‘Blackheads’ is the term given to the black dots formed on the outer layer of your skin. They are usually large pores clogged with sebum (an oily secretion of your skin), dead skin cells and bacteria. Whiteheads, on the other hand, are relatively less visible as they develop underneath your skin and have very small openings. They are filled with bacteria and sometimes, sebum as well. While these two problems might seem quite different, they have very similar cures.
 

Green tea and facial clay

Green tea and facial clay

Green tea is the herbal solution to all your skin problems. Facial clay also has many medicinal properties beneficial to your skin and can be availed commercially at local drug stores. Add some raw green tea to the facial clay and mix thoroughly. Apply this mixture as a mask over your face. Leave it to dry for 15 minutes and rub it off using your hands. The mask is highly refreshing and encourages the production of healthy skin cells. It penetrates deep into the lower levels of your dermis and clears out the sebum and the blackheads while exfoliating the outer layer of your skin, leaving your face with a smooth matte finish. It also helps to shrink your pores while evening your skin tone and protecting against environmental damage from the sun.

 

Papaya, Lemon and Gelatin

Papaya, Lemon and Gelatin

Mash a papaya into fine paste and add some gelatin to it. This mask is an inexpensive quick fix that reduces blackheads and is effective enough to soothe even the most irritated of skins. This magical combination of ingredients especially aids in the reconstruction of your skin after the damage done to it by acne. It helps in cleaning your pores and reducing sebum production, which eventually reduces the appearance of blackheads and whiteheads. The mask can also be formulated by adding lemon, long known for its brightening properties and gelatin, which contains enough natural lysine acid to help regulate and reduce sebum production.

 

Oatmeal and Mint

Oatmeal and Mint

Make a mixture from oatmeal and crushed mint leaves. You can grind the oatmeal beforehand into finer paste. Add water to this mixture to increase its viscosity. Rub the mixture all over your face, especially the T-zone, and let it stay for a few minutes. It instantly provides relief against redness and the flaking of the skin caused by acne, on account of the colloidal properties of oatmeal and mint. It loosens blackheads and clogged pores with the help of the powerful antioxidants present in it. You can also make the material clogged into the pores ooze out by applying little pressure with your fingers.