Left: Sheetal Rawal, scientist (human genetics) & founder of Apsara Skin Care
By: Sheetal Rawal
If you have oily skin, then you probably know what it feels like to have whiteheads. Annoying, right? Well, truth be told, whiteheads can be a problem even if you do not have oily skin. Combination and dry skin both can be prone to whiteheads too.
Similar to blackheads, whiteheads are formed under the skin covering clogged pores but are white or yellowish in color. Pores in your skin can be clogged due to sebum, dirt, bacteria and dead skin. Acne-prone skin tends to be more affected by whiteheads since the excess oil produced hardens up, giving rise to clogged pores.
Hormonal changes during life stages like puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, menopause, etc. can be a reason behind your acne and whitehead-prone skin. However, genetics too plays a significant role in the development of acne and whiteheads. Last but most definitely, a very important reason behind the development of whiteheads is the usage of skin care products made with harsh chemical ingredients. These are well-known to irritate your skin and cause an underlying dryness, which results in excess oil production and leads up to whiteheads and acne.
Well if you are bothered by whiteheads, don’t worry about them. Stress can worsen the situation by encouraging overproduction of the stress hormone called cortisol. This
So don’t stress! Fight your whiteheads with these super-easy-to-use natural home remedies and see the difference for yourself.
Even before I get into these remedies, let me give you all a piece of very important advice. It is most essential to have a complete daily and weekly skin care routine to keep your skin nourished, balanced and healed at all times. This will result in skin that has minimal issues, if any at all. Just be sure to not use products with harsh chemicals in them. Home remedies like the ones below are meant to supplement an ideal skin care routine. Find out your skin type by reading this page. Then build yourself a skin care routine.
1. Corn Flour and Vinegar
Corn flour is a super absorbing ingredient that soaks excess oil and cleans the clogged pores in your skin. Apple cider vinegar is particularly potent for the removal
Home Remedy
Mix corn flour and apple cider vinegar in 4:1 ratio to form a thick paste. Apply the paste to affected areas and leave it on for 12 minutes. Rinse it off with warm water. Always follow with your toner, serum, and lotion so that your skin can perk back up from the loss of excess oils and possible drying effects of the vinegar.
"I tried everything except for Accutane to control my acne. This is the first product line that has ever worked for me. I don't have any skin makeup on for the first time and that is really freeing."
2. Nutmeg and Clay Mask
The awesome anti-microbial and healing properties of nutmeg have been well-recognized in Ayurveda to immensely benefit skin that is prone to whiteheads and acne. The word of caution is that nutmeg powder must be carefully used in combination with other nourishing ingredients so your skin can benefit without getting dry or irritated in the process.
Home Remedy
Add 1/4 tsp. of nutmeg powder to 2 tsp. of fuller’s earth or any other clay of your choice. Add plenty of aloe vera gel and 6 drops of almond oil to make a thick paste. Apply and leave on your skin for 12-14 minutes. Wash and follow with your toner, serum, and lotion.
3. Rice and Mung Dal Lentil Paste
This famous combination is nothing new to those who are familiar with Ayurvedic concepts of beauty care. Both can draw out toxins and excess oils from your skin.
Home Remedy
Soak 1 tsp. each of moong lentils and white rice overnight. Boil until soft and grind to a thick paste. Now add 1/4 tsp. of baking soda and 8 drops of olive oil to the mix. Apply on your skin and let it dry for 12-14 minutes. Wash with warm water and follow with your toner, serum, and lotion. Apsara's Jojoba Facial Serum is a natural and harsh chemical-free formula that is perfect for you if you want to end those whiteheads and balance your skin.
4. Turmeric and Sandalwood Face Mask
This combination beats all when it comes to skin-perfecting potency. Sandalwood is known in Ayurveda to balance your skin’s oil production. This could well be behind its awesome whitehead-fixing properties. Turmeric is soothing and healing in nature and pacifies skin that is prone to whiteheads and acne. It is a reputable antioxidant that is no less than a miracle in keeping free radical damage in check.
Home Remedy
To 1 tsp. of sandalwood powder, add 1/4 tsp. of turmeric powder and enough rosewater to make a thick paste. Apply on your skin 1-2 times a week. Wash when dry and follow with your toner, serum, and lotion. Try Apsara’s Krishna Sandalwood Mask and give your skin a chance to transform. This precious mask contains both sandalwood powder and turmeric in addition to walnut scrubbing grains to help those whiteheads shed.
