Friday, August 10, 2007
DIY Beauty: Aspirin Mask
When I first heard of the Aspirin Mask, I was totally befuddled! I mean, dude, seriously, you mean the aspirin that you pop?!
But at the same time, I was also very moved by the rave reviews and results from the ladies (who also tried the mask on their boyfriends!), and that got me to work a bit. I started googling and researched on the mask.
Aspirin (Salicylic Acid) is a form of Beta Hydroxy Acids or BHA’s, which are found inmany skin creams and work by exfoliating the dull, dead layers of skin, revealing fresh new skin underneath. Over time, BHA’s can help clarify skin tone and promote healing of blemishes.
By the end of it, I was sold. I went out and bought myself a box of Aspirin (x24 tablets) from Guardian (RM5.40; if you are from the States, then lucky you, you can get a bottle of Aspirin (x200 tablets) easily for USD$0.99, a steal!), a small tub of honey from Tesco (RM 4.50), and plain yoghurt (RM1.69). And I’m all set.
Recipe
>2-3 tablets of non-coated aspirins (that’s salicylic acid, NOT Paracetamol), sprinkle a little water over the tablets, just a dot or 3. (2 tablets give perfect coverage for me)
>Squeeze 2-3 dots of honey (yes! Those you eat with your pancakes!) on the tablets.
>And for a kick of AHA - that’s alpha-hydroxy acid, add a few dots of plain yoghurt to the concoction. You can then lick up the rest of the yoghurt :)
>Use a teaspoon to crush the tablet, mix well. The tablets should dissolve easily and you should get a grainy texture, but it shouldn't be too runny.
Application
>Simply spread the mixture on your freshly cleaned face, carefully avoiding the eye area and from breathing in the aspirin (I don’t think it’ll cause you permanent head damage, but it’s always good to be careful, yeah?), and leave it on for awhile and chill out as it dries. I’d leave it for 10 minutes, and no more than 15 minutes, just in case it got too drying for the skin.
>After the times’ up, wash it off, and at the same time, very gently rub the aspirin grains in circles with your fingers tips for about 10 seconds, that’ll exfoliate your skin.
>Then rinse off with water. Remember to apply toner and moisturiser to clean off any residues, tone; and moisturise.
Result
I’m of a sensitive skin type, and it has always been blotchy and pimply, though not serious, but it does bother me for the longest time. After the mask, my skin has improved significantly - no longer red and blotchy, minimal to no breakouts, the pores’ shrunk, and the blackheads are clearing off (softened, and so much easier to squeeze ‘em out).
Though not flawless, but it’s visibly cleaner, more stable, and fairer. And that’s 4 applications by far. And I can layoff those fancy-schmancy skincare products now with this extremely affordable mask!
Use this mask no more than 2-3 times a week, and apply at night, it’ll thoroughly cleanse and allow your skin to breath and rejuvenate. You should know your skin better, so monitor any changes in the skin as you go.
But...
The mask is not for people who are allergic to Aspirin. If you are unsure, run a patch test at the back of your palm, leave the aspirin concoction on for a few minutes, wash it off, and give it 24 hours to observe any reactions. Better yet, consult your doctor before you apply anything.
If you do decide to try out the mask, don’t take my word for it, read up and do some research yourself first. And then let me know how it turns out! :)
P/S You may also try adding a dot of fresh Aloe Vera gel to the mixture (though I haven’t yet tried this myself); I believe it’ll give a great skin-tightening result on top of the moisturising effect.
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