DIY Face Masks for Blackheads

Each of these face masks if made up of natural, blemish-fighting ingredients, providing you with a safe and effective way to get rid of blackheads and other pesky blemishes you may have. They are an excellent alternative to the frequently chemical-filled store bought masks, and are easy and cheap to make!

What the heck is a blackhead?

I thought we’d start by making sure we understand what a blackhead actually is. Both blackheads and whiteheads are clogged pores but differ in regard to whether the surface of the pore is open or closed. A blackhead has an open pore at the surface. It appears black due to dead skin cells, bacteria and oil in the pore coming into contact with the air. A whitehead, on the hand, has a closed pore at the surface and appears white because it does not yet contact with the air.

Fortunately for us, many of the ingredients in three masks I will show you today have properties that fight all kinds of breakouts!

Face Mask #1: Avocado, Honey, and Olive Oil Mask

Benefits:

We all know that avocados are delish. For the same reasons they are so healthy and good for us to eat, they are excellent for the skin as well. Avocados are rich in vitamins E and K as well as omega-3 fatty acids, so they are very moisturizing and softening to the skin without clogging pores. Vitamin E specifically helps fight bacteria responsible for infections and inflammations of the skin. Vitamins A and C in avocados contribute to the free radical fighting property of the fruit. Bonus: these vitamins all work to repair damage and scarring to the skin.

Raw honey is a magical food for so many reasons. In this face mask, it happens to be our secret ingredient for tackling blackheads. Honey is anti-bacterial, making it excellent for fighting any and all breakouts. Honey also has anti-oxidants, known for slowing down the aging of the skin, and is moisturizing like the avocado.

Aside from its moisturizing properties, olive oil is rich in antioxidants, including Vitamin E. It also contains hydroxytyrosol, which aids in preventing free radical damage. Olive oil penetrates deeply into the skin without clogging pores.

 

What you’ll need:

• 1/2 of an avocado
• 1 teaspoon of olive oil
• 1 tablespoon of raw honey

This amount will make enough for 4-5 masks and can last in the fridge for about 3 days. Measurements can, of course, be cut down should you wish to make less.

• First, scoop out half of the avocado with a spoon, and put it in a little dish. Mash it up a bit with a spoon. (Note: It’s not important to make it as soon as smooth as possible, just try to get it to a consistency so it can mix easier with they honey and olive oil.

• Next, pour in the honey and olive oil.

• Mash it all up with a spoon again.

• Next is the fun part: applying the mask. I used my fingers to apply it and tried to evenly distribute it as best as I could. I left some little chunks in mine. I don’t think you have to go crazy trying to make it perfectly smooth. The ingredients all get on your skin in the end.

Here’s how it came out….

Very attractive, I know ☺

I leave this mask on for about 15 minutes. The honey and olive oil make it feel a little slimy, but moisturizing for sure.

It washes off easily with warm water and face cloth. I recommend using a face cloth, as the honey can stick a bit and can be a little more difficult to get off.

This mask leaves your skin feeling super moisturized and clean. Nothing like the dry, stripped feeling of washing off a store bought a mask!

Face Mask #2: Coconut Oil, Oatmeal, and Honey

Benefits:

Coconut Oil has numerous benefits for the skin, specifically for treating breakouts and acne. Coconut oil is famous for its antimicrobial and antibacterial properties – the perfect recipe for fighting blemishes on the face. The Vitamin E. in the oil ensures the proper functioning of the sebum glands and clears pore blockages. Coconut oil is also anti-inflammatory, should you have any existing irritations of breakouts on your skin.

Oats have been used dating back to the ancient Egyptians for their beautifying benefits. Oatmeal absorbs excess oil on the skin, preventing the clogging of pores. It also helps wash away impurities on the face that lead to blackheads and breakouts. Like coconut oil, it contains antimicrobial agents and antioxidants. Oatmeal also acts as an exfoliant, brushing away dead surface skin cells, a great way to rid yourself of blackheads.

What you’ll need:

• 1/4 cup of traditional oats
• 1 teaspoon of coconut oil
• 1 teaspoon of honey

• First, measure out 1/4 cup of oats to put into a blender because the oats need to be ground to a powder for this mask. I use 1/4 cup to ensure that I have enough for the blender to grind, but later we will only use 1 tablespoon of the powder for the mask itself.
• I have a great, powerful blender (Vitamix) so I just turn it on a medium speed for about 5 seconds until it turns into a powder. (Note: You don’t want the powder too fine, or you won’t get as much of the exfoliating power out of your mask.

• Next, put 1 tablespoon of the powder into a little dish to be mixed with the honey. I use Aviva Pure Coconut Oil because it is much lighter on the skin than other cold pressed coconut oil’s found on the market today.

 

 

• Mix the three with a spoon until it reaches a paste consistency.

• Applying this mask can get a little tricky because the paste doesn’t always go on smoothly. I first take full advantage of the exfoliating aspect of the oats and just scoop it out with my fingers and massage all around my face making little circles. Focus on the areas of your face with blackheads when you massage into skin, as it will really help to exfoliate the skin in these areas.

This mask feels sticky and oily, but you can feel your skin soaking up all the goodness! I leave this mask on for about 15 minutes, and then wash it off with warm water and a face cloth. The exfoliation combined with the moisturizing of the coconut oil and honey leaves your skin baby soft, and you know the ingredients did their job on your blemishes!

Face Mask #3: Lemon Juice and Baking Soda

Benefits:

Lemon works like a natural astringent, reducing the oil on the face and helping to dry out acne and breakouts. It also functions as an antiseptic on the skin, killing bacteria that causes blemishes. The citric acid in lemon also works as an a natural exfoliant.

Baking Soda works to neutralize pH imbalances on the skin, a common cause of acne. Like lemon juice, it also helps to dry the skin by removing excess oil, and shares it’s antiseptic properties. The combination of baking soda and lemon juice masks a gritty paste, acting as an exfoliant in addition to a face mask!

What you’ll need:

• 1 teaspoon of fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon of baking soda

• Measure out 1 teaspoon of each of the two ingredients, and combine them in the little dish.

• A little reaction occurs when the two are mixed that looks like the picture below. After a couple seconds, it will settle.

 

 

• You can apply this mask using just your fingers. Just be sure to massage it into little circles on the areas with blackheads to take advantage of the exfoliation!

This mask doesn’t look like much on, and you can soon start to feel it harden a bit on the skin. I left it on for 10 minutes. This make definitely leaves your skin feeling the softest of all three masks. The fineness of the granules of baking soda really makes you feel how deeply it cleanses the pores of all impurities.

I hope you all enjoyed this post! I strongly suggest trying out these DIY face masks if you want to treat your blackheads naturally and see great results.

In the comments below, tell me your favorite DIY face masks for removing those annoying blackheads.

Ciao loves,

Amanda XX