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Common and annoying, blackheads occur when your
pores become clogged with excess sebum (an oil created by the sebaceous glands
that keeps skin supple) and dead skin cells.
The difference between a black head and a white
head is simply whether or not the pore is open or closed. If the pore is open,
the plug of sebum/skin cells oxidizes as it is in contact with the oxygen in
the air, which turns it black. Blackheads are not caused by dirt.
Let’s make that clear from the beginning.
Scrubbing your face obsessively is not a good way to get rid of your
blackheads, and is only going to make it worse as you’ll just end up drying out
your skin, which will cause more oil to be created to make up for everything
you stripped away, and…well it’s a vicious cycle.
For this reason, don’t use some of these
remedies more than 2-3 times a week, such as the sugar scrub and pore strips. I
know it can be hard to resist, but your skin will be better off this way.
Remedies
to Get Rid of Blackheads #1 - Clay Time
Bentonite clay is a mineral rich healing substance
that has been used for centuries to treat a number of ailments, chiefly skin
related. Because of its molecules “electrical charge” when wet, it does an
amazing job of drawing out oils or other impurities locked in your pores.
When you apply the mask your skin gets to drink in
all the minerals, while the clay simultaneously draws out the blackhead. It
also helps with circulation, which helps with overall skin tone and health.
You can mix the clay with water or apple cider
vinegar, maybe sticking to the former if you have dry or sensitive skin.
Experiment! This mask will make you feel like your face is tightening as it
dries.
Whether or not you let it dry entirely is up to
your preference - I tend to let it dry most of the way and then just moisturize
afterwards, but other people find that dries their skin out and irritates them.
You will need…
-1 tablespoon (roughly) bentonite clay
-Water or ACV
-Water or ACV
Directions
Mix in enough water or ACV to form a paste that is
thick but still applicable. Using clean fingertips cover your face with a
thinner layer of paste and let it sit for 10-25 minutes, depending on how long
you are letting it dry. Rinse off with lukewarm water and moisturize as usual.
Remedies
to Get Rid of Blackheads #2 - Egg White Mask
Egg whites form an easy mask that can be used to
temporarily tighten pores, thus reducing chances of future blackheads, and will
also remove current blackheads.
Egg whites are also rich in nutrients for your
skin, and are a little less drying than some other home remedies for
blackheads.
You will need…
-1 egg
-Facial tissue or toilet paper
-A small bowl
-A clean towel
-Facial tissue or toilet paper
-A small bowl
-A clean towel
Directions
Separate the yolk from the white and rinse your
face. Pat your face dry and then apply a thin layer of egg white over your
skin. There are two ways to go from here-
Place a strip of facial tissue or toilet paper over
the wet egg white, being sure to press it onto your face gently. Allow the
first layer to dry. Carefully apply a second layer of egg white over the tissue
(try dipping your fingers in it and dabbing it on so the tissue doesn’t slide
around a bunch. Let this layer dry as well before applying a third (optional.)
When the mask is dry, your face may feel tight - this
is supposed to happen. Peel the tissue off, and then gently wash your face to
remove any residue. Pat dry and moisturize as usual.
Alternatively, you can leave out the tissue and
simply apply 3-5 layers of egg white, being sure to let each layer dry in
between applications. If you do not let the layers dry, this will not work!
Remedies
to Get Rid of Blackheads #3 - Honey and Milk Pore Strips
Milk and honey both have properties that are good
for skin. Honey has antibacterial properties, and the lactic acid in milk is
said to help keep skin soft and supple. The main purpose here though is, when
mixed together, to act as an adhesive.
You will need…
-1 tablespoon of organic raw honey
-1 teaspoon of milk
-Clean strip of cotton
-1 teaspoon of milk
-Clean strip of cotton
Directions
Mix 1 tablespoon of organic raw honey with 1
teaspoon of milk. Heat it for 5-10 seconds in the microwave, and then mix again
to blend thoroughly.
When it’s a comfortable temperature, apply a thin
layer over blackheads, and then gently but firmly pat a strip of dry, clean,
cotton onto it.
Let dry (to play it safe, wait at least 20 minutes)
and carefully peel the strip away. Rinse with cold water and moisturize as
usual.
Remedies
to Get Rid of Blackheads #4 - Cinnamon & Honey Strips
It sounds like a delicious candy, but cinnamon and
honey make a wonderful combination for getting rid of blackheads.
Again, the anti-bacterial agents in the honey can
help keep away bacteria that are causing acne (not necessarily blackheads, but
still a bonus) as well as act as the adhesive to pull out anything clogging
your pores.
Cinnamon improves circulation, and this increased
blood flow gives your skin a smooth, healthy, glow.
