Just like acnes, blackheads is not one thing that we want to have if we want a perfect look. Even though it’s not as obvious as acnes and doesn’t cause any pains, but blackheads do degrade the skin overall look and it’s not a pleasing thing to see.
The best way to get rid of blackheads can be done with natural home remedies that we can find in our kitchen or with the help of a light chemical ingredients we can find on the local drugstore. Many people think that the only way to remove blackheads is by using the plastic or fabric-based strip off mask to pull the blackheads forcefully. Unfortunately it’s not a suggested way as it’s not so effective and it will tear the smooth skin cells of our skin. Not only that, the residue of the glue in the product could stick and cause more blackheads.
Why Blackheads Appears?
The follicles on our skin contains two things: a hair and sebaceous glands that helps to moisture our skin, which is commonly known as sebum. When we don’t clean the skin properly or exposed to pollutants, then dead skin cells and oil will stuck in the opening follicles, it’s known as comedo. When it’s opened and exposed to the air, it becomes black and that’s what we know as blackheads.
Some people can form blackheads easily because their skin produce high sebum. Birth control pills, skin treatment and specific kind of food can also trigger high production of sebum that increase the chance of blackheads to appear. The size of someone’s skin pores is also a big factor. The bigger it is, the more sebum produced and more dirt could be trapped and the bigger chance to get blackheads. Therefore, when we are looking for a remedy, it is best to find on that help us cleans out the blackheads, kill the bacteria on it, minimize the skin pores and moisture it at the same time.
It’s quite easy to spot on blackheads and they could appear on any part of the body, not only on our nose area that has the most production of serum. Below are the 15 best ways to get rid of blackheads that we can try at home.
1. Baking Soda Mask
Baking soda is definitely a must have ingredients at home. The antiseptic quality of baking soda could make it an ultimate yet cheapest skin care product that helps us with various problems including blackheads. It works in two ways: cleanse out the skin with its scrubby texture and balance the ph of our skin. Therefore, if we have a good skin cleansing routine with baking soda, we can get rid of blackheads forever.
- Mix a tablespoon of baking soda and water
- Apply it to our skin gently
- Leave it to dry for 10 minutes
- Wipe it with warm towel or rinse it with lukewarm water
Do this twice a week and see the result.
2. Lemon Juice Overnight Mask
Just like baking soda, lemon is a perfect remedy for so many skin problems. The AHA citric and vitamin C could kill bacteria, balance the skin ph and an amazing source of antioxidant. Lemon juice overnight mask is the most natural and best way to get rid of blackheads.
Slice a lemon and squeeze it, dab a cotton ball in it and dab it to the skin. Leave it as an overnight mask and make it a daily routine. Not only that we remove blackheads, this mask will leave our skin cleaner and brighter. It’s a must- try remedy.
3. Use Over the Counter Products
Not everybody have time to squeeze out a lemon or make a baking soda mixture. When we don’t have time or we’re travelling, we can just try the over the counter products. However, make sure to choose the right one that won’t irritate our skin because some products can be quite strong. Usually the products will contain benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid that will dry out the excess sebum and kill the bacteria. Since it dries out the skin, it would be great if we try one that contain the least ingredients and apply it based on the suggestion. Otherwise, the skin could turn to be so dry and dull.
4. Green Tea Overnight Mask
For us who have very sensitive skin, then green tea overnight mask is the best way to get rid of blackheads. Baking soda, lemon or over the counter product can be quite hard for some skin. Green tea treats blackheads is a light yet smooth way, so it won’t dry and irritate the skin.
All we need to do is steep a tablespoon or plain organic green tea bag or leaves in a hot water for an hour, cool it down until it’s luke warm and dab it to our skin using a cotton ball. Leave it dry for 10 minutes before we rinse it with cold water to close the pores.
5. Turmeric Mask
Turmeric is the star of herbs nowadays. It has excellent antioxidant property and act as a powerful anti inflammatory, making it a perfect remedy for various problems. To treat blackheads, we can choose the non- staining Kasturi turmeric.
Mix the turmeric with all natural coconut oil. Leave it for 10 minutes and rinse our face with lukewarm water. The ingredients on turmeric will help to vanish blackheads, while coconut oil will leave the skin supple and moist, which will also prevent wrinkles.
6. Egg White Strip Off Mask
The most common way to remove blackheads is using the strip off patches we can find on the drugstore. It can be the best way to get rid of blackheads, but unfortunately not for everyone. Its glue – liked effect can be quite harsh to the skin, giving people with sensitive skin a serious irritation.
If we like the method, but we have sensitive skin, then this DYI egg white strip off mask is best way to get rid of blackheads.
- Prepare egg white and tissue.
- Wash the face and pat it dry.
- Apply egg white on the skin with blackhead. Make sure to apply it in a strip form just like the over the counter products, so we can peel it off easily.
