8 Natural Home Remedies for Blackheads

Having trouble with your skin? Help keep your skin clear the natural way with our eight home remedies for blackheads and sustainable skincare.

Although often thought to be caused simply by ‘large pores’, blackheads are in fact more complicated than they appear. Usually the result of a build-up of oil and dead skin cells that have darkened due to oxidization, a blackhead is officially referred to as an ‘open comedone’ or a clogged pore.

This form of acne can be difficult to treat as repeated blackheads in one area can stretch your pores and make it more difficult to keep them dirt-free. Despite this, there are several skincare habits that you can develop to try and prevent this from happening. These include:

• maintaining a cleansing and moisturizing skincare routine
• keeping consistently hydrated
• changing your towels and pillowcases regularly
• avoid over-exfoliating and the use of harsh skincare methods 

Consult with a dermatologist or doctor if your blackheads are chronic or if you have any severe skin allergies. If you are looking for a nourishing, sustainable treatment, try our eight home remedies for blackheads.

1. Green Tea Mask

As well as having many positive side effects and benefits as a beverage, your favorite green tea recipe can also be used to treat blackheads. This is due to the antioxidants it possesses, mainly polyphenol which can help reduce redness and irritation. To make a green tea face mask, simply boil your teabag in a saucepan and steep for around two hours before applying the tea to your face and leaving it on for 15-20mins.

2. Turmeric Mask

Both a tasty ingredient in many recipes and a helpful antioxidant in skincare, turmeric is a spice that has many useful properties. It contains curcumin, which is known to act as a surface anti-inflammatory. To use in a face mask, combine turmeric with water and leave it on your face for 15 minutes. 

Tip: turmeric is also known to easily stain your skin, so make sure to check that you are using the non-staining Kasturi turmeric before applying it to your face.

3. Sugar Scrubs

Useful for both exfoliation and keeping your skin clean, making a DIY sugar scrub is a fun and sustainable home remedy for blackheads. To make a scrub specifically for blackheads, try combining sugar and raw honey massing this mixture into your face for five minutes. For more ways to keep your skin healthy, try our guide to exfoliating naturally at home.

4. Raw Honey Mask

A popular ingredient in many skincare products, honey acts as both a natural hydrator for tired skin and can help to unclog pores. Raw honey can be used as a home remedy for blackheads, as a spot treatment as well as a general face mask. Just mix with another soothing gradient such as oatmeal or apply it by itself to your face and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. 

5. Apple Cider Vinegar

As well as being beneficial for your digestive system and a useful ingredient when cleaning your house, apple cider vinegar can also be used as a natural toner for blackheads. To make a DIY toner, simply mix your apple cider vinegar with equal parts water and leave the mixture on your face for up to 5 minutes.

6. Steam Your Face

Steaming your face with a bowl of hot water is a home remedy for blackheads as it has a long history of reportedly being able to de-clog pores. As previously mentioned, a blackhead is in fact a clogged or open comedone filled with dead skin and excess oils that can be extracted by applying light pressure around the pore with your fingertips. To make this process easier, pour steaming water into a medium-sized bowl and lean over it with a towel covering both your head and the bowl for up to five minutes. By using this method, your skin will be ‘softer’ and more moisturized, therefore making it easier to extract your blackheads.

7. Charcoal Mask

Activated charcoal is generally considered to be good for unclogging blackheads. Not to be confused with regular charcoal, activated charcoal is more absorbent which should help remove excess oil from your skin. To make your own natural charcoal face mask, mix activated charcoal with water and bentonite clay and leave it on your face for up to 15 minutes. For added soothing properties, try adding ingredients such as apple cider vinegar, tea tree, or mint essential oil to your mixture.

8. Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is a beneficial ingredient in many facial cleansers and body scrubs. It has natural antibacterial properties and is also suggested to be useful in treating blackheads. This is thought to be due to its anti-inflammatory properties and ability to prevent infection also working to reduce swelling of blocked pores and speed up the healing process of your follicles. To use, gently apply tea tree oil to your blackheads or mix a few drops into your favorite moisturizer and massage it into your skin.

Read more:

• Olive Oil: Is It Good for Your Face and Skin?
• Avocado Oil Benefits & Drawbacks for Skin & How to Use
• Zero Waste Makeup: 5 Best Brands Made in the USA

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Tags: Guide Natural Remedies Personal Hygiene self care Skin Care