When we asked our Facebook fans to reveal their weirdest DIY beauty tricks, we were blown away by the response. But before we try the egg white facial or begin massaging margarine into our manes, we want to know if your tips actually work. To find out, we’ve asked Women’s Health natural beauty expert Renée Loux to weigh in. Check back here weekly for a new tip and Renée’s verdict, and contribute your own odd beauty tricks here.
 

Your DIY Beauty Trick:

 

Erin Dale | I swear by the aspirin mask: take a few aspirin pills (or 1 packet of powdered aspirin), mix with a tablespoon of warm water, add a few drops of honey or aloe vera, smooth onto face and leave for 10-15 minutes, then rinse. Takes away redness and feels amazing; great for acne or rosacea! Michelle Phan has a youtube tutorial. This really works!

Renée says: Thumbs up. I agree, the aspirin mask is an effective treatment.

How it works: Aspirin is an anti-inflammatory, both when taken internally and applied topically, which can help reduce redness and calm inflamed skin conditions such as acne and rosacea. It contains salicylic acid, which is an active ingredient in many acne-fighting products. Products formulated with willow bark naturally contain this skin-soothing ingredient–in fact, willow bark was the original source of aspirin, which is now synthesized in a lab. Salicylic acid also acts as a drying agent, which is can help sop up excess oil that clogs pores and leads to acne. A word to the wise: aspirin can be overly drying to skin and can make skin more sensitive to sunlight. Dissolving aspirin in water creates a slightly grainy texture, which is great to exfoliate skin. However, use caution when exfoliating inflamed skin to avoid aggravating it further.