6 easy ways you can get rid of blackheads without using a single chemical

Health shines from the inside out, but sometimes even the best food won’t get rid of pesky blackheads. These small blemishes commonly appear on the oily crevices of the face and are often considered the first stage of acne.

Blackheads occur when pores are clogged with excess sebum or oil, and contrary to popular belief, the dark color is not the result of dirt. When exposed to oxygen, the sebum oil trapped in the open pore will darken and sometimes appears yellow or brown in color.

Intense scrubbing of the skin will not get rid of blackheads!

In fact, excessive skin washing may further irritate skin and encourage more blemishes. The best approach is to use natural and soothing treatments only 2 to 3 times a week to avoid an imbalance in the skins natural moisture.

Here are 6 easy, effective and natural ways to eliminate blackheads at home:

1. Water Therapy

Simple but effective, this remedy can reduce the appearance of blackheads within a week. Splashing your face with clean, cold water 2-3 times a day will keep debris out of exposed pores.

2. Egg White Mask

Although there is no way to shrink pores permanently, whisked egg whites make a great mask to help temporarily tighten pores and reduce future blackheads. Egg white is high in proteins and nutrients which moisturize without disturbing the skins natural oil production.

Simply apply whisked egg white to your freshly washed face and let dry. Repeat up to three times, building a mask that will feel tight but is easy to rinse off after 5 minutes.

3. Clay Mask

Bentonite clay is an all natural, mineral rich substance with intense restorative properties. When applied to skin, bentonite clay helps draw out oils and impurities beneath the skins surface without pulling out all the moisture.

Play around with this remedy and depending on your skin, use more or less water to create a thick paste that is sure to leave your skin rejuvenated and your blackheads minimized.

4. Honey and Milk Pore Strips

Pore cleansing strips are not uncommon to buy, but they often contain harsh irritants and toxic chemicals which leave your skin worse off in the end. Good news! You can make your own safe and effective pore strips with just 3 simple ingredients: honey, milk and a cotton strip.

Simply warm up a tablespoon of raw honey and a teaspoon of whole milk. Mix together and apply a thin layer to blackheads. Adhere the strip of cotton to the liquid layer and let dry for 20 minutes. The anti-bacterial properties of the honey with the lactic acid in the milk will leave skin clean and taught.

5. Cinnamon and Honey Strips

In the same fashion as the milk pore strip, honey mixed with cinnamon makes an excellent pore purifier. Cinnamon increases circulation leaving a healthy glow behind after peeling the strip back. Using equal parts cinnamon and honey, slather the affected areas and layer with cotton. Dry, peel and reveal!

6. Lemon Toner

The acidity and astringent properties of lemon juice can work wonders on minimizing the appearance of pores. After a warm face wash, use a cotton ball with fresh squeezed lemon juice as a toner to cleanse and tighten pores.