This month’s ‘Ask the Reader’s’ question is about blackheads (submit your own question here). Anna is having a rough time getting rid of them despite having great success with natural methods for active acne.
Here’s what she has to say:
I was wondering if anyone can suggest a powerful natural method to clear blackheads and keep them away for good. Thanks to healthy nutrition and simple skin care routine, I don’t get anymore breakouts, but nothing helped with blackheads.
I did try DIM and use jojoba oil for moisturizer, plus all the pore strips, homemade pore strips, lemon juice, clay masks – no success with those unfortunately. I’m really reluctant to resort to extreme things like glycolic acid peels; surely somebody was able to eliminate them without harsh chemicals and expensive scary procedures.
So, friends… have you found a really effective natural method for blackheads that’s worked well for you? Please share in the comments below!
After my active acne healed I had a really hard time with blackheads and comedogenic acne, even now they are hard to keep at bay. The method that works best for me is doing a modified caveman regime, I’m not sure how scientific this is, but in my mind it helped because it allowed the immunity of my skin to build up (acid mantle) keeping out the unwanted bacteria that clogged my pores. I go for days at a time without washing my skin, even if I have makeup on. When I do wash my skin I spray it down with diluted bragg’s apple cider vinegar, then massage my face with hemp seed oil and very gently pat off the oil with a cloth. Then I spray it down with ACV again, and then moisturize with this aloe vera gel (i also mix it with Niacinamide (B3) powder and N-Acetyl Glucosamine) but just using the aloe itself will help wonders.
diy aloe mix:
http://myfunnyvalentineblog.com/2011/04/mum-look-what-i-made-diy-5-niacinamide-3-glucosamine-and-green-tea-serum.html
aloe i use:
http://www.longevitywarehouse.com/longevity-warehouse-msm-aloe-gel-4-fl-oz
So far it’s worked really really beautifully. I barely wear makeup, only when I have a blemish to cover, but it was really important to find the right makeup that didn’t clog my pores, and unfortunately that is such an individual task and takes a lot of trial and error. I ended up using ZuZu’s powder foundation, and mineral fusion concealer it works great and never clogs my pores.
good luck!
I wash my face with only water twice a day, and sometimes use 1 drop of jojoba oil, use a cotton round to rub it on my nose, I think it works pretty well! I rarely get any blackheads now, but I’m still dealing with annoying tiny bumps on my jawline….
Good luck!!
I’ve read that over-drying your skin can make blackheads worse, so I moisturize my nose (trouble spot) with jojoba. It doesn’t seem to be helping much right now. I gently exfoliate with baking soda. Yogurt masks seem to help a little. I just ordered a clay mask to try… I’ll follow this post for more suggestions!
Jojoba oil is amazing. I love it as a moisturizer and Uncle Harry’s also makes a lotion out of jojoba oil which is even better, but it didn’t clear the blackheads for me. It’s good at preventing new ones though.
Salicylic Acid – ‘Stridex’ pads. I have the most stubborn blackheads that I’ve been struggling with for almost 10 years and it has managed to (so far) get rid of 90% of them. They say Stridex (and salicylic acid in general) takes at least 20 days to see a difference- and it’s true. I’ve been using Stridex every night before going to bed for about a month now and I just started to see improvements last week. It *does* take time, but it’s much better than squeezing out the blackheads only to have them return the next day.
Also, aside from using Stridex I use the Sephora ‘Precision Pore Cleansing Pad’ two to three times a week. It works on your pores just like the Clarisonic, but way, way cheaper. I use my daily cleanser with it and it really works wonders without stripping and damaging your skin like exfoliating scrubs do.
Regular use of this routine (Stridex + Precision Pore Cleansing Pad) has really gotten rid of blackheads laying deep within my pores.
(oh and may I advise- DON’T SQUEEZE!! If I could rewind time, I would, and I would tell myself not to ever squeeze. Because all it has done is stretch my pores and make them so much more visible… if you see a deep blackhead that seems like it’s never going to come out, just be patient. It will 🙂
I hope this helped!
