If you can afford it and your problem is particularly stubborn, microdermabrasion (called the "lunch peel" ) will remove balck and white heads and smooth out the skin nicely. It takes about 20 minutes, is painless, acts on your skin like a soft fine sandblaster, and doesn't leave you red and raw. Three or four sessions change the appearance of your face dramatically-but you'll notice a big difference even in the first.
Cost depends on where you live but generally 100-150 per session.