The Green Beauty Guide

One of the first homemade beauty products I’ve ever made was an aspirin mask. I think it’s the most powerful non-prescription and totally green solution you can find for problem skin.

            Aspirin for acne? Why not? It’s the cleanest and most concentrated form of salicylic acid. It is made of acetylsalicylic acid. Since its market introduction under the trademark Aspirin® in the year 1899, acetylsalicylic acid has attained a strong reputation in the prescription-free therapy of pain and inflammations.

            Aspirin works to inhibit the body’s production of prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are extremely effective, hormone-like substances that are produced by the body in miniscule quantities and are involved in the regulation of pain, fever and inflammation. Additional bonus: active ingredient in aspirin prevents infections and damage to blood vessels! That’s exactly what we are looking for – killing the inflammation and keeping blood vessels stable to avoid swelling and spreading the germs to nearby skin tissue.

            When we use plain uncoated aspirin, we are completely sure that it doesn’t contain any additives, preservatives, colors, and other unnecessary fillers. Any chemical addition to salicylic acid reduces the effectiveness of this substance. When we use aspirin for a very short time and diluted with water, we are capable to avoid irritation and reduce chances of over-drying the skin.

            Why buy 2% solution and pay for water and preservatives, if you can get 100% and use it sparingly and dilute it with something even more healing? Aspirin might be the cheapest treatment you ever put on your face, with a tube of generic Aspiring for a dollar or so!

            Even though we plan to use aspirin topically, as a mask and a lotion, it’s necessary to read the leaflet carefully. As with all drugs, people who have asthma, persisting or recurring stomach problems (such as heartburn, upset stomach or stomach pain), ulcers or bleeding problems should not take acetylsalicylic acid unless directed by a doctor.  Anyone taking a drug for anticoagulation (thinning of the blood), diabetes, gout or arthritis should not take acetylsalicylic acid unless directed by a doctor.

            As with any drug, if you are pregnant or nursing a baby, seek the advice of a health care professional before using aspirin to fight your acne.

Drum roll…. Here’s my completely green acne buster recipe:

Aspirin Mask Recipe Step by Step

1) Get the uncoated tablet of aspirin out of the shell or bottle.

2) Soak the cotton disk with lukewarm water. Put the tablet on a wet cotton disk. Wait till it dissolves and disappears in moist cotton wool.

3) Wet skin of the acne-affected area thoroughly with warm water. If you plan to treat several acne areas, deal with each of them one by one. Pat skin dry with a clean towel.

4) Using circular motion, cover the affected area with aspirin solution. Make sure that you cover the entire area affected by acne, even if there are not red inflamed pimples. Prevention is the best weapon.

5) Repeat the process on other areas of your skin. Prepare the new cotton disk soaked in aspirin once the first one is dry. Disregard the sand-like particles – they act as a mild scrub, and the active ingredient remains on the skin anyway.

6) Leave the aspirin on your face for at least three minutes. The thin whitish crust will form.

7) Rinse the aspirin mask with lukewarm water and pat your face dry with clean paper napkin.

            This mask will remove sebum clogging in your pores and calm down the inflammation. Acne-affected pores will be less swollen and ready to absorb the next treatment - why not try well-diluted tea tree oil?  

            Another tip: when you have a hideous pimple ripening, and you have an extra-important event coming up, cut a tablet of aspirin in half, so to release the white contents of the pill, wet an inner side, and locate it on the pimple. Then fix it on the face with a Band-Aid. Hold it in place for at least half an hour, to see the pimple reduced greatly.

            You may also try mixing Aspirin with witch hazel gel, honey, plain yoghurt, egg whites or your favorite clay mask – they will all add their own good thing to fabulous action of aspirin. You may even add Aloe Vera juice or puree to the mix for added benefits. Plus, Aloe Vera helps Aspirin not to flake so easily off your face.    

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