"This is the only product that has ever worked on my acne. I saw results within 3-4 days."
5. Coriander (Cilantro) and Oat Flour Paste
From adding wonderful flavor to your food to taking care of your skin, this one does it all. These leaves are rich in collagen-boosting Vitamin C, various minerals and antioxidants. Furthermore, they also have antiseptic, anti-fungal and antibacterial properties. This super herb also cleanses and soothes your skin. These properties make it a wonderful beauty ingredient for the elimination of whiteheads and their future prevention.
Home Remedy
To 1 tsp. of oat flour, add enough coriander juice to make a thick paste. Apply on your skin and wash when dry. Follow with your daily skin care routine. This mask can be used 1-2 times a week.
Extensively used as a beauty ingredient for various skin problems, lemon can also be used to remove whiteheads. The alpha hydroxy acids in lemon juice dry out the excess oil, unclog pores and effectively exfoliate the skin. Citric acid from the fruit tightens the pores and prevents bacterial infection. Also rich in Vitamin C, calcium and potassium, lemon is great for your skin as long as it is not used excessively or undiluted. It nourishes the skin, brightens the complexion, and reduces acne and blemishes.
Home Remedy
Add 1 tsp. of powdered brown sugar to a mixture of 1 tsp. of lemon juice and 1 tsp. of rosewater. Mix well and dab on your whiteheads. Wipe off with a damp tissue in 15 minutes. Follow with your toner, serum, and lotion. Repeat up to 3 times a week.
Watch this video of an easy oat flour and turmeric homemade face mask remedy to close open pores and balance oily skin.
7. Baking Soda and Aloe Deep Cleaning Mask
This absolutely essential baking ingredient can also be an important ingredient in many hair and skin care remedies. Baking soda helps dissolve excess oils that cause
Home Remedy
Mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda with 2 tsp. of aloe vera juice. Mix and dab on the whitehead-prone area of your skin. Wash off in 12 minutes. Follow with your toner, serum, and lotion to hydrate and nourish your skin.
8. Gram Flour and Almond Milk Paste
Gram flour has been used for ages as an effective skin care ingredient not just for whiteheads, but it also helps to get rid of excess oiliness and blackheads. Gram flour deep cleans your skin and exfoliates your face, removing excess oil and sebum. It also unclogs pores in this process.
Home Remedy
Mix some gram flour with a teaspoon of almond milk and use it as a face mask.
Let it dry and then wash it off using warm water. This remedy can be used for both whiteheads and blackheads. Use once or twice a week and follow with your toner, serum, and lotion to nourish your skin and prevent dryness.
9. Tomato Pulp Face Mask
Your best friend in the kitchen is also great with skin-related issues, especially oily skin prone to whiteheads. Loaded with Vitamin C and natural sulfur, tomatoes refresh your skin and brighten up that dull face. Their acidic property could balance the pH of your skin and get rid of oil and dirt, causing your whiteheads to unclog.
Home Remedy
Peel a tomato and mash it up. Apply the pulp over affected areas and leave it on for 5 minutes. Wash your face with lukewarm water. Spray on your toner and follow with serum and lotion.
10. Almond Skin Cleansing Mix
Vitamin E in almonds protects your skin cells from excess free radicals. Highly nourishing, almond oil also revitalizes the skin and dissolves the hardened sebum in those whiteheads.
Home Remedy
Grind some pre-soaked almonds and mix 1 tsp. with 1 tsp. of organic almond oil to form a paste. Apply this paste to your face and leave it on for 15 minutes. Wash with warm water. Repeat 1-2 times a week. Follow with your daily skin care routine for your skin type. To find out your skin type, click here.
Looking for expert advice to get your skin to be the best it has ever been? Your flawless skin might just be hiding under the surface. Fill out this form and get expert skin and hair care advice from Sheetal. She is a scientist in human genetics and the founder of www.apsaraskincare.com.
Go natural. It is good karma!
1 comment
Hi Sheetal my friend has a black scar in elbow and neck,she were neck,she were a scarf to hide but she got a fare skin,is there any cream or any Tips,I told her only sheetal can help you many thanks.