6 Effective DIY Peel-Off Face Masks for Blackheads Removal and Deep Pore Cleansing

Making DIY peel off face masks is a great way to get rid of blackheads and cleanse your pores. Homemade peel off masks remove dead skin cells, grime, and bacteria from clogged pores, and help make your skin look and feel radiant. You can also adjust the ingredients in peel off masks you make at home to suit your skin type or address any skin issues. Homemade natural peel off face masks can be used for oily skin, combination skin, dry skin, sensitive skin, and acne-prone skin.

DIY peeling masks using natural ingredients usually use gelatin or tissue paper to peel off impurities from your skin. Many natural peel off masks include ingredients like charcoal, tea tree oil, lemon juice, or egg white to help cleanse pores deep down. These ingredients also have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties to help reduce redness, bacteria, blackheads, and other symptoms of acne.

In this article, you will learn how to make DIY peel off face masks for blackhead removal and deep pore cleansing. You will also find recipes for face peel masks without gelatin if you don’t want to use it. Remember, that you can adjust any of the natural ingredients in these homemade recipes to suit any skin type or address any skin issue.

Why Use Peel Off Masks for Blackheads and Deep Pore Cleansing

Before we look at specific recipes to make peel off masks at home, let’s look at some of the benefits of using face peels.

What are blackheads?

Contrary to popular belief, blackheads are not dirty pores on your face. Dr. Gary W. Cole on MedicineNet explains that blackheads are a form of acne and are caused by sebum that blocks pores or hair follicles. Because the pore is open (sometimes called open comedones), the oily sebum substance turns black when it oxidizes with the air.¹

Blackheads are different from whiteheads because whiteheads form in closed comedones. This means that the sebum plug doesn’t oxidize with the air and stays white.

Why is deep pore cleansing necessary?

According to the journal Cutis, deep pore cleansing is necessary to remove excess sebum, bacteria, and grime that can block pores. Deep pore cleansing can help to reduce symptoms associated with acne and improve the overall appearance and tone of the skin. However, it’s important to use gentle ingredients that don’t irritate your skin.²

How peel off masks remove blackheads and cleanse pores

According to dermatologist Dr. Rachel Herschenfeld, facial peels remove the outer layer of your skin to get rid of dead skin cells. The peeling process also unclogs pores from bacteria, dead skin cells, and impurities in blocked pores. Peeling face masks can even help fine lines to fade. Another benefit of using peel-off masks on your face is that they can reduce the amount of sebum on your face and destroy harmful bacteria.³  

Some of the benefits of DIY face peels include:

• Hydrate and moisturize dry skin
• Visibly reduce some of the signs of aging like fine lines
• Help to improve the symptoms of acne
• Can be used on all skin types
• Reduce blotches, redness, and inflammation on the skin
• Antioxidant properties that help to rid facial skin from free radicals

When applying face peels for deep pore cleansing and getting rid of blackheads, it’s important to remember a few things.

• First, always avoid applying the mixture around your eyes and brows. Peeling off the mask can also remove eyebrows and be very painful.
• You should also wait for 20-30 minutes to allow the mixture to dry completely before peeling off.
• Always cleanse and dry your face before applying any of the DIY peel off face masks.

Peel Off Masks with Gelatin

Some of the best peel off face masks use gelatin to create a peel that removes blackheads, blocked pores, and bacteria from the skin.

One of the advantages of using gelatin in natural face peels is that it may help to boost collagen metabolism in your skin. According to the journal Annual Review of Food Science and Technology, gelatin and collagen are commonly used in cosmetic applications.⁴ In fact, gelatin is derived from collagen, and applying it to your skin can help to tighten your pores and reduce the appearance of fine lines.

You can also make facial peel off masks without gelatin by substituting it with agar-agar. It is possible that agar has a similar effect on your skin to boost collagen. The journal Radiology reported that consuming agar helps to boost bone mineral content and stimulate collagen production. Although the study was on the collagen-boosting effects of consuming agar, it can be used in DIY face peel masks in place of gelatin.

Activated Charcoal and Gelatin Blackhead Removal Peel-Off Mask

A great peel off mask to get rid of blackheads effectively contains activated charcoal for its cleansing effect and antimicrobial properties. Activated charcoal does a great job of removing bacteria, excess oil, and dead skin cells from your skin.