You will need…
- 1 part cinnamon powder
-1 part organic, raw, honey
-Clean strips of cotton
-1 part organic, raw, honey
-Clean strips of cotton
Directions
Mix the honey and the cinnamon together until you
have enough paste to cover the affected area. Apply in a thin layer over the
blackheads and then press a strip of clean cotton over it.
Let it sit for 3-5 minutes before removing and
rinsing your face. Don’t forget to follow up with a moisturizer!
Remedies
to Get Rid of Blackheads #5 - H2O Daily Blackhead Treatment
While pore strips and face masks work wonders, they
can only be used several times a week to avoid drying your skin out to much.
If you want to do something daily to prevent your
blackheads, a gentle rinsing with water 1-2 times a day is the way to go. This
keeps things that can make your pores appear larger-such as excess sebum and
dead skin-flushed away and your pores clear.
Be sure to use a light moisturizer when you are
done to prevent your skin from trying to produce excess sebum to accommodate
for dryness.
You will need…
-Fresh water
-A clean fluffy towel
-Moisturizer
-A clean fluffy towel
-Moisturizer
Directions
Twice a day splash your face with clean, fresh
water. Pat dry with a soft towel and apply moisturizer as usual. I suggest
doing this early afternoon (so you wash away anything that has built up in the
first part of the day) and evening, but morning and evening works as well.
Remedies
to Get Rid of Blackheads #6 - Toner for Tighter Pores
Since blackheads are caused by open, clogged pores reacting
to oxygen, it only makes sense that “shrinking” your pores down will help.
Lemon juice is just the astringent substance needed
to get the job done, however, it can lighten skin temporarily and it does make
you sensitive to the sun, so load up on sunscreen if you plan on using this
method in the summertime.
If you have sensitive skin, try diluting the lemon
juice with water first.
You will need…
-1 lemon
-cotton balls
-A small bottle
-cotton balls
-A small bottle
Directions
Rinse your face and pat dry. Squeeze the lemon
juice into a small bottle and then use just enough to dampen a cotton ball.
Apply to affected areas 3-4 times a week, at bedtime.
When you wake up, rinse your face with lukewarm
water and apply moisturizer as usual. Store the rest of the juice in the
refrigerator for up to a week. Be aware-the juice can sting sometimes!
Remedies
to Get Rid of Blackheads #7 - Sweat It Out
Although sweat glands and hair follicle pores
aren’t the same thing, sweating can still help minimize blackheads. When you
work up enough of a sweat, the liquid naturally flows over and softens/flushes
anything clogging your pores.
It is absolutely vital, however, that you wash your
face immediately before and immediately afterwards, otherwise the affect can be
detrimental.
If you leave on make up or anything before this the
sweat can carry it into your pores, and if you don’t wash afterwards not only
is all that stuff still in there but now there’s dried sweat blocking up your
pores as well.
So on one hand sweat can cleanse pores, on the
other; it could also clog them. Be sure to do it right from the start!
You will need…
-Motivation to exercise OR a steam room/sauna
-Fresh water
-A clean fluffy towel
-Fresh water
-A clean fluffy towel
Directions
Rinse your face, than work up a good sweat. Rinse
your face with water, than pat dry with a clean fluffy towel. Moisturize as
usual.
Remedies
to Get Rid of Blackheads #8 - Baking Soda & Water
A little baking soda goes a long way for
blackheads, but don’t overdo it, as it can seriously dry out your skin thanks
to its saltiness.
While pH may or may not have a role to play in
blackheads, the biggest reason baking soda helps is because of it’s small,
fine, granules that can work as a natural and inexpensive way to occasionally
exfoliate and remove anything clogging your pores (and therefore causing
blackheads.)
You will need…
-1 part baking soda
-Fresh water
-Fresh water
Directions
Mix water with enough baking soda to form a thick,
but spreadable, paste. Using a gentle circular motion, massage the paste into
your skin. Rinse thoroughly with plain water, pat your face dry, and then make
sure you moisturize.
Remedies
to Get Rid of Blackheads #9 - Cleansing Sugar Scrub
Sometimes all you need is a good exfoliating
followed up by moisturizing. Exfoliating does one very important job-it sloughs
away dead skin cells. These are the skin cells that could potentially clog up
your pores, leading to acne, whiteheads, and of course, blackheads.
Exfoliating also temporarily revives circulation
and it leaves you with a healthy glow and soft skin. If possible use jojoba
oil, as it is the oil (technically liquid wax) that most closely mimics our
skins own sebum!
If you don’t have jojoba oil, grapeseed, olive, or
sweet almond oil are all fine substitutes
You will need…
-1 cup of sugar (brown or white)
-4 tablespoons of jojoba oil
-An airtight glass jar
-Essential oils (optional)
-4 tablespoons of jojoba oil
-An airtight glass jar
-Essential oils (optional)
Directions
Mix 4 tablespoons of oil into 1 cup of sugar,
stirring until everything is fully incorporated. Add several drops of essential
oil for fragrance if you like.
