Take Five Aspirin and Call Me in the Morning

Reveal skin with DIY skin treatments

Last week I wrote about my guilt associated with wasteful beauty product packaging. Since then (whoa – an entire week) I’ve tried to be mindful about what I buy rather than mindlessly consuming. I’m a beauty junkie – I like having the newest, sexiest products, with their life-changing, radiance-boosting claims. Lately I’ve been craving a new facial mask – something dewifying, brightening, clarifying and ultra-hydrating. But instead of trolling the aisles of Sephora or Walgreens, I looked in my fridge and medicine cabinet.

Make an Aspirin Mask

Got dull, wintry skin? How about blackheads and clogged pores? Then you’ll love (I hope) the aspirin mask. It’s made from – you guessed– it aspirin dissolved in water or witch hazel (speeds up the process).

Aspirin contains salicylic acid (aka Beta Hydroxy Acid), an exfoliant that helps slough off dead skin cells and unplug pores. It’s also used to treat acne and hyperpigmentation.

When my skin looks dull and my pores are clogged, it’s time to use the aspirin as a mask or scrub. Post-mask my skin always looks clear and soft. My friend and fellow aspirin aficionado, Kim, says her skin feels “tight, toned and plumped” after 15 minutes of the mask.

I mix aspirin with aloe vera gel because it feels less abrasive and helps calm irritation. But it’s just as effective with plain old water – experiment with ingredients to find what works best for your skin.

What You’ll Need:

1. 5 or 6 uncoated regular-strength aspirin tablets
2. Warm water or witch hazel
3. Optional: aloe vera gel or organic honey

What to Do:

1. Mix aspirin with warm water or witch hazel to form a grainy paste.
2. Spread all over face, focusing on problem areas like the t-zone.
3. For a thicker, less drying consistency, mix dissolved aspirin with a dollop of aloe vera gel dollop or room temperature honey. Spread all over face, like a mask.
4. Wait about 10 or 15 minutes and remove with a warm wash cloth. Since honey is sticky and tacky, it takes a little more elbow grease and finesse to get it all off without making a mess.
5. Follow with a hydrating moisturizer.

X Marks the Spot
I’m cursed with occasional hormonal breakouts on my jaw line and neck. I’m talking painful cystic monstrosities that make me want to hide in my apartment. I use 2 or 3 dissolved aspirins as a spot treatment that I leave on overnight. Definitely helps reduce inflammation and scarring.

Milk and Honey

When The Coveted was still fairly new, Jennine asked me how to make a mask with honey and yogurt. Although messy and drippy, I love the way honey makes my skin all soft and glowy. Plain, whole milk yogurt is cooling and minimizes the redness that sensitive types experience after masking or exfoliating.

These pictures are pretty silly (and, in my case, not very flattering). I can’t believe we posted them on the Internet. Jennine – I love being silly and girly with you. You’re a dear, beloved friend and I’ll really miss you. Bon voyage, luv.

Tagged as: honey, skin care, You are beautiful