Aunties like these really believe it’s their duty in life to point out the obvious, as though we girls do not own mirrors and have no clue as to how tired we look, how much weight we’ve gained, and as in my case, how our skin has erupted. But, that is a story for another day. As much as I wanted to dunk these outspoken aunties into the nearest bowl of chicken karahi, I realized they did have a point. Exfoliating your skin really is the first step to good skincare.

I’m sure you have seen endless commercials about exfoliation but most of you haven’t added it as part of your skincare regimen. You think, “Well, my body naturally sheds skin cells.” This may be true, but with the amount of products we use these days, we are constantly clogging our pores, leading to blackheads and breakouts, and our skin may need a little more help than our natural body processes. A good exfoliant works to shed the dead skin to reveal new skin cells on your face or body, and makes your dull skin appear fresher and smoother over time. The layer of dead cells prohibits the penetration of face washes, lotions, acne medications and can also lead to dry patches that cause your makeup to look not-so-fabulous. Your skincare products may be helping your skin at some level, but a very low one, because you must first clear the path for them to work at full potency.

Now, there are many different kinds of exfoliants available. There are manual scrubs with grains, gels with enzymes that you just let sit on your face and wash or peel off, and products with beta and alpha hydroxy acids (like salicylic and glycolic that you find in your face washes). However, with the amount of chemicals we already use today, I prefer to go the most natural route possible. This is why I reach for the manual scrubs that are made of ingredients like sugar, salt, apricots and walnuts.

What to remember when choosing a scrub:

-       Like face washes, an exfoliating scrub can vary for oily and dry skins. Make sure to check the label on the product so you don’t end up with an intense moisturizing scrub if you have oily skin. Some products are labeled for all skin types.

-       Before purchasing, always squeeze out a little onto the back of your hand and gently rub in circular motions. If you feel the grains are too big or scratchy on your hand, they will definitely be too harsh for the sensitive skin on your face. Go for a product that you feel you will be able to tolerate.

-       The most popular product on the market is the Apricot Scrub by St. Ives. I personally am not a fan of these products despite the popularity. I don’t like the smell and I feel the grains are a bit large and harsh for my face. However, the St. Ives scrub is available in multiple formulations for oily, acne and blackhead prone and dry skin types. Available at most drugstores and easily found in the Subcontinent. Products range from $4 to $10.

-       My personal favorite is the 7 Day Scrub Cream by Clinique. The grains are small and great for sensitive skins. There is little to no fragrance. A little goes a long way. $17.50 clinique.com

If you would like to make a scrub at home:

-       Choose an exfoliating ingredient that feels comfortable on your skin and that you are not allergic to! Always try on a patch of skin first before applying over your whole face. Popular choices are brown sugar, sea salt, oatmeal (great for sensitive skin), and coffee grounds.

-       For dry skin, add olive oil to the exfoliant. It will moisturize your face while you work in the scrub.

-       For oily skin, use honey, milk, yogurt or lemon juice (careful it stings!) as a mixer.

-       Add equal parts scrub to mixer (i.e. one tablespoon oatmeal to one tablespoon olive oil). Consistency should be slightly thick so it doesn’t drip off your face.

How to exfoliate once you have chosen the product that is right for you:

-       I feel it’s best to exfoliate in the morning. Your face is clean from any make up and you already began the natural shedding process overnight.

-       However, if this is your first exfoliating attempt, you might want to try it before bed, as your face may get red. Again, try on a patch of skin first to make sure the ingredients aren’t irritating.

-       Never exfoliate if you are sunburned or have rashes, cuts or wounds on your face.

-       Lather up your skin with a mild cleanser and wash off.

-       While face is still wet, smear scrub onto your skin avoiding the delicate eye area.

-       Using your fingertips, rub the exfoliant against your skin with light, circular motions, focusing especially on problem areas. For me, this means my nose, as it is prone to blackheads. Just remember not to stay in one place for too long. You want to remove the dead skin, not the fresh layer underneath.