Store in a cool dark place in a glass jar for up to
the shelf-life of the oil you chose to use (although if for some reason I
haven’t used it all, I personally make a fresh batch after about 1 ½ months.)
Stir before using and then wet face, scoop some
scrub onto your fingertips, and massage it over your skin in circular motions.
Rinse with water and moisturize as usual.
Do this no more than 2-3 times a week, otherwise
you risk drying out and/or irritating your skin.
Remedies
to Get Rid of Blackheads #10 - Steam It Out
Steam may not literally open your pores (see
blackhead myths below) but it can help reduce the appearance of them by
softening up trapped sebum/dead skin cells that can fill out your pores and
form blackheads.
You will need…
-A large bowl
-Water
-A soft clean towel
-Water
-A soft clean towel
Directions
Fill a bowl with boiling water. Let it cool
briefly, then cover your head with a towel and lean over it for 5-10 minutes to
allow the steam to loosen anything in your pores (form the towel like a tent so
no steam escapes.)
Be careful not to get to close or you risk burning
your skin.
When you are done, rinse your face with warm water
and pat firmly but gently dry with a clean towel (or gently wipe away the
blackheads.) Moisturize as usual. Repeat this several times a week, or as
needed.
Skin care is a balancing act - keep that in mind
whenever you’re doing something that involves cleansing or washing (or pore
strips.) Overdoing it is going to make matter much worse in the long run.
Pore strips are great when you really need them,
but it’s best to try and prevent the blackheads in the first place by keeping
up a good skin care regime.
Remedies
to Get Rid of Blackheads #11 - Apple Cider Vinegar & Mint Toner
Make your own toner by mixing together ACV and
crushed mint leaves. The apple cider vinegar can help breakdown the stuff
causing the blackhead, while the mint creates a cooling “tightening” sensation
on your skin.
If the area around the blackhead is swollen or
irritated (e.g. you were picking at it even though you shouldn’t be) the
menthol can help tame the inflammation. Inflammation can make it harder for
whatever is clogging your pores to come loose in the first place.
You will need…
-3 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar
-3 tablespoons of finely chopped/crushed fresh mint leaves
-8 ounces of water
-Cotton balls
-3 tablespoons of finely chopped/crushed fresh mint leaves
-8 ounces of water
-Cotton balls
Directions
Combine vinegar and mint in a small bottle and let
it sit for 1 week in cool dark place. Strain, add a cup of water, and store in the
refrigerator for up to 6 days.
Use nightly, rinsing your face first with water and
then using clean cotton balls to apply the toner. Leave on overnight or up to
several hours (if you have sensitive skin) and rinse off in the morning. Follow
up with a moisturizer.
2
Big Blackhead Myths
Like acne and so many other skin conditions, myths
abound about how to get rid of blackheads. Below are the 2 most common.
Blackheads
Are Caused By Dirt: Just in case you missed this part in the
intro, blackheads are not caused by dirt. If you have larger pores, the dead
skin/sebum build-up reacts with oxygen turning the substance black. Voila-a
blackhead! A whitehead occurs when the pores’ opening is smaller and the sebum
plug does not react to the oxygen.
You
Can Shrink Your Pores: Nope, not possible.
Pores are not muscles, therefore they cannot open or close. They are simply
holes that house the hair follicles and sebaceous glands that are covering your
body.
Some things, however, can make pores appear
smaller-such as lemon juice, which is an astringent and causes contraction of
skin tissue.
Otherwise, keeping them clear from blockages that
can stretch them wider is the way to go.
Genetics, age, and sun exposure can all play a role
in how large your pores appear, but there really is no magic trick to making
them “shrink.”
What
is a pore strip?
Some of these remedies are homemade versions of
pore strips, but here is a brief explanation so you can experiment with making
some on your own.
Pore strips are made up of some sort of adhesive,
and something to attach said adhesive to (at home, this can be gauze or even a
strip of clean cotton cut from an old shirt.)
When you pull the strip off, you pull the plug of
sebum and dead skin cells out of the pore, and voila! The blackheads are gone.
Keep in mind this does not prevent blackheads - only
gets rid of them after they have popped up.
The nice thing about making them at home is they
save a decent amount of money, and you don’t have to worry about commercial adhesives
on your face.
By Claire Goodall
(a bee-obsessed natural-convert from Minnesota) who is a holistic health lover.
She is the author of Everyday Roots Book.
It's a Book that
she creates to help you replace the toxic products and medications in your home
with healthier, all-natural alternatives.
It contains 215+
effective home remedies and covers everything you will need to protect your
family and save money every month.
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