The Aspirin Mask
July 2, 2007 by Christina Jones
Filed under Beauty, Homemade Bath and Body, Save Money, Skin Care
This morning I received a comment on one of my most popular posts on the Miracle Whip Facial:
I am hearing that people are putting aspirin in the miracle whip, and then putting it on their face. Does anyone know what the benefits of aspirin are?
I have read a lot about the aspirin mask over the last year, but I have not tried it myself – after all, who has aspirin laying around in the age of Tylenol and Advil? Well, my mom does, I think, but until I get to the “aspirin a day” age, I don’t. But perhaps I will spring and buy some in the name of great beauty.
Aspirin (or acetylsalicylic acid) is a beta hydroxy acid, and therefore is an exfoliant similar to many that you will find in skin creams. The benefits of using an aspirin mask are: reduction of oil production, drys up blemishes, exfoliates the skin. To make a basic aspirin mask you either dissolve or crush up plain, uncoated aspirin (the cheaper the better – yeah!) in a teaspoon of water (you can use honey as well – it stays on your face a little easier) to make up a paste. Spread it on your face and leave it on for 20 minutes up to an hour, then wash it off.
So back to the original question about putting an aspirin in with your Miracle Whip – to me, the Miracle Whip facial is pretty strong. My skin is somewhat sensitive, and I wouldn’t necessarily think that adding more acid to it would be a good thing for everyone. My advice, if you really want to try it, is to do a patch test on your inner arm, or on one small area of your face first. Or just stay on the safe side and do them separately. I will test this out after my next trip to the drug store and will let you know. In the meantime, if you have tried either the aspirin mask or the Miracle Whip/aspirin combo – please let me know your experiences!
I have a ‘recipe’ for a version of an aspirin mask on my site. I use it about once a month and I also have sensitive skin; when mixed with honey, i dont think its very strong, but does a fine job of exfoliating.
I’ve been using aspirin mixed with Sour Cream as a mask for 4 months now in an attempt to stop the rampant acne I have developed since turning 30. I was skeptical at first because it seemed after the first round of using this combination that I broke out almost immediately after washing my face, but my skin was really soft and glowing in spite of the new blemishes. I continued using the mask twice a week for a full month to decide if it was going to help or not, and it turned out to be the best thing I’ve done yet. After the second round of using this mask, my existing spots (including the new ones from the first mask trial) had dried up significantly and my overly large pores/blackheads were diminished. I was no longer flaky constantly (which is an added pain when you have really oily skin to start with) and I wasn’t waking up with a new blemish every morning. Plus, my skin felt great! The spots I did get while in my first month, were smaller and not cystic ones like I normally got. I even started using the mask to clear up my back acne and had great results.
As a control I’ve skipped using the mask the last 3 weeks, and my acne is flaring up again, I’ve gone flaky and my pores are fully congested once more. The only change in my life was not using the mask regularly.
I have tried using honey with the aspirin, for a couple of weeks in the second month of my trials, but I found that I dried out a bit too much and had my skin feeling tight. The butterfat in the sour cream helps keep my face from over-drying while still maintaining whatever healing magic is happening. Some of my other friends with dry/normal skin have had great luck with using honey, but it didn’t work as well for my skin. Overall, I’m a big fan of aspirin use in a mask. Instead of spending huge amounts of coin on exfoliant products and acne products, I’m spending less than the cost of a tube of acne cream on a huge bottle of aspirin (which lasts for many months) and a tiny little tub of sour cream (which will last the month). I can pronounce everything in the aspirin and sour cream, which is more than I can say for most of the products I was putting on my face before!
I have to say I’m a big fan of ‘make at-home’ masques but the idea of Miracle Whip on the face is something I can’t fathom… the scent alone would ruin the spa-like moment I like to have when I do beauty treatments.
Hi Christina,
Love your site!
My daughter and I conjured up an aspirin mask this summer, and it is phenomenal! It dries up oil and zit, cleans and clears, and eliminates redness!
I crush 6 regular aspirins, dissolve in a tablespoon of witch hazel. Add 2 tablespoons of natural aloe vera (soothing!), and mix in about 6 tablespoons of Cetaphil cleanser for oily skin.
Nothing cleans better, but it is not abrasive nor does it cause dry cracks.
I do the plain old aspirin mask, just a few aspirin in water. I love it…leaves my skion s smooth and helps acne!
I just read this three days ago and I have done it everyday since. I am addicted! It is the best thing ever. I tried it plain with water and I tried with witch hazel mixed with aveeno clear radiance. My skin has improved immensely. No new flair ups, all existing spots are gone and redness is greatly improved. Aspirin therapy is so good for your insides, makes sense that it would be good for your skin too. Thanks for the great tip!
mmm..i wonder where can i buy “aspirin”..or how much will that be..and im just 15..will it work for me?actually, i dont have any pimps, but then, i have some in my nose..b;ackheads and whiteheads are what i have..will it be a good help?
I personally love the aspirin mask mixed with either just aloe vera gel (Fruit of the Earth) or some witch hazel/astringent toner. I would leave it on for 30 minutes tops and after rinsing (and scrubbing), I’d apply a calming mask or a sheet mask, followed by a light coating of jojoba oil after 20 minutes. It works wonders for my skin!
hey all!
i love!!!! the aspirin mask but i like to change it up a bit for example the best result mask for me was:
- 3 crushed aspirins
- 1 table spoon of rubbing alchahol
- and 2 table spoons of honey
- if desired add a tablespoon of oats
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