Did you have a rash of spots come up right before your big blind date night? If you have a flurry of blackheads, you want them gone — and quickly. However, not everyone can afford a trip to the dermatologist for a professional squeeze. 

Why not treat the problem the homemade way? Here are eight DIY blackhead removal masks that are sure to have your skin looking clearer in a jiffy. 

1. Turmeric, Honey and Lemon

You can make a creamier version of this mask using coconut oil, although it does leave a more greasy residue behind. While you can go more gentle, those with tougher acne to treat do better with an astringent lemon. 

Mix the three ingredients into a paste. Apply to your face to let it dry. Pro-tip: the turmeric can leave a bit of yellow residue behind, so make sure you have plenty of mild cleanser before using this scrub. 

The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric help to tame any redness your blackheads leave behind. The acidity of the lemon juice helps to suck up all the oily gunk in your pores. Honey has natural antimicrobial properties to banish the bacteria that causes acne. 

2. Egg White and Lemon Juice

Do you want a mask that emulates the peel-off variety where you can see the gunk clogging your pores? This homemade version does the trick while helping to dry up excess oil. 

Once again, the astringent lemon juice comes to the rescue as it’s natural alpha-hydroxy acids blast away gunk and dead skin cells. The egg white gently lifts the residue away from the skin’s surface when you remove it. Gently rinse away anything remaining with cool water. 

3. Green Tea, Aloe and Gelatin 

Green tea is a powerhouse of antioxidants, and the benefits don’t stop at internal use. You can use it as an ingredient in this face mask, too. 

Brew yourself a cuppa and use the gelatin to make it into a gummy paste. Add aloe vera gel to combat redness and also kill any acne-causing bacteria on your skin. 

Apply and let dry before peeling and rinsing. Perhaps you can use the time while it sets to sip some green tea and reap the internal perks, too. 

4. Moroccan Red Clay and Avocado

Folks have used Moroccan red clay for over 1,400 years in soaps, shampoo and skin conditioners. It’s gloriously silky-smooth to the touch and absorbs pore gunk like a sponge. 

This red clay acts as a magnet for blackhead gunk, pulling it to the surface to make extraction easier. Herbalists claim that it also removes toxins from deep within your pores. It also exfoliates as you rinse, leaving you with a rosy glow. 

5. Yogurt and Honey 

Do you have sensitive skin? Do you fear using other treatments because the irritation can make your acne worse, not better? If so, this homemade mask is for you. 

Yogurt contains powerful probiotics that can nourish your skin’s microbiome. Yes, you have beneficial germs sharing your face, and feeding them can improve your skin’s tone and texture. Honey contains antimicrobial and antibacterial activity blasts away acne-causing bugs so that the healthy ones can flourish. 

6. Bentonite Clay and Lavender

Is there no end to the goodness that pours forth from the earth? Bentonite clay arises from volcanic ash and has enjoyed use for centuries as a detoxifying agent for your skin and body. It’s so powerful that people in Ghana use it to treat skin ulcers that could otherwise become disabling. 

Lavender essential oil helps to calm and relax you. What better way to spend a lazy Sunday evening than getting your skin ready for the week while relaxing in front of Netflix? 

7. Activated Charcoal and Aloe Vera 

Perhaps it’s ironic that pimples somewhat resemble volcanoes. Some of the best cures arise from their ashes. 

Activated charcoal can remove toxins from your stomach and even whiten teeth. When applied to your skin, it has a similar effect on pimples. The dirt and oil stick to this mask when you blend the two ingredients into a paste. You can use this combo as a spot treatment, too. 

8. Brown Sugar, Yogurt and Cinnamon Scrub

If you don’t exfoliate your skin, dead cells can accumulate on the surface. These can clog your pores, so sloughing them off is crucial to blackhead control. 

Brown sugar is gentle enough to use on your face. Unlike harsher oatmeal, it won’t overly strip your skin of its protective layer. Yogurt provides nourishing probiotics while creating the paste, and cinnamon adds antioxidant strength. 

Banish Acne With These 8 DIY Blackhead Removal Masks

Don’t despair if a crop of blackheads emerges before your next event. Remove them the gentle, natural way with one of these eight masks.