Tip: Home Remedy: Make an Aspirin mask

Picture Credit of pietroizzo

I don’t take aspirin for headaches or pains – it isn’t common here in Malaysia where paracetamol is usually more popular. That said, I learnt of a useful tip of using aspirin as a facial mask and here is my recipe for the aspirin mask.

Aspirin mask recipe :

• Take 2 uncoated aspirin pills and place in the palm of your hand or crush them up.
• Drip some water onto the pills and let them dissolve in your hand, mushing it up into a paste.
• Apply to your face and leave to dry.
• When dry, wash off and moisturise.

Believe me when I tell you that this aspirin mask leaves your skin feeling baby smooth. How this works is simply because Aspirin contains acetylsalicylic acid. Using it as a mask therefore gives you a slight peel effect and tightens up the pores.

I’ve found that a thick paste of aspirin placed on a particularly painful pimple or cystic acne spot will help to reduce the pain and dry up the spot. Regular use can even help reduce the formation of spots.

There are many recipes for the aspirin mask, but the one I’ve provided is the fastest and the easiest. If you prefer something thicker that sticks to your skin better, crush up the aspirin pills then mix them into pure unscented aloe vera gel or honey and let it dissolve before applying on the face. This will help it adhere better and the aloe vera gel and honey adds moisture.

There are a few points to note when using the aspirin mask:

• Don’t leave the aspirin mask on too long. Some people have sensitive skin and this mask might cause the skin to redden.
• Use uncoated aspirin. There is no need for branded aspirin. Any generic uncoated aspirin pill will do. Here in Malaysia where choice is limited, I use Dispirin which is easily found in any pharmacy.
• Always moisturize after using the aspirin mask. After you wash off the mask, always follow up immediately with a good thick moisturizer. The acid does dry out the skin so you need to replenish the moisture.
• Don’t use the aspirin mask too often. It is drying for the skin. I do use it once a month or when I remember and am always amazed at how incredibly smooth my skin feels after that!

If you have dry skin I won’t recommend you trying it. However, it does help oily skin or spot treatment of acne.

I have tried making a toner by dissolving aspirin into water and using it as a toner after cleansing. However, I think the apple cider vinegar toner works better although the aspirin toner smells better!

If you try it or have tried it, do let me know what you think.