Aspirin and Honey Mask

Aspirin is a salicylic acid, which helps shed dead skin cells. Honey has antibacterial and antiseptic properties, perfect for acne-prone skin. Put'em together and you have the ultimate facial mask.

You'll need honey (the inexpensive bear-shaped squeeze bottle is fine) and uncoated aspirin; I buy the Walgreens brand because it only costs $0.99 for a bottle of 100 tablets. You'll see why I specify the uncoated variety in a moment.

In a small bowl, put two aspirin tablets and add a drop or two of water. You only want the aspirin to break down into a powder, so you must not use too much water. This should happen within a minute. You can help it along by giving it a nudge or rubbing the tablets between your fingers, but it's really not necessary. Any more than a couple of drops of water and you'll have to start over.

(Here is why I specified uncoated aspirin. The enteric-coated aspirin will not break down from exposure to water; too much aspirin can cause the stomach or intestinal linings to become too thin and lead to ulcers, and the enteric coating helps to prevent that. Luckily, this recipe doesn't require the actual consumption of aspirin!)

Once the aspirin has disintegrated into powder, add approximately a teaspoon of honey. Mix it up with your finger and apply it to your face, avoiding the immediate eye area. This is also why I don't want you to use a lot of water in the first step: too much and the mask will just glop off your face. Let it sit for about 10 minutes. If you have any left over, slap it onto the backs of your hands.

Now that the salicylic acid in the aspirin has had a chance to dissolve the "glue" that's holding the old skin cells to your face, it's time to use a little mechanical exfoliation to finish the job. Wet your fingers and gently, in a circular motion, massage your face for about a minute. Rinse with warm water, making sure to get your hairline in case any honey has made its way there. Follow with a gentle toner if you like, and definitely use a mild moisturizer that doesn't contain any AHAs or other irritants. Cetaphil moisturizer is a good bet for most people, though if you have oily skin, I really recommend the DDF Ultra-Lite Moisturizing Dew that I keep talking about.

I use this mask whenever the mood strikes me, which averages about two to three times a week. It shouldn't cost more than $5 for a six-month supply. That's $0.10 per exfoliation! How cool is that??

I cannot take credit for this mask. Unfortunately, I can't remember how I got this recipe, so whoever you are, thank you for sharing it with me!