Blackheads occur when the pores clog with sebum, dead skin cells, leftover makeup, or dirt. If you are looking for ways to cut the budget spent on skin care products or simply benefit from top-notch natural products, check out this comprehensive list of home remedies for blackheads. They are the inexpensive, all-natural, and will work wonders with cleaning up pores and helping them close up so blackheads don’t reappear.
1. Bentonite Clay
Bentonite clay has been used for years as a treatment for skin problems due to its high minerals content. When mixed with water, it releases the minerals and other beneficial compounds to the skin, drawing out the sebum, dead cells, and dirt locked into the pores. A bentonite clay mask also purifies and nourishes the skin and improves blood flow. It’s key to keeping your skin healthy, toned, and wrinkle-free.
You can also use apple cider vinegar or even lemon instead of water. However, people with highly sensitive or dry skin should use home remedies for blackheads based on water rather than apple cider vinegar or lemon juice. These can cause further irritation and exacerbate the dryness of the skin.
Necessary Items
- Bentonite clay.
- Water, lemon juice, or apple cider vinegar.
Directions
Mix 2-3 spoonfuls water, lemon, or ACV with bentonite 2 large spoons of clay to get a creamy (not runny!) paste, then use clean cotton dabs or your fingers to cover the face with a thin layer of the mask. Let it sit for 15 to 25 minutes or until it has dried and hardened, then rinse with warm water and apply moisturizer.
You will notice how healthy, well-toned, and clear your skin looks immediately after rinsing it off. By far one of the most popular and effective home remedies for blackheads.
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2. Baking Soda
Many deem baking soda the best home remedy for blackheads due to this powder’s antiseptic and anti-bacterial properties which make it a great skin care product. Here is how to put it to good use as your ally in the battle against whiteheads and blackheads.
Necessary Items
- Baking soda.
- Distilled or purified water.
Directions
Mix 1 spoonful of baking soda and 1-2 spoons of distilled water in a ceramic, plastic, or glass bowlș just don’t use a metal bowl as the baking soda can react with the respective metal. Stir until a creamy paste is formed, then spread the mixture on the problematic areas using your fingers or clean cotton dabs and let it sit for approximately 20 minutes. Rinse off with lukewarm water.
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3. Eggs Whites Mask
Another easy to whisk up mask for blackheads removal is based on egg whites. Egg whites are ideal for your skin thanks to the nutrients and vitamins they pack. Used as a mask, egg whites clean the pores and cause them to tighten while leaving the skin well-nourished and moisturized.
Necessary Items
Directions
Separate the egg white from the yolk and apply a layer of the egg white with your clean fingers or a gentle clean face brush. Let it dry and apply a second layer of egg white without removing the first one. Apply a third layer if the second one dries out faster, then let the egg white mask sit for approximately half an hour. Finally, remove the home remedy for blackheads with lukewarm water and use a soft cotton towel to dry your face.
Other versions of this home remedy for removing blackheads imply the use of paper tissues as removal strips. Once the first layer of the egg whites mask is applied, you need to apply a layer of paper tissue. Repeat the procedure up to three layers of paper tissue and egg whites mask, let it dry for 20 minutes, strip the paper tissue, and rinse with lukewarm water.
If you feel the skin getting tight beneath the natural mask, don’t worry; this is supposed to happen while the compounds in the egg white work to close the pores. Use your moisturizing cream at the end if you need to.
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4. Cinnamon & Honey
Both cinnamon and honey are exquisite ingredients to use in home remedies for removing blackheads and whiteheads. Honey has antibacterial, antioxidant, moisturizing, and soothing properties; cinnamon is an antiseptic and improves blood flow. Using these two ingredients in a powerful face mask will remove acne and blackheads and give your skin a healthy, smooth, and clear look.
Necessary Items
Directions
Mix 1 teaspoon of honey and cinnamon powder each in a small ceramic bowl until the two ingredients are fully incorporated and you get a thick paste. Then, apply a thin layer of the paste on your nose or affected area and place cotton pads over the paste to make sure it doesn’t attract airborne impurities. Let it sit for 5 minutes, then remove the paste with the cotton pads and lukewarm water.
If you have sensitive skin which is prone to irritations, don’t use such home remedies for blackheads more than two to three times per week. The cinnamon powder may leave your skin dry and tight, therefore apply a non-comedogenic moisturizer after this treatment.
