Get rid of blackheads with cinnamon & honey

I have a list of problems I need help with: 1) My brother, 17, has scars on his cheeks and forehead; 2) My mother, 37, has pores on her cheeks; 3) I am 14, and have a lot of acne and scars on my forehead and blackheads on my nose that don't go away easily. Please suggest some home remedies for all three problems.
- Anam
For the first problem, aloe vera gel applied and left overnight will help heal your brother's skin, and clear the scars. Second, your mom's open pores can be reduced by applying tomato purée daily; leave on for an hour and rinse with cold water; also, she should splash chilled water on her face as often as possible. For your own problem, make a mask using cinnamon powder, honey and a few drops of tea tree oil; apply this mask once a day - rinse after 30 minutes with cold water. This will clear blackheads, and treat acne and scars too.
I'm 15, and have dark circles under my eyes. I also have acne on my face. Please suggest some natural remedies.
- Name withheld
Dark circles can be lightened by placing used tea bags or potato eye pads on the area, twice daily. Acne can be treated by applying a mint mask daily; it will cool the skin and clear the acne. Avoid hot, spicy, oily foods, and drink 8 to 10 glasses of water daily.

I am 33, and have neglected myself for around a decade while I was busy raising my kids. I have acne pits, uneven skin tone and dull skin. I get pimples if I apply any cream. I have scanty eyebrows and eyelashes, and thinning, greying hair. My weight is 55kg, ideal for my 5' 5" height, but my face is thin and I have dull eyes. I looked aged. Please help!
- Tahmina
For acne pits: take cornflour and rice powder, and add egg white; apply this on your face, and when dry, gently scrub skin in circular motion. Rinse with cold water. Do this daily. This will also give skin an even tone and add colour to it. Avoid creams if they cause pimples; instead, use a toning mask like a cucumber mask that shrinks pores. Castor oil adds body to lashes and eyebrows, and also adds fullness to hair. Daily exercising improves circulation, so hair quality can improve too. I would recommend a final rinse with black tea, which should be left to dry on your hair: this helps coat the greys gradually. Try yoga; in a few months, you will look youthful.

My hair stinks and it may be because of dandruff. I've done aloe vera-based treatments in the parlour in the past to clear my scalp, but the dandruff always returns. What is an effective treatment to keep the scalp clean in the long run?
- Yashwini
Sprinkle baking soda in every hair parting, and leave on for an hour. Then, rinse the scalp gently - this will gradually lift the dandruff and clear the odour. Follow with your usual shampoo. Do this every time you shampoo.

My skin gets really dry all the time, no matter how many creams I use. What can I do?
- Neena
Make a mask of almond and sesame powder, add it to yoghurt or coconut milk, and honey. Apply on your skin, and scrub off when it dries. Do this thrice a week. There may be other reasons for dry skin - like, if you are on heavy medication or if your diet is lacking in nourishing foods like nuts, oils, eggs, fish etc. You need to also drink at least 1.5 litres
of water daily and follow an exercise regimen.
(Got a beauty-related query? Write to Rima Soni at wknd@khaleejtimes.com)