The Milk of Magnesia Mask – Good for Your Stomach, Great for Your Skin

You're probably familiar with milk of magnesia as a remedy for a mild upset stomach. If you're planning a vacation, you might even have packed along a little bottle of it just in case all that rich food didn't agree with you. One dose is usually enough to get you back to the beach in your sarong and sandals rather than stuck in your room.

Did you know, though, that the same milk of magnesia that helps a stomach complaint also clears your skin? Magnesium hydroxide quells an unquiet stomach and reduces acid, but it also reduces shine and blemishes on your skin. It's appropriate for any skin type, but how you use it will vary based on your own unique complexion.

Some ground rules for the milk of magnesia mask apply to all skin types. If you can find an unscented, unflavored variety, choose that one. Minty flavors make the medicine taste better, but mint is a potential irritant to skin. Don’t let the milk of magnesia get into your eyes to avoid any harm to your eyes. And, as milk of magnesia can be powerfully drying, avoid using it near your eyes or on your lips. Drying is a good thing on oil-producing regions of your face, but not so much on more delicate tissues.

Use the mask the night before you have a big event, not the day of the event, especially if you’re showing off your new sarong; while few people have a negative reaction to this mild facial treatment, you'll have better results from it the next day.

The Milk of Magnesia Mask for Oily Skin
If you're prone to excess oil, milk of magnesia will gently dry your oil-producing sebaceous glands without parching your skin. Use your favorite cleanser to wash up before you try the mask; it's most effective on clean, dry skin. Apply a thin coating of milk of magnesia to your face with a cotton ball and allow it to dry, about 10 or 15 minutes. Try to confine the mask to the most oil-prone areas of your face and go sparingly with it on less oily areas such as your cheeks.

After 15 minutes, wash your face with tepid water and follow with the rest of your beauty routine. You should notice less oily skin immediately, but with repeated once-weekly uses, you may also notice reduced oil production even on your non-mask days.

If your skin is highly oil-prone, you could try milk of magnesia as a leave-on mask. Although a thick layer of the fluid turns white and chalky as it dries, a thin layer remains clear and forms a solid base for makeup. Using a damp cotton ball dipped in a few drops of milk of magnesia, sweep the liquid onto your nose, your forehead, and anywhere else that needs strong oil control. Let it dry, then use a cosmetic brush or dry cotton ball to buff away any residual chalkiness. Then apply your makeup as usual.

Milk of Magnesia for Troubled Skin
Magnesium hydroxide is a mild antiseptic that can reduce skin inflammation and calm a breakout. If your skin is acne-prone, try milk of magnesia either as a mask or full-strength as a spot treatment on blemishes.

Using a cotton swab, dab undiluted milk of magnesia onto active blemishes. Unlike strong benzoyl peroxide preparations, magnesium hydroxide doesn't act as a bleach. The liquid will dry up the oil that contributes to clogged pores, gently cleanse the area of harmful flora that cause inflammation, and desiccate active pimples.

If you have large pores on your nose and cheeks, try using diluted milk of magnesia as a primer before you apply your foundation. The liquid's texture lets it fill in large pores and make them appear shallower and smaller. Both oil-based and water-based makeup should apply evenly over a thin coat of magnesium hydroxide.

Milk of Magnesia for Dry Skin
If your skin is dry overall, avoid using the mask anywhere but on the areas that you want to clarify or minimize pores. While oilier complexions tolerate 15 minutes of the mask, those with dry skin should leave it on for five to seven minutes. Wash the mask off while it's still damp instead of waiting for it to dry. You'll still get the benefit of its mildly astringent and antiseptic properties.

For very dry skin, try diluting the mask with a one-to-one ratio of aloe vera gel. Although the two substances are reluctant to mix at first, a little work will produce a translucent white paste that clarifies skin without drying it unduly. Follow up with an emollient night moisturizer of your choice.

Regardless of your skin type, your milk of magnesia mask will keep your skin looking smooth, soft, and clear for pennies per use. With the money you save on fancy treatments and spa extractions, you could spring for a new pair of sandals, a new sarong or a great new purse.