What a Difference Scrub Can Make!

We’ve all heard of Aspirin’s role in preventing heart attacks and even the less than stellar side effects it can have on one’s stomach lining. For better or worse, this post will not delve into the relative utility of Aspirin in the medicinal world, opting to discuss Aspirin’s potential contribution to our beauty arsenals instead.

I’m sure many of you have heard of an “Aspirin mask” or “Aspirin scrub” before, so for the sake of sparing you a boring read, I urge you to move on. If you have not, prepare for a potentially skin altering experience!

As I may have mentioned in previous posts, I am prone to a bit of snobbery when it comes to purchasing skincare items; I presume that better quality ingredients are pricier. I have had negative experiences with drugstore scrubs such as St. Ives and while my experience with Dermologica’s Microfoliant was marginally better, I never saw a dramatic difference in my skin until now.

I can honestly say that dissolving five or so uncoated Aspirin pills in a bowl moistened with water has created the best scrub I have ever tried. My skin has become a lot less blotchy and has developed a bit of a glow. Even a bit of the fine lines on my forehead have diminished.

I originally learned about the beauty benefits of Aspirin through Makeup Alley but was quickly turned off when my first experience with it proved negative. Let’s just say that it’s a very, very bad idea to mix Tea Tree Oil, a known skin irritant, with salicylic acid.

Aspirin, or acetylsalicylic acid, breaks down to create salicylic acid in the body. This is likely the reason some experience stomach irritation upon consumption. Salicylic acid also happens to be the primary ingredient in many skin care items designed to slough off skin or fit acne.

If you’d like to try an Aspirin scrub, purchase the cheapest uncoated Aspirin you can find—this will dissolve better. You can mix honey, face wash or any other liquid with your Aspirin provided that you use caution when combining potentially irritating active ingredients. I suggest you experiment with using Aspirin as a scrub prior to leaving it on your face for a significant amount of time as would be involved in a mask. It is best to stagger the frequency of use since the scrub is very potent; you don’t want to slough off your epidermis in its entirety, do you?

Is Aspirin your favorite skin care product? Tell me all about it!

Image Credit: drugstore.com

Perfect, Glowing Skin

Guerlain Meteorites in "Mythic" were my very first high-end cosmetic purchase. I read about them in multiple magazines and was certain that they held the key to perfecting my complexion despite the fact that I'd neither seen nor tested them in person. When the box arrived, the gorgeousness of it all left me awestruck. The box was hidden away for the perfect occasion only to emerge several months later.

I swooshed a big, fluffy brush into the shimmery, powdery pearls only to be overwhelmed with a very strong scent of rose. I applied the powder to my skin, cloistering scent be damned, and noticed nothing at all. And then my Guerlain Meteorites were relegated to the junk drawer of my collection.

I decided to give Meteorites one last chance, this time applying on top of foundation, before getting rid of them entirely and the results were infinitely better; the red remnant of my teenage acne was nearly all gone and my face looked healthy but not fake or "made up." My beautiful Meteorites, please forgive me. How could I ever have dismissed your glowing balls of perfection?

I've concluded that while some may come very close, beauty products cannot work complete miracles. It is important to know the optimal use for a product in order to experience the maximum benefit. Perhaps those with a complexion superior to my own will be able to get great results using a Highlighter/Complexion Corrector on its own.

Now that I've provided you with a brief overview of my life story, I will hurry up and get to the point: Physician's Formula Highlighter achieves a remarkably similar result for approximately 1/5 of Guerlain's price. I purchased the powder for daily use, my Meteorites feel too special for the drudgery of daily wear, and have been using it somewhat regularly ever since. It would surprise you to know that the main ingredient in both products is Talc but the Physician's Formula version contains no fragrance so it may be best for those who are allergic (or just hate a strong rose perfume). Both items use a palette of multiple shades to even out discoloration while the white, pearlescent pieces add a subtle glow to the skin. The Physician's Formula powder is preferable for travel; Meteorites are extremely fragile and turn into powder at the slightest provocation.

I apologize that I was unable to get effective swatches or pictures of the product on my face because it is too faint for my cheapo camera. If you are considering purchasing Guerlain Meteorites and don't know whether it will be a worthwhile investment for you, experiment with the Physician's Formula Highlighter to determine if this is something that will improve the appearance of your complexion.

I still adore my Meteorites and will continue to use them when I want to feel special but I may reconsider spending another $51 when it is time to repurchase. May that day never come!