Did you know that salicylic acid, the popular over the counter chemical exfoliant, great for acne and improving skin tone is also found in your medicine cabinet? Aspirin pills are actually salicylic acid. With a little modification you can make an Aspirin mask for your skin too.

I had been using Salicylic acid for years, almost a decade actually before I discovered that- indeed it is the same thing as Aspirin.  Now, I’ll never go without. If you are in need of a quick fix at in need of a homemade face exfoliator – just use Aspirin.

Aspirin Mask Recipe

1. Take two Aspirin pills and run a little water over them to dissolve their outer coating. When thoroughly wet, start mushing them between your fingers and the palm after you hand. After several seconds the pills will separate and become a paste. Add a little more water to this paste, presto you have a salicylic acid scrub in your hands.

2. Wet your face and pat the paste onto your face, and rub very gently. The paste is coarse so you’ll want to be extra careful so that it does not tear into the skin as you cover it. Leave on for several (3-10) minutes, depending on your skin sensitivity, Let the the acid begins to work.  You can actually do this in the shower as long as you keep it away from the water. Then rinse off getting all the areas.

You’ll notice the skin is a little brighter and more flushed due to the manual exfoliation of scrubbing and its chemical reaction.

3. As with any exfoliating treatment, follow up with a moisturizer or hydrating agent. If you are going outside, slather on the sunblock as usual.

For travelers who like to pack extra light on trips- bringing your Aspirin bottle is a two-in-one solution for pain and an Aspirin face mask.

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