores from pollution and saturate the skin with vitamins, tone and moisturize dry skin, prevent premature aging, improve blood circulation, lighten pigment spots, make a face healthy blush and natural freshness. Mash up strawberries and apply them to your face. Leave them on for 10-15 minutes. Rinse with warm water.
18. Egg Whites
Egg whites are a great way to saturate the skin with nutrients. In addition, they will help dry the skin and exfoliate dead cells in the area where black dots appear. This method also allows you to reduce skin pigmentation, which is often one of the consequences of acne treatment.
Apply several layers of egg white on the skin – you will get a mask that will tighten the skin, and then it can be removed. Repeated use of this method will help eliminate black dots.
19. Coconut Oil
You may be surprised, but coconut oil is good at fighting blackheads. Coconut oil contains various nutrients that may be beneficial for skin health. Organic coconut oil contains natural lauric acid, which can effectively fight acne-causing bacteria. Caprylic acid also contained in coconut oil, can nourish sensitive and oily skin and act as an antioxidant.
In addition, coconut oil contains vitamin E, which can fight free radicals that cause oxygen damage to skin cells. This nutrient can also help remove acne scars. Finally, the healthy fats contained in coconut oil can lubricate and moisturize the skin.
Apply coconut oil on the areas with blackheads and massage well. Wipe your face with a hot, wet towel. You cannot completely wash off the oil, as it will naturally absorb and moisturize the skin. Do this every day before going to bed.
20. Charcoal Mask
Activated carbon is a natural ingredient that helps remove impurities from the pores’ depths and reduces pathogenic bacteria activity. Thanks to its porous structure, it perfectly penetrates the epidermis, provides high-quality cleansing of skin pores, and produces an antibacterial effect.
Activated carbon literally “pulls” mud like a magnet. Coal has a powerful absorbing capacity due to its natural formula because it is essentially the purest form of carbon. And one carbon atom can attract millions of atoms of other substances from air, water, or a living organism.
To prepare this mask, you need to take two tablets of activated carbon of 250 mg each and grind them, then pour the resulting powder with a teaspoon of water, and then wait until the resulting mixture begins to bubble. Then add a teaspoon of honey, sugar, and aloe vera juice. Mix everything thoroughly and apply to a washed face. Keep the mask on for 30 minutes, and then wash it off with warm water.
21. Jojoba Oil
Jojoba oil can be called a real storehouse of useful substances. It is produced by cold pressing – which allows you to preserve all essential components in the composition. Due to its many benefits, Jojoba oil is commonly included in skin care products.
The composition of jojoba oil is so similar to sebum, which is naturally produced by the skin, that they both work in tandem to regulate oil production. The ability to normalize the production of each sebum and remove its excess, as well as impurities from the skin’s surface, help Jojoba oil to prevent the clogging of pores and the formation of comedones, fight acne and eliminate blackheads.
Making a face mask with your hands from jojoba oil is easy. Apply jojoba oil to your face and leave it on for 10-15 minutes. Rinse with warm water. For best results, use two to three times a week.
22. Tomatoes
Tomato is a vitamin cocktail for the face. Vitamins of groups B, A, K, and H increase the protective properties of the skin, fight inflammation and pigmentation, and regenerate and mattify the skin. Lycopene is an antioxidant that fights aging. Phytoncides get rid of inflammation and accelerate the recovery of the epidermis. Fruit acids cleanse the skin. Thanks to the astringent properties of tomatoes, excess sebum is reduced, and pores are narrowed, which reduces the likelihood of acne and blackheads.
Make a mask from a tomato and apply it to your face. Regular use of the mask will help get rid of black dots that lead to the appearance of acne. Cut the tomato and apply the tomato pieces to the problem areas for 10-15 minutes, wash with water.
Don’t expect fast results. Blackheads won’t disappear overnight. Also, don’t use all these remedies at once and daily. Instead, choose the best method and use it regularly every week. When it comes to blackheads, over-exfoliating is a common problem.
Many people think that the more they exfoliate the skin, the better. On the contrary, it makes the blackhead problem worse. What’s your most effective method to get rid of blackheads? Any natural remedies to share with us?
