In my last post, I talked about how you can banish redness and clear clogged pores for sensitive skin types using papaya.
This time around I’m going to talk about a few other fruits that have a more powerful punch. These are no joke my friends, so if you have sensitive skin you may want to tread lightly if you decide to use these.
For all you normal skin types (lucky you!), just choose one of the fruits below and get started!
The Best Fruit Enzymes for Clogged Pores
If you are someone whose skin gets clogged up just days after using a scrub, pores strips, or any other blackhead treatment, then fruit enzymes could be the answer to your problems.
My skin, especially around my nose, chin, and cheekbones tend to get clogged up easily if I don’t keep a consistent schedule. This means I need to use a scrub every other day or pore strips twice a week to keep my pores clear. It’s just been one of those things that need constant upkeep. It drives me crazy and I’m sure there are a lot of you who deal with the same annoying issue.
The good news is there’s a solution!
Fruit enzymes.
Yes, just a simple fruit mask can help eliminate clogged pores for good!
These are the best fruit enzymes for clogged pores I know of aside from papaya:
Pineapple
Pineapples contain an enzyme known as bromelain. Using the mashed fruit as a mask will help dissolve dead skin cells, reverse free radical damage, and smooth skin texture. Pineapple enzymes are also great for smoothing out acne scars!
This mask feels a little acidic so don’t apply this mask after using facial scrubs or if you have any open wounds. It is fine to apply to acne too as long as you haven’t been picking.
To Use: Blend up some fresh pineapple until smooth and apply a thin even layer to the skin. Allow it to sit for 15 minutes and then rinse with cool water. Repeat twice a week. If you have especially clogged skin try doing the mask again the next day for best results. Repeat when you notice clogs forming again.
Don’t want to make your own? Try this pore purifying pineapple enzyme scrub.
Pumpkin
This is one of the most fast-acting and aggressive enzymes to use on the skin so if you have very clogged pores this is the one for you. Pumpkins contain a lot of alpha hydroxyl acid so be careful! If you use this mask too often you may cause a lot of peeling due to its skin renewing effect.
To Use: If you have some fresh pumpkins lying around then chop off a piece and steam it until tender. Mash it up with a little filtered water (this is the strongest way to use it) or with raw honey (for more sensitive skin) until you have a nice spreadable paste. Apply an even layer to the skin and let it sit for 15 minutes before gently rinsing it off. Repeat 2-3 times a week.
You can also use canned pumpkin for the same effect!
Don’t want to make your own? Try this pumpkin peel or this pumpkin mask.
Tomato
Tomatoes contain an enzyme known as citric acid and are perfect for people who suffer from excessively oily skin and clogged pores. Not only do tomatoes help remove blackheads they also whiten and brighten the skin so they’re good for people with hyperpigmentation. Tomatoes also tighten pores.
To Use: Simply slice a tomato and rub it on clear unbroken skin. Let it sit for 15 minutes then rinse with cool water. Repeat 2-3 times per week.
Don’t want to make your own? Try this tomato mask.
Kiwi
Kiwis are another fruit that contains a good amount of alpha hydroxyl acid so they’re great for increasing cell turnover and brightening the skin. Over time kiwi fruit masks can even smooth out acne scars.
To Use: Slice off a piece of kiwi and rub it over the skin. Let the mask sit for 15 minutes then rinse with cool water. Repeat 2-3 times per week.
Apple
Apples contain malic acid making them perfect for dissolving the gunk stuck in our pores. They also balance the skin’s acid mantle which helps keep our skin from breaking out by increasing its alkalinity. Apples are also great to use if your skin has a lot of sun damage and aging.
To Use: Blend up some fresh apple (Granny Smith have the highest content of malic acid) and apply a thin layer to unbroken, freshly washed skin. Let it sit for 15 minutes and then rinse with cool water. Repeat 2-3 times per week.
Don’t want to make your own? Try this green apple enzyme peel for full strength and this one for sensitive skin..
Lemon
Everyone knows how beneficial lemons can be for clogged acne prone skin. The citric acid it contains increases cell turnover, brightens the complexion, and helps kill acne-causing bacteria. Lemon may be the most uncomfortable fruit to use as a mask so always make sure your skin is unbroken and never use it after a scrub. Something else to note is to ONLY use lemon juice at night as it increases your skin’s photosensitivity. However, lemon juice is a fantastic remedy for blackheads so if you can tolerate it then give it a go!
A lot of people have skin that is too sensitive for lemon juice but you can take away some of the sting by mixing it with raw honey.
To Use: Slice off a piece of fresh lemon and rub it over the skin avoiding the eye area. Let the juice sit for 10-15 minutes and then rinse with cool water. If the mask stings too much mix the lemon juice with a little raw honey. Repeat only at night 2 times a week.
Don’t want to make your own? Try this lemon mask sheet.
Grapes
Grapes are wonderful if you have aging skin along with clogged pores. The tartaric acid they contain stimulates the production of collagen which increases the skin’s firmness while cleaning away build-up. If you have sensitive skin but want to try something a little more potent without too much irritation then grapes are worth a try. This is because tartaric acid is gentler than the other alpha hydroxyl acids so it doesn’t sting like the other fruits do.
To Use: Slice a grape in half and rub it all over the skin or blend up a few grapes and apply evenly. Let the juice sit for 15 minutes then rinse with cool water. Repeat 2-3 per week.
What to Expect When Using Fruit Enzymes for Clogged Pores
The most important thing is to listen to your body. These fruit masks sound harmless but they’re actually pretty powerful. Redness, irritation, and peeling may occur when you first start using them. If it ever feels too strong then immediately rinse off the mask with cool water and consider mixing the fruit with raw honey or aloe gel the next time you use it.
Mixing the fruit with other ingredients makes the enzymes a little less effective, so if you find that you have to keep adding honey you may just want to go with papaya fruit or papaya powder instead. It’s much gentler.
When you first start using the fruit enzymes you may have to use them often at first until you reach the desired effect. I found that I had to use the enzymes two days in a row and then take a rest for a few days until I noticed blackheads forming again. Everyone is different so you just have to pay attention and see how long it takes for your pores to clog up.
After a while, you should only have to use fruit enzyme masks once a week and then even less often after that. This is because your skin will finally be able to rejuvenate itself optimally and you will have less and less clogged pores.
Best of luck!
For more acne fighting articles look below:
The Complete List of Comedogenic Oils
Simple Fruit Masks for Beautiful Skin
Natural Sources of Salicylic Acid for Acne—From Fruit!
How to Remove Blackheads Naturally
Could Jojoba Oil be your Cure for Blackheads?
Moroccan Red Clay- Blackheads Be Gone!