The antibacterial properties of activated charcoal were outlined in the journal I&EC Research. Scientists have found that activated carbon (charcoal) is a highly effective antibacterial compound against various strains of bacteria. Activated charcoal also binds impurities and germs to itself.⁵

This charcoal face peel mask can help to quickly detoxify your skin and reduce the appearance of blackheads and other symptoms of acne. You should notice that your skin feels tighter and rejuvenated after applying this peel mask.

This mask uses some bentonite clay for its ability to detox the skin and also a few drops of essential oil to combat the symptoms of acne.

How to make a homemade charcoal peel off mask:

Natural ingredients you will need:

• 1 tbsp. unflavored gelatin powder
• 2 activated charcoal capsules
• 1/2 teaspoon bentonite clay (optional)
• A few drops of tea tree oil or lavender oil (optional)

Directions:

1. Put the gelatin, charcoal, and bentonite clay in a small heatproof bowl and add 2 tablespoons clean or distilled water.
2. Mix well.
3. Place in a microwave and heat for 10 seconds at a time. Repeat until the mixture has thickened.
4. Allow the mixture to cool until it is warm and add 2-3 drop of essential oil.
5. Apply the warm charcoal mask to your forehead, nose, cheeks, and chin.
6. Leave for 20 minutes until the face mask has hardened.
7. Carefully peel off the DIY face mask to remove bacteria, blackheads, and grime from your face.
8. Rinse your face and apply little natural oil like avocado oil or coconut oil to moisturize your skin.
9. Use the charcoal face peel off mask 1-2 times a week to keep blackheads away and keep your skin looking beautiful.

Lemon Juice and Gelatin Peel Off Mask

Lemon juice is a great ingredient for a blackhead peel off mask due to its natural antiseptic properties. The skin-lightening effect of lemon juice helps to even out skin tone and reduce pigmentation. Lemon juice also has natural astringent properties to shrink pores and improve your skin’s complexion. Rich in vitamin C, lemon juice peel off mask also provides important nutrients to nourish your facial skin and is especially good for oily skin.

According to the British Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicology, extracts from lemons have antimicrobial potential. The astringent effect of lemon juice on skin also helps to keep your skin free of infection and destroy acne-causing bacteria.⁶

How to make a homemade peel off mask with lemon juice:

Natural ingredients you will need:

• 2 tbsp. unflavored gelatin
• 4 tbsp. lemon juice

Directions:

1. Put the gelatin and lemon juice in a heatproof bowl.
2. Fill a larger bowl with hot water and place the bowl with the gelatin and lemon juice in the middle.
3. Stir the mixture until it begins to thicken and the powder dissolves completely.
4. Allow the mixture to cool so that it is warm and won’t burn your skin.
5. Use a cosmetic makeup brush to apply the lemon juice face mask to the problem areas on your face.
6. Let the face peel mask dry completely.
7. Gently peel the mask off to remove impurities from your skin.
8. Repeat 1-2 times a week for best results and to help lighten your skin tone and remove fine lines.

DIY Peel Off Mask with Milk and Gelatin

Milk has calming and moisturizing properties that help to give you radiant skin free of blemishes. Milk contains a number of enzymes, proteins, and minerals that help to nourish tired skin and get rid of antioxidants.

One of the benefits of using milk in natural face peels was mentioned in the International Journal of Molecular Science. Scientists have found that milk contains alpha hydroxy acids (AHA). These acids are commonly found in many cosmetic products to help revitalize skin. AHAs are used in chemical peels, treat the symptoms of dry skin, get rid of the signs of acne, and improve signs of inflammation.⁷

If you have problems with acne pimples and blackheads, you can add a few drops of tea tree oil to boost the antibacterial effect of this mask.

How to make your own peel mask using milk:

Natural ingredients you will need:

• 2 tbsp. unflavored gelatin
• 4 tbsp. full-fat milk

Directions:

1. Use the double boiler method as in the lemon juice mask recipe to create your gelatin and milk mask.
2. Using a cosmetic brush, apply the milk peel mask to cleansed skin on your forehead, cheeks, chin, and nose.
3. Allow to dry to moisturize, nourish, and kill off bacteria on your skin.
4. When the face mask is tight and hard, gently peel off to extract blackheads from plugged pores.
5. Use 2 times a week to keep your complexion bright and your face free from blemishes.

Peel Off Masks Without Gelatin

If you don’t want to make peel off masks with gelatin, then you can use different method. The face peels mentioned below use tissue paper to create the peeling effect to deep cleanse your pores and remove blackheads.

