The best way to remove blackheads is to remove the cause of them — excessive sebum (oil) and dead skin cells. Use only products made with natural ingredients that are not too astringent. Harsh products can strip the skin of oil, causing it to produce more sebum which leads to more blocked pores. Don't be afraid of using cleansing products containing natural oils, such as jojoba or coconut oil to cleanse the skin. These oils are close to our natural oils, so they don't block the pores. Use a gentle exfoliator every day to remove dead skin cells so they don't block pores. Just remember to be very gentle, over exfoliation can exacerbate the problem. Avoid products containing the following: alcohol, isopropyl mystate, lanolin, sodium lauryl sulphate, sodium laureth sulphate, propylene glycol, mineral oil and parabens. Do not to try and extract them forcibly, either using your fingers, fingernails or a comedone (blackhead) remover. This can cause permanent damage to the pores and stop them working properly. You may squeeze some of the blackhead out, but you could also force some of it even deeper into the skin, which may lead to infection (large spots, pimples or even cysts) or permanent damage. Touching your skin should generally be avoided to prevent cross infection. The best way to reduce the appearance of blackheads is to do the following, twice a week: 1. Wash the skin using a gentle, natural exfoliating product and pat the skin dry 2. Fill a bowl/basin with boiling water, and a few drops of tea tree oil 3. Steam your face for about 5 minutes to open the pores and soften the skin 4. Apply a clay mask, such as bentonite clay or kaolin (these masks will attract and absorb the oil in the blocked pore) 5. Let the mask work for the allocated time (10 minutes to an hour) 6. Rinse off with warm water and pat the skin dry 7. If you have scars or red marks from previous acne, this is a good time to apply diluted lavender oil to the skin (from http://www.acne-advice.com/treatments/blackheads.shtml)

The short version is keep it simple. -Wash your face with as natural a product as you feel comfortable with. -Use a simple estringent like plain witch hazel (inexpensive, and natural) -apply a moisturizer (one including a sunscreen agent is a plus) -drink water! It is the best way to hydrate your skin and clean impurities Be well