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5. Lemon Juice
The most potent home remedies for blackheads on nose use lemon juice thanks to its powerful astringent effects. It cleans the clogged pores thoroughly and closes them up, visibly shrinking pores up if used persistently.
However, lemon juice is also known to lighten the skin and making it more sensitive to sunlight. As such, if you decide to add lemon juice to your arsenal of home remedies for blackhead removal, make sure that you apply plenty of sunscreen when going out.
Necessary Items
- One large lemon.
- Optional: water – as much as you need to dilute the lemon juice in case it acts as an irritant to your skin.
Directions
To use lemon juice for blackheads, squeeze out the juice of one lemon and test for irritation signs on a small area of the skin. If the area becomes red and obviously irritated, do not use this home remedy. If all is well, dip a cotton ball in the lemon juice and pat your clean face with it. You can follow this procedure before bedtime to allow the lemon juice will work overnight to remove impurities and close the pores. Rinse with lukewarm water in the morning or after at least 20 minutes.
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6. Oatmeal & Yogurt
Oatmeal is great for calming down an irritated skin and also acts as a mild scrub, removing dead skin cells and balancing the production of sebum clogging up your pores. Yogurt nourishes the skin, while also acting as a mild astringent that closes the pores once the oatmeal has worked its magic.
Necessary Items
- Plain organic oatmeal.
- Distilled water.
- Yogurt.
Directions
Start off by cooking 3 tablespoons of oatmeal in distilled water for five minutes to release the nutrients. Then, add 3 tablespoons of yogurt to the cooked oatmeal and mix until you get a homogenous paste. Apply it to the affected area using clean cotton pads by gently rubbing the mix into the skin to remove dead skin cells and excess sebum. Then, let it sit for at least 15 minutes before rinsing it off with lukewarm water and tapping the face dry with a soft towel.
You will notice how clear and healthy your complexion looks from the first use of the oatmeal and yogurt home remedy for removing blackheads.
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7. Green Tea
Green tea is known for its antioxidant, antibacterial, and rejuvenating properties. Thanks to the compounds found in green tea leaves, this homemade concoction is ideal to reduce inflammation and clear the complexion.
Necessary Items
Directions
Boil some water, remove it from heat, let it cool off for two minutes, add 2-3 green tea bags, and let them steep for 10-15 minutes. After taking out the tea bags, use clean cotton balls dampened in the green tea to tap your face thoroughly and let the green tea sit for 10 minutes. Finally, rinse off with warm water and tap dry with a soft cloth.
As green tea is such a mild cleanser and blackhead remover, you can use it daily among other home remedies for blackheads. You won’t run the risk of having an irritated or dry skin afterward.
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8. Epsom Salts
Epsom salts are known to relieve sore muscles, but they are also a highly efficient blackhead removal home remedy. These salts work primarily by thinning the skin layer covering the clogged pores. Due to their antiseptic and antimicrobial properties, Epsom salts then remove the dead skin cells, sebum, dirt, and other debris found in the pores.
Necessary Items
- Epsom salts.
- Iodine.
- Water.
Directions
Boil one cup of water and remove it from the heat source, then stir 4 drops of iodine and one teaspoon of Epsom salts into the pot until the solution is clear, not cloudy. Exfoliate the affected area with a mild scrub (use the aforementioned oatmeal treatment or the natural brown sugar scrub in the next remedy). Then, massage the affected area with the solution and let it dry for about 10-15 minutes. Finally, rinse with lukewarm water and tap dry with a soft cloth.
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9. Brown Sugar Natural Scrub
Following an exfoliating routine for two to three times per week removes dead skin cells and oils naturally and is key to maintaining a clear, healthy complexion. Moreover, it improves blood flow and renders the skin its natural healthy glow. Therefore, a mild exfoliating cream enriched with nourishing and moisturizing oils cleans the pores and prevents blackheads from reappearing.
Necessary Items
Directions
Mix one cup of brown sugar and 4 tablespoons of jojoba oil in a large enough bowl and stir until they are fully incorporated, then add up to 10 drops of essential oils. You can use the scrub two to three times per week and store it in a tight lid jar.
Warning: using the scrub more than 3 times per week can dry your skin which will, in time, lead to more sebum being produced. We also strongly urge you to abstain from compulsively scrubbing your face or the area where blackheads may occur for the same reason.
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10. Turmeric
The active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin, a substance known for its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. Therefore, this root has multiple health benefits when ingested or applied to our skin. Even after a single use, turmeric can improve the health, texture, and overall aspect of the skin by closing up pores, making it one of the best home remedies for blackheads.