Try adzuki beans! They are the best. Thing. Ever. They are super gentle. All you need to do is grind them to a fine powder in the coffee grinder, and to use add water to make a paste and massage it in like you would any cleanser. You can leave it on as a mask to, its really even more effective. I have the most stubborn blackheads ever, and adzuki beans work better than baking soda as far as effectiveness!
haha! Adzuki beans. I love this. 🙂 I didn’t see that coming!
Are the adzuki beans dry and uncooked? I would imagine they would be hard to grind into a fine powder unless they are cooked?
I would imagine they’d have to be dry though otherwise they’d just turn to mush rather than powder?
Thank you for the recommendation! This seems worth a try. At least google brings up a lot of search results for ‘adzuki beans’ and acne. Seems harmless even if not super effective. Bobbi Brown (not sure if I should mention brand names, but I’m not recommending because I never tried her products) has a product made with adzuki beans.
Tracy, would you say that liver detox made a significant improvement for your skin? I had my hormones tested and it’s fine, so I’m wondering if liver clean-up would do anything for blackheads?
Hi Anna, I think taking liver herb supplements has definitely made a big difference to my skin. I can’t say if it would definitely help your blackheads sine everyone’s different, but it’s worth a try. I had lots of blackheads when I had bad acne, but my blackheads cleared up on their own with only internal interventions, not external… so yeah. Give it a try 🙂
Thanks:) I’m starting to believe that too. Most of the suggestions for blackheads are different types of scrubs; none of that helped me. Hoping now liver detox herbs you suggested in your posts and minimal routine with jojoba oil will do. The best thing to do for yourself is get tested to see what the cause is; otherwise it might end up being years of futile tests and trials.
Hi! I wonder if some can share the link of the liver detox herb post. I’ve been dealing with acne for years and I’ve change my diet, not as I should, but I’ve made big step towards that. Now saying this I’ve noticed a lot of whiteheads in my face that, some, become painful pimples, even though that I’m using natural remedies for my face but nothing seems to really work. 🙁
https://thelovevitamin.com/6855/treat-female-hormonal-acne/
the only thing that i have found to work is nutmeg powder. just add a little water and gently massage it on your trouble areas or the entire face leave on for a minute and rinse off. Its the only thing that got my blackheads out in one application. Ofcourse you may have to add it to your regular routine, once a week is recommended.
I have been using Rose Water as a toner for about two weeks now and I am very suprised how much my blackheads reduced. I also had filaments that I had been dying to squeeze because they stick out, but now they are gone. It’s weird! My skin tone is evening out and my skin looks smoother….even when I put make up on. Both morning and night, I soak the cotton ball and dab it.
I think it’s allowed to post brand: I use Acqua Distillata Alle Rose (Rose Water) 300 ml by Manetti Roberts( It on amazon)
I’ve been using hemp oil with tea tree oil added to it…I massage it into my blackhead areas, then splash with water and pat dry with a towel. Often I will follow by rubbing a bit more tea tree oil onto my nose and letting it dry. It’s been helping a lot. I think liver support/detox does play a crucial role. Also, getting enough vitamin c and b vitamins each day! I’ve noticed the biggest difference with less sugar intake and good liver support supplements.
Hey hi everyone. I also have troubled skin now and then. Currently I use a salicylic acid 2% wash and the mint julep mask 2-3 times a week. Using a soft sponge and warm water to wash off the mask also leave my skin smoother. I become paranoid when I get bumps from the inside.
Thanks for this post. I’m also trying to find a treatment that can get rid of my blackheads and reduce open pores.
I’ve tried many of the things listed here, but others are new for me and I will definitely get them a try.
Thanks.
I figured out recently that my blackheads are mostly due to shampoo and conditioner. I don’t have them in typical t-zone pattern. It’s all over my face, shoulders and around ears, which is very odd. But I do often realize I didn’t rinse the hair conditioner off my ears very well and typically the last thing I do when I shower is rinse it off. If you have the same problem – you should look into switching your shampoo and conditioner to natural ones, just like Tracy preached many times before;) It’s just so hard to believe that those things can cause so much damage. Hope this can help somebody.