The DIY: Blackhead-Busting Face Masks With Lemon JuiceWhy you should skip it: Lemon juice is very acidic, which can burn the skin, says dermatologist Dr. Gary Goldfaden, founder of Goldfaden MD. And, if you do a DIY mask with lemon juice, it can react poorly to UV light, causing a photo-toxic reaction, says Clear Scalp & Hair dermatologist Dr. Francesca Fusco. This usually happens within 24 to 72 hours after exposing your skin to the sun, and can leave you with red blotches, tender skin and even blisters. To make matters worse: Fusco says this reaction can last up to two weeks, and once the redness dies down you're left with greyish-brown patches that hang around for several months.
What you should do instead: Dermatologist Dr. Marina Peredo of Skinfluence NYC recommends mixing Bentonite clay (you can find it in vitamin and natural food stores) with water to create a blackhead-busting mask. It helps draw out skin impurities; use it one to two times per week and you'll start to see your blackheads do a disappearing act.
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