- When the first layer of egg white is almost dry, put a tissue on top of it.
- Apply egg white on top of it and let it dry.
- Leave it dry and peel it off.
- Rinse the face and apply moisturizer.
7. Apple Cider Vinegar
All the craze about apple cider vinegar is definitely for a reason. Apart from its multiple health benefits, this fermented product is a perfect way to say goodbye to blackheads and nourish the skin. The acetic acid on apple cider vinegar will help to break down even the toughest blackheads. If we make it as our daily treatment, we can say goodbye to blackheads forever as it will tighten the pores, minimize the chance for new blackheads to build up.
8. Benzoyl Peroxide for Body Blackheads
As mentioned, not only blackheads could appear on our face, but also any parts of the body as long as it’s covered by skin. It might be too hard to use egg white strip off mask or dab apple cider vinegar to the whole part of the body. However, we can use benzoyl peroxide to treat it.
- Wash our body and use loofah to exfoliate the skin.
- Dry our body by patting instead of scrubbing it with towel that could cause irritation
- Apply witch hazel and let it dry.
- Massage a benzoyl peroxide cream thoroughly.
- Let it dry
9. Oatmeal Scrub and Mask
It might be the easiest ingredients we can find in the kitchen. Oatmeal has multiple benefits when it comes to get rid of blackheads. It exfoliates, cleanses, balances, reduces sebum and nourish the skin. The best thing about oatmeal mask is that it’s applicable for all skin type, including the most sensitive one.
- Cook a few tablespoon of oatmeal in distilled water
- Let it cool down in room temperature
- Apply it to the skin and leave it for 10 – 20 min
- Rinse with lukewarm water
10. Oil Free Cosmetic Products
As explained, sebum on the skin is the media of dirt to stick into the skin and cause blackheads. Therefore, we might need to start to consider the ingredients of products we apply to our skin. Choosing an oil free and non comedogenic products is the best way to get rid of blackheads.
11. Pure Honey Mask
Honey is definitely the magic word. It’s well-known over centuries as remedy for various health problems and getting rid of blackheads is definitely an easy task for this natural ingredient. Honey act as both antiseptic and antibacterial. It works on any types of skin, including the most sensitive one. The properties in honey will destroy the bacteria and cleans out the oil that clogs pores by pulling it.
- Warm a pure honey
- Dab the lukewarm honey onto the skin
- Let it stay for 10 minutes
- Wipe it with warm soft damp cloth
12. Cinnamon Mask
This aromatic herb can be the best way to get rid of blackheads as it has strong anti-bacterial property. Not only clearing the skin from blackheads, cinnamon also exfoliate the skin, leaving it glowing and smooth.
- Take a tablespoon of cinnamon
- Mix it with honey
- Apply it on the skin
- Leave it for about 15 minutes
- Wash the face and put on moisturizer
13. Aspirin Tablet Mask
Yes you’ve heard it right. Aspirin as a pain killer is completed with anti – inflammatory properties that will help reduce swelling in the affected area and the texture will remove blackheads and dead cells. As the bonus, it will shrink down the pores size, help us avoid blackheads to build up.
- Crush a few of aspirin tables and make it into paste
- For us who have dry skin, we can mix the paste with almond or coconut oil
- For us with oily skin, lemon juice drops would be perfect
- Let it dry for 10 – 15 minutes
- Rinse the area and apply moisturizer
14. Milk scrub
There are some over the counter products that claim to be the best way to get rid of blackheads, but if we want to go all natural, we can actually take the basic essence on the products itself, milk.
The lactic acid in milk can break down the dead skin cells that could cause blackheads and remove them from the skin surface. If we have very sensitive skin, we can apply milk only and rub it on our skin. However, if we want a bit of exfoliation effect, we can add a bit of nutmeg powder.
15. Coconut Oil
The craze of coconut oil is not for a reason. Over exceeded oil will cause blackheads, but natural coconut oils contains lauric acid that act as an antimicrobial agents that could kill the bad bacteria. Coconut oil is also eliminate dead skin cells and nourish the skin. Expect a glowing skin after the routine. Using coconut oil to get rid of blackheads is as easy ass applying to the skin and rub it gently before we go to bed. Coconut oil remedy is perfect for those who have dry or normal skin.
Those are the best way to get rid of blackheads that we can do from the comfort of our home, which might be the effective yet safe solution compared to the chemical – based over the counter products or medical treatments. However, if we want to use over the counter products, we have to make sure that the ingredients are safe and noncomedogenic. There are so many medical treatments that’s available from microdermabrasion, deep cleansing and many more. However, they are all recommended if we have severe or permanent blackheads, which rarely happen.
Keeping the skin clean is the best way to avoid blackheads. However, cleaning the skin regularly might not prevent blackheads to build up. As a routine, we are suggested to scrub our skin minimum twice a week and apply non comedogenic products only.