D.I.Y. #1 - Facial Scrub

Do you like smooth, soft facial skin but are too cheap to pay for expensive beauty products? Here's a recipe for a facial mask out of common drugstore purchases that should cost less than $10. I can't promise that you'll go from looking like

to

But let's be honest here. Even Yoda could use a little exfoliating and moisturizing to bring out that healthy green glow.

What you'll need:

1. any kind of clay facial mask

2. honey

3. uncoated apsirin

1. 2. 3.

How to use:

1. Take a few tablets of aspirin and sprinkle a few drops of water on them until they start to melt into a paste. only a small amount of water is necessary, you don't want it too runny.

2. Mix in equal amounts of the clay mask and honey.

3. Slather a thin layer onto your face avoiding your delicate eye area

4. You can use this as a mask and just let it dry, or go straight to gentle exfoliation.

5. follow with cleanser, and always, moisturizer.

Why does it work?

The clay mask helps to draw out impurities such as dirt and excess oils from your skin and pores. When your pores get clogged, that's when you start breaking out into zits/blackheads/whiteheads. Honey is a wonderful natural humectant, meaning it draws moisture to your skin (and did you know it is also an antibacterial agent? You can put it on burns, too!) Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) is very chemically similar to salicyclic acid, which is the medication in anti-acne astringents. The aspirin tablets also melt easily into a sand-like texture which makes for great exfoliating, which will scrub away dead skin cells (which also clog pores, have a dull, dry appearance) to reveal newer skin. Also, your moisturizers will penetrate more deeply and therefore be more effective.

I had been trying out a clay mask, but felt like it wasn't doing me any good at all. Then I had the brilliant idea of mixing it with honey, and almost right away I felt like my skin was much more refreshed! I had already been using an aspirin-honey scrub on occasion, so it was just natural after that to mix the three. I mix up a small batch (trust me, it doesn't take much, about 5-6 apsirin, a couple squirts of clay and honey) into a small sealable container and use that for the week. I use this about every other day, and I feel like my skin has improved greatly in tone and texture since I've started using it.

Try it and let me know how it works out! I think you'll have good results and possibly want to keep touching your face.

Just don't do that too much in public.