Acne is blockage of your pores so that sebum is trapped inside. Skin cells, bacteria and sebum collect inside the pores, causing them to stretch, which is one of the factors causing large pores. Blackheads are blocked pores that look black because the sebum has oxidized. They aren't due to dirt. Give yourself a home facial, using home remedies to get rid of blackheads and minimize pores. Facials generally include cleaning, steam, exfoliation, a mask, toning and moisturizing. You can accomplish all these tasks with home remedies.
Step 1
Wash your face with warm -- not hot -- water and a mild soap. Pat it dry with a soft towel.
Step 2
Bring 4 cups of water to a boil in a saucepan. Remove the saucepan from the heat and drop in 4 green-tea bags. Hold your head over the pot so that you can feel warm steam but not so close you might burn your skin. Cover your head and the saucepan with a bath towel and steam for five minutes.
Step 3
Discard the tea bags but save the tea. Allow it to cool while you work on the other steps of the facial.
Step 4
Wet 2 tbsp. of brown sugar, ground oatmeal or cornmeal with enough water to make a paste. Massage the paste over your face for 1 to 2 minutes, paying special attention to the areas with blackheads and large pores. Use brown sugar unless your skin is very sensitive, in which case use oatmeal or cornmeal.
Step 5
Rinse your face thoroughly to remove the sugar.
Step 6
Mash the strawberries, papaya or avocado with the yogurt in a small mixing bowl using the fork. Scientists have extracted modern skin care remedies such as alpha-hydroxy acid, glycolic acid and retinol from fruits like these. Fresh fruit and yogurt are much milder than the extracts so they are safer for your skin.
Step 7
Apply the fresh fruit mask to your face and let it dry for 20 minutes. Rinse it off and use a wet washcloth to gently remove all traces of the mask. Finish cleaning off the mask, then moisturize your skin by dabbing green tea generously all over your face with cotton balls.
Step 8
Rub 1 tsp. of oil over your face while it is still wet from the green tea. Apply sunscreen over the oil when you go outside.
Things You'll Need
- Mild soap
- Soft towel
- Saucepan
- 4 cups water
- 4 green-tea bags
- Bath towel
- 2 tbsp. brown sugar, ground oatmeal or cornmeal
- 2 large strawberries, papaya or ripe avocado
- 1 tbsp. yogurt
- Fork
- Small mixing bowl
- Washcloth
- Cotton balls
- 1 tsp. olive oil, lanolin, jojoba oil or avocado oil
- Sunscreen
References
- "Milady's Standard Esthetics Advanced"; Judith Culp, et al.; 2010
- "Milady's Standard: Fundamentals for Estheticians"; Joel Gerson, et al.; 2003
- "Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry"; Natural Retinoids and β-carotene: From Food to Their Actions on Gene Expression; Elaine R. Silveira, et al.; August 1998
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