Aspirin & Honey Mask
Say hello to glowing skin!
Say hello to glowing skin!
I want to let you all in on a great beauty secret that I have recently discovered. Something so simple and easy that works….Aspirin face masks. Yep…those little round white tablets used to get rid of aches and pains can work wonders for your skin! I came across it on a website by accident one day and started doing a little research on it. It seems a two dollar bottle of Aspirin is quietly beating the pants off of all those expensive cleansers, exfoliators, and toners we all fork over big bucks for to try and improve our skin…I have a cupboard full of them and I am sure you do too.
Aspirin contains Salicylic Acid, which is the main ingredient in most cleansers for problem prone skin. Aspirin, when applied as a mask, helps exfoliate, open up and clean out pores, reduce redness with continued use, and clear up blemishes. Adding a little honey is also great. Honey is great for skin detoxification and moisturization, and helps the aspirin paste stick to your skin a little better. If you happen to have an allergy to honey, aloe vera also works well and is great for the skin as well.
Depending on the size of the aspirin, I usually put four to five aspirin (make sure to buy uncoated!) on a small plate or in a small cup and add a few drops of water. Let that sit for three to four minutes so that the aspirin absorbs the water and you are able to squish it down into a paste. Then, add about a tablespoon of honey to the cup and mix it all together well. The next part is a little messy but if you hang in there it is worth the results. Dip your fingers into the mixture and slowly spread it, in circular motions, over your face. The circular motions help with the exfoliation part of it. Best to do this part over a sink because it will drip. Once you have your entire face covered, leave on for approximately fifteen minutes. Wash off with a wash cloth and warm water and voila…wonderful, exfoliated, soft, glowing skin.
Although safe to use, Aspirin is a blood thinner and should not be overused as your skin will absorb a certain amount into your system each time. The average recommendation is to use this mask one to two times a week. Using this mask on a regular basis should help to give you the beautiful skin you have always wanted.
The amount of positive reviews on Aspirin masks is astounding. It is rare to read a bad one. If you want to hear more about Aspirin masks from people who have tried them I would recommend checking out the review site Makeupalley.com.
Ponds Cold Cream
Cold Cream was created by a physician named Galen, in a very early form, in 200 AD to help women remove the harsh cosmetics of the day. That same product is still the basis for cold creams made today.
In the early 1900's Ponds Cold Cream became so popular that the company launched an ad campaign with endorsements from European queens, princesses, and American Socialites. Ponds continued to be a very popular make up removal product through the 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's, especially with actors and actresses to remove heavy stage make up, and continues to sell strongly up to the present day.
Not only is Ponds Cold Cream moisturizing but it deep cleans your pores and helps to remove even the most stubborn make up. It is even great for removing waterproof cosmetics.
I love Ponds Cold Cream. Nothing is better for make up removal in my opinion. It is a very thick white cream with a typical perfume scent, and just to pre-warn you, not water soluble…which means it takes a bit more work to get it off your hands, but definitely worth the effort.
There are two ways I prefer to use it. First of all, for make up removal, I spread a layer all over my face and then gently massage it around for about a minute to liquefy it and to give it a chance to really lift all the make up. Then I take a tissue and gently wipe it all off. Some people will stop there, as the oils left from the cold cream will help with moisturization if they are prone to dry skin. I, myself don't need quite as much moisturization most of the time, so I then take a warm damp cloth and give my face a light wipe just to help take away some of the greasy feeling. Secondly, I use Ponds Cold Cream as a face mask if my face is feeling dry. I cover my entire face in a layer of Ponds Cold Cream and just let it sit for anywhere from five minutes to half an hour to really let the moisturization soak in. Then I wipe it off with tissue. Voila…supple and moisturized skin.
With the continued use of Ponds Cold Cream, I find my skin more moisturized, healthier looking, and glowing. I can imagine that over time this will also help fight premature aging and minor skin damage. The greasiness of the cream can scare people off but, actually, most anyone can use it regardless of skin type, with great results.
Ponds Cold Cream is really worth giving a try. It has a bit of a granny reputation but there is definitely a reason it has stuck around for so long…it works.
Rimmel Fix & Perfect Primer
After a few minutes my skin did feel very soft and when I applied my foundation it seemed to go on quite smoothly, maybe not quite as smooth as MAC Prep + Prime but not bad. My make up appeared to last all day and it didn't change color as I have heard from other reviews. Also, my skin can be fairly sensitive and I have not had any issues.
Overall, for the price, I am happy with the job that it does. I would repurchase again and have recommended it to people who did not want to pay for a higher end primer.
Just a note: I have been alternating days between Rimmel Fix & Perfect Primer and my MAC Prep + Prime to compare them for the last three weeks, and honestly, I am just as happy with this at a fraction of the price. My skin has had no reaction to it and it seems to do just as good a job at controling oil, smoothing out my face, and helping my make up stay in place all day. I highly recommend it to anyone who doesn't want to pay an arm and a leg for a department store primer.