9 Natural Ways To Remove Blackheads

Not as easy to pick as a pimple but not exactly subtle enough to leave alone, blackheads pretty much suck all the way around. Fortunately, I've pulled together all the best natural ways to remove blackheads so you can clear your skin without any harsh chemicals. The best part? All of these treatments are totally DIY and super budget-friendly.

I'm generally pretty lucky when it comes to black heads (I just get major angry pimples instead), but did have to learn the hard way not to pick the ones I do occasionally spot. Despite knowing better than to pick a blackhead, I freaking went to town. on a small one just above my lip a few months ago which resulted in major swelling, redness, irritation and even led to the formation of an actual pimple. Glorious.

I understand the bliss of squeezing small amounts of puss out of your face (I really do), but I would urge you to try and stop yourself before you dig your nails into your skin. Using one of the natural ways to remove your blackheads instead will not only work better than any nail digging could, but will also let you dodge all of the annoying aftermath that comes from picking!

1. Honey Rub

Eco Bee Farms Raw Honey, $13.24, Amazon

Crunchy Betty advised patting honey over your face for several minutes to pull the blackhead gunk out of your pores. Then, you simply rise away the honey with water.

2. Clay Mask

Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay, $11.35, Amazon

Mix together two tablespoons of Indian healing clay with two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to make a super pore-cleansing face mask. Leave it on your face for 15-20 minutes before washing off.

3. Homemade Honey Milk Pore Strips

NaturalRemedies recommended heating milk and raw honey together in the microwave for a few seconds before mixing into a warm paste, applying to a small strip of cotton, and leaving on your nose until dry. Then, gently rip it off to remove blackheads.

4. Baking Soda Scrub

Arm & Hammer Baking Soda, $4.50, Amazon

According to Natural Living Ideas, baking soda makes an excellent spot treatment scrub. Simply swirl together a tablespoons of baking soda with a little bit of water to make a thick paste, scrub over the parts of your face with blackheads, and leave to dry. Then, rinse with water.

5. Green Tea

Uncle Lee's Organic Green Tea, $7, Amazon

Another Natural Living Ideas suggestion, boil a cup of water and steep two tea bags in it for at least an hour. Then, dab the green tea liquid onto blackheads and leave to dry. The high antioxidant content in the green tea liquid works to cleanse pores without drying them out.

6. Baking Soda, Lemon, And Bourbon Exfoliator

Bustle writer Kristin Collins Jackson shared this unconventional recipe for a DIY exfoliating spot treatment to get rid of blackheads for good. To whip it up, you'll need a teaspoon of baking soda, and a splash each of lemon juice and bourbon to form a thin paste. Gently rub the paste over your blackheads and rinse away. Jackson advises doing this weekly until the blackheads clear.

7. Egg White Rub

A tip from Everyday Roots, egg white is a great alternative to a honey rub for pulling out stubborn blackhead gunk. You just need to pat a bit of egg white over your face, let it dry, and repeat two to three times until the entire egg white has been used. Then, once all layers are completely dry and have gotten out gunk, you can wash your face.

8. Milk And Nutmeg Scrub

McCormick Ground Nutmeg, $3.49, Amazon

Combine together a tablespoon of nutmeg with a splash of milk to create an exfoliating paste that will dig in and scrub out blackheads. Apply all over your face and then rinse with cool water.

9. Toothbrush And Lemon

Mother's Vault Bamboo Toothbrush, $6.99, Amazon

Deemed "the most extreme measure you should go to in cleaning your blackheads" by Crunchy Betty, the toothbrush method should be used with caution so you don't irritate your skin. She advised putting a bit of lemon juice and jojoba oil on a tooth brush beefier very delicately rubbing the blackheads in small circles to remove built up dirt.

Images: Courtesy of Brands; Getty Images