Here are some recipes for DIY peel off mask without glue or gelatin.

Egg White DIY Peel-Off Mask for Blackheads

One of the easiest peel-off masks to make is using egg white and tissue paper. Egg white has a number of benefits for your skin including helping to tighten skin, smooth fine lines, and remove bacteria and other impurities.

According to the journal Nutrients, egg white contains many necessary amino acids that help to protect the skin. Some of these are leucine, glutamic, and aspartic acids. These are found in many cosmetic applications to boost the skin’s appearance and improve complexion.⁸

You can also read my article on the best egg white face mask recipes for various skin issues for more ideas on how to use egg white on your face.

How to make an easy facial peel with egg white:

Natural ingredients you will need:

• 2 egg whites
• Strips of tissue paper

Directions:

1. Beat the egg whites in a clean bowl until they are somewhat stiff and frothy.
2. Apply the egg white mixture to your face using a cosmetic makeup brush.
3. Apply strips of tissue paper to the egg white before it dries. Each strip should slightly overlap the previous one.
4. Apply more of the egg white mixture on top of the tissue paper.
5. Leave the egg white mask to solidify and tighten your skin to shrink the size of pores.
6. Carefully peel off the DIY egg mask to remove blackheads, bacteria, and help improve your skin tone.
7. For best results, use 2 times a week as part of your natural skincare

Homemade Peel Off Face Mask with Honey and Milk

If you really want to give yourself 5-star pampering facial treatment, you can add honey to the peel off mask. Milk and honey have been used for centuries to help women of all ages get youthful-looking skin and reduce the visible signs of aging.

Honey contains powerful antioxidants and antimicrobial properties to destroy free radicals from your skin. According to the Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine, honey contains enzymes that destroy many strains of bacteria. The nourishing qualities of honey also help to improve signs of skin damage and stop the growth of microbes.⁹

How to make a DIY honey and milk peel mask:

Natural ingredients you will need:

• 1 tbsp. honey
• Enough milk to make a thick mixture
• Strips of tissue paper

Directions:

1. Mix honey and a little warm milk (adjust the proportions so that the mixture is fairly thick).
2. Use a clean makeup brush to apply the honey mask to your face.
3. Stick the strips of tissue paper to your face.
4. Apply another layer of the honey and milk mixture.
5. Leave the face mask until dry to allow the honey kill off bacteria and the milk nourish your skin.
6. Gently peel away the mask to get rid of blackheads on your forehead, nose, and chin.
7. Repeat 2 times a week to help keep your skin looking gorgeous and radiant.

For more ideas on how to use raw honey to have beautiful skin, you can find more recipes in my article on the best honey face masks for glowing skin.

Homemade Face Mask for Deep Cleansing and Moisturizing

Another way to make a face mask without using gelatin is to combine egg white, lemon juice, and coconut oil. This homemade face mask uses the cleansing properties of lemon juice with the nourishing ability of virgin coconut oil to provide deep cleansing and moisturizing.

Coconut oil contains fatty acids that have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activity. According to the journal Dermatitis coconut oil also has emollient effects on the skin and can help to reduce the symptoms of inflammatory skin conditions.¹⁰

How to make your own facial peel mask for cleansing and moisturizing:

Natural ingredients you will need:

• 1 egg white
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp virgin coconut oil
• Few drops chamomile essential oil (optional)
• Strips of clean tissue paper

Directions:

1. Whisk up the egg white until it is frothy.
2. Add lemon juice, coconut oil and, 1-2 drops of chamomile oil and continue to whisk to thoroughly combine the ingredients.
3. Use a clean cosmetic brush to apply a layer of the moisturizing skin mask to your face.
4. Apply the tissue strips to your face and apply another coat of the face mask.
5. While the mixture is drying, your skin will absorb the nutrients and vitamins from the lemon juice and coconut oil.
6. When the mask has dried completely and it feels tight on your face, gently peel off to remove all impurities from your skin.
7. Rinse with warm water and pat your skin dry.
8. Use 1-2 times a week to maintain a healthy complexion on your face and prevent pimples and blackheads forming.

Read my other related articles:

• Turmeric Face Mask Recipe for Glowing Skin
• 12 DIY Face Masks for Blackheads and Tightening Pores
• The Top 10 Honey Face Masks – For All Skin Types
• 7 Effective Egg White Face Masks for Various Skin Issues

Medical Sources