-       The length of exfoliation really depends on how sensitive your skin is. It can range anywhere from 15 seconds to a minute. The idea is to stop before your skin starts feeling raw, you will be able to judge that once you go through the process.

-       Wash your skin using cool or tepid water. Try not to rub the exfoliant off, but rather, splash your face.

-       Remember to moisturize – exfoliating makes the skin feel dry!

Once you have exfoliated, your skin will feel softer and smoother. Over time, you will see less blackheads and clogged pores, and you will also notice your other skincare products working better as they are now able to penetrate fresh layers of skin. Try not to exfoliate too often. Once or twice a week should suffice (once a month is not enough). Happy scrubbing!

Photo Credit: tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com

When our skin starts acting up, our primal instinct is usually to run to the nearest department/drugstore and grab the first “miracle” product we can get our hands on. We use it for about a week and then move on to the next remedy. I’m guilty of the same thing myself – while spring cleaning my bathroom cupboard two days ago I threw away two economy sized trash bags bursting with almost full bottles of face wash, lotions and masks. I’ve spent thousands of dollars on useless products. It was only until a few years ago when I came across a remedy for rebellious skin that not only works but costs close to nothing – the Aspirin Mask.

Yes, aspirin. On your face. Aspirin is a BHA, or beta-hydroxy acid. BHA’s are used in most face washes and lotions that are created to prevent acne. Heard of salicylic acid? Yup, that’s a BHA. BHA’s are exfoliators that work by deeply cleaning your pores and helping prevent the formation of new spots on your face.

Aspirin masks are known to reduce redness and inflammation while brightening the complexion. Just like any other product, you must use more than one time to see results (although I’ve found that my skin is exponentially better after even just one application).

Disclaimer: As with all medications, if you are sensitive or allergic to Aspirin or BHA’s, or have sensitive skin in general, I would not use this mask. The mask is for all other skin types, dry or oily – you just need to vary the amount of times that you use the mask in a month (more for oilier skins).

There are several different “recipes” for the mask, but the most commonly used is illustrated below

Step 1

What you need: Uncoated aspirin (much easier to dissolve than regular aspirin), a small bowl or container, and something to meld the mask together and provide consistency. Dry to normal skins should use honey or aloe vera gel, while oily should use yogurt, which is a natural astringent.

Step 2

Place a few of the uncoated aspirin in the bowl (anywhere from 4-8 depending on the area you wish to cover

Step 3

Add warm water a few drops at a time to dissolve the aspirin. The consistency should be grainy and slightly thick.

Step 4

Add about half a teaspoon of honey (aloe vera, or yogurt) to the mixture. This will make the mixture more watery so it’s better to have a thicker consistency of dissolved aspirin beforehand.

Step 5

Apply to your face and leave on for about 10-15 minutes. The mask will be ready to be washed off when it begins to flake (it’s okay if you start to sneeze – it’s from the powder like consistency of the dried mask, this means it’s time to wash off).

Step 6

Add a little water to your face and start to use the mask as a scrub, exfoliating your skin in soft circular motions (no need to rub hard!). Pay close attention to your nose (that’s a problem area for most of us). After exfoliating wash your face off completely.

Step 7

Your face may feel a little tight after the mask, so it’s best to moisturize.

After washing off the mask your face will feel softer and your skin will look brighter. I tend to use the aspirin mask when I feel like my skin needs a little taming, but those with troubled skin can use it more often. As with any BHA cream or face wash, using too often will dry your skin out, so try to space your uses out: several days for oilier skins and a week or two apart for dry skin. Over time you will see a reduction in blackheads and smoother skin.

For those who are on the go and don’t have too much time, aspirin can also be used as a spot treatment. Just dissolve one uncoated tablet and apply it to your blemish. It will help reduce the redness and work to dry the blemish out.

So, if you are planning on staying in tonight and feel like the new season’s weather has devastated your skin, slather on a little aspirin mask. It has been raved about on countless beauty blogs and sites. At just pennies an application, what have you got to lose?

P.S. This mask can be used on brothers/husbands/boyfriends as well – so pass it on!