How to Get Rid of Milia Naturally (Those Stubborn Little White Bumps Under Your Skin)

If you've ever noticed tiny, hard, white bumps sitting just under the surface of your skin — around your eyes, cheeks, or nose — and wondered what they are and how to get rid of milia naturally, you're not alone. I hear about these all the time from customers, and the good news is that they're harmless. The better news? You can absolutely address them at home without a dermatologist's needle.

Let me break it all down for you.

What Are Milia, Exactly?

Milia (singular: milium) are small, firm, white cysts that form when keratin — a dead skin protein — becomes trapped beneath the skin's surface. They're not whiteheads. They're not pimples. They're not infected. They're just a tiny pocket of protein that your skin hasn't been able to shed on its own.

They're sometimes called "milk spots," and they're extremely common. You'll typically find them clustered around the eyes, on the cheeks, or along the nose. They can show up on babies, teens, and adults alike. And while they can feel maddening when they just sit there, they don't hurt and they don't pose any health risk.

The key thing to understand: milia live under the skin. There's no opening, no pore to extract from. That's why they feel so different from a regular breakout.

What Causes Milia to Form?

A few things can set the stage for milia:

Heavy, occlusive creams. This is the big one. When you layer on thick creams — especially around the delicate eye area — you can block the skin's natural shedding process. The dead skin cells that should be turning over and releasing get trapped instead.

Lack of exfoliation. Your skin naturally sheds dead cells every 28-ish days (longer as we age). Without any help, that process can stall. Dead keratin builds up, and milia can form.

Sluggish skin cell turnover. Whether it's age, hormones, or just a sluggish routine, when the skin isn't renewing itself efficiently, protein can get stuck under the surface.

Sun damage. Chronic sun exposure can thicken the outer layer of skin, making it harder for dead cells to shed properly.

The through line in all of these causes is the same: the skin can't release what it's holding onto.

What NOT to Do With Milia

I have to be direct here, because I know the temptation is real: do not try to squeeze or pop milia. I mean it.

Unlike a whitehead — which has an opening and can be gently expressed — milia have no pore access. There is nowhere for the keratin to go if you squeeze. You'll just irritate the surrounding skin, risk scarring, and end up more frustrated than when you started. Please step away from your fingers.

Also: stop putting heavy cream on the area. I know it seems counterintuitive (the skin is bumpy, shouldn't you moisturize it?), but layering on rich, heavy creams can make the problem worse by further trapping skin cells and blocking turnover. If you're using a thick eye cream directly on areas where you're getting milia, that product may be contributing to them.

The Natural Solution: Gentle Chemical Exfoliation

Here's what actually works: gently encouraging your skin to turn over so it can release that trapped keratin on its own.

This is where our Exfoliate + Glow Tonic comes in. It's an AHA Botanical Skin Tonic — meaning it uses Alpha Hydroxy Acids from a fruit extract blend (sugarcane, orange, lemon, and sugar maple extracts) to gently dissolve the bonds holding dead skin cells together. That's what a chemical exfoliant does: instead of scrubbing the skin's surface, it works at a cellular level to loosen and release buildup.

It also contains:

• Sodium lactate — to hydrate and support a healthy skin barrier while the AHAs do their work

• Peony extract — for antioxidant protection and skin-rejuvenating support

• Lemon balm extract — to help balance skin and reduce congestion

Together, these ingredients help the skin do what it's supposed to do naturally: shed, renew, and glow.

How to Spot Treat Milia With Exfoliate + Glow

This is not a "douse your whole face" situation — especially around the eyes. Here's how I'd approach it:

1. Cleanse your skin first. Start with a clean face.

2. Apply Exfoliate + Glow directly to the affected area using a cotton pad or your fingertip. You're spot treating, not applying all over.

3. Be cautious near the eyes. Do not apply this (or any AHA) directly under the eye or close to the lash line. The skin there is extremely thin and sensitive. You can work around the orbital area, but give your actual eye area a wide berth.

4. Follow with a lightweight moisturizer. Keep it light — not a heavy, occlusive cream. (Think Barrier Defense Serum)

5. Use 2–3 times per week. Consistency matters more than intensity. Give your skin time to turn over.

6. You MUST, and please listen close, you MUST you a sunscreen any time you're using an AHA. Please apply Sun Serum as your final step.

Don't expect overnight results. Milia can take weeks to resolve — even with consistent treatment. Be patient. You're working with your skin's biology, not against it.

Preventing Milia Going Forward

Once you've addressed your current milia, a few habits will help keep them from coming back:

Exfoliate regularly. Two to three times a week with Exfoliate + Glow helps your skin shed naturally so keratin doesn't get a chance to trap. You can read more about building a smart exfoliation routine on our Simple Body blog.

Rethink your eye products. If you're layering heavy eye creams around your eyes and getting milia, your products might not be serving you. Try a lighter application — a little goes a long way.

Don't neglect SPF. Sun damage thickens the outer skin layer and slows cell turnover. Daily sun protection helps keep your skin renewing itself properly.

Let your skin breathe. Heavy makeup layered over thick skincare isn't helping. Especially around the eye area, lighter is better.

Milia are one of those skin concerns that respond really well to the right approach — and badly to the wrong one (looking at you, squeezing). The skin just needs help doing what it already knows how to do: shed, turn over, and reveal fresh skin underneath. A gentle AHA like Exfoliate + Glow is one of the most effective, natural ways to support that process without irritation or harsh intervention.

Trust the process. Treat consistently. And please, stop poking at them.

xoxo, Jewels