A study by Sahdeo Prasad and Bharat B. Aggarwal published in Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd edition claims turmeric can also aid in wound healing and inhibit the development of skin cancer, among many others. To get the most out of this home remedy for blackheads, it’s best to use it as a topical treatment.
Mint juice can soothe and cool off the skin, therefore works great with the active ingredients in turmeric. If you don’t have or want to use mint juice, however, you can use lemon juice, water, or an organic oil of your choice.
Necessary Items
Directions
Mix one tablespoon of turmeric powder with one or two tablespoons of juice, water, or oil until you get a smooth paste. Then, apply it in a thin layer on the desired area, let it 10 to 15 minutes to dry, then gently rinse the area with water and moisturize.
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11. Tomato Mask
The complex of organic acids in tomatoes give these fruits strong antibacterial properties against a wide array of microorganisms and fungi. In addition, tomatoes also contain lycopene, a strong antioxidant that actively fights against free radicals. Therefore, tomato extract can dry out blackheads and keep the skin young and supple.
Necessary Items
Directions
Simply peel a tomato and mash it to create a smooth paste; you can remove the seeds, but this is optional. Apply the paste to your face, leave it on overnight, then gently rinse it with lukewarm water in the morning.
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12. Fenugreek
Fenugreek, much like most of the suggestions on this list, is a powerful antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties. However, this plant also features emollient properties, which makes it a gentle home remedy for blackheads and whiteheads combined. In addition, the active ingredients found in the leaves and seeds of fenugreek can also help our skin heal, stay moisturized, soothe it, and delay the appearance of wrinkles.
Necessary Items
- Fenugreek leaves and/or seeds.
- Water or your choice of organic oil.
Directions
Mix one cup of leaves or seeds together with 2-3 spoons of water or organic oil until you get a smooth paste. Apply this home remedy for blackheads on the skin, leave it on for about 10 minutes, then use lukewarm water to rinse off any excess mask and gently pat the area dry.
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13. Activated Charcoal
Active charcoal is one of the most popular home remedies for blackheads. Because it’s more porous than regular charcoal, it’s able to take and keep in more impurities than its inactive counterpart. To get the most out of this blackhead home remedy and its ability to clear up the skin of impurities, you can also combine it with bentonite clay.
Necessary Items
- Activated charcoal.
- Bentonite clay (optional)
- Water.
Directions
Mix together one teaspoon of activated charcoal and bentonite clay each, then carefully and slowly add water so as to keep the mixture’s consistency to a medium. Apply this paste on the affected area or on the whole face and let it sit for about 15-20 minutes. Finally, rinse the mixture with lukewarm water, gently pat the area dry, and moisturize.
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Note: If you are interested in other skin care tips, also check out our article on how to get rid of pimples or other entries in the Beauty section.
14. Strawberries
Strawberries are a natural exfoliant thanks to their tiny and gentle seeds and have astringent and antioxidant compounds which work great against blackheads and other skin imperfections. To use strawberries as one of the most efficient home remedies for blackheads, you can also combine them with other ingredients mentioned in this list.
Necessary Items
- Strawberries.
- Honey.
- Lemon juice, tomato juice (optional).
Directions
Mix or blend 2 strawberries, a teaspoon of honey, and a teaspoon of fruit juice together until you obtain a thick and coarse paste. Then, apply it on the skin and leave it on for at least 15 minutes.
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15. DIY Face Steam
Moisture and heat can open up pores for easier cleaning. This is one of the simplest home remedies for blackheads, and one that you will stick with once you try it. You can use regular old water, or try a face steam recipe:
Necessary Items
- Water.
- A pot.
- A clean towel.
- Lemon, green tea, fennel seeds, mint leaves, etc. (optional).
- A homemade face scrub.
Directions
Fill the pot with 15-20 ounces of water, add the other ingredients if any, and bring them to a boil. If using essential oils, don’t add more than 10 drops. Take the clean towel and place it over your head so as to not let the steam escape. Be careful not to stand too close to the heat source, though, and always take into account the fact that steam can be almost as hot as the water it rises from.
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Conclusion
These homemade remedies are effective and inexpensive skin care products that you can whisk up in minutes and are free of artificial preservatives, fragrances, and harsh chemicals which can further damage the skin. It may take some time to find the perfect combination. Nonetheless, these healthy homemade remedies are the best solution for a skin prone to irritation and other problems. Let us know which remedies worked for you in the comment section below!
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