Thanks for this wonderful website. I have been following this website and bought the braun epilator and tend skin along with aloe gel and Kiss my face alpha-aloe moisturizer.

I was just wondering if I need to wear a glove when I use tend skin. I am generally not very sensitive to products but after reading the instruction booklet I am a little scared of getting a chemical burn or get dry flaky hands. Also, after epilating, is it ok to exfoliate? Or should I wait for a couple of days before I do so.

Looking forward to your advice.

Thanks,
Daffodil

Tend Skin is alchohol, water, and aspirin. Not being a doctor or pharmacist, I'm only guessing, but I think the reason for the test is for aspirin sensitivity. Some people are very allergic to aspirin. My guess in the aspirin acts as an anti-inflamitory agent to reduce or eliminate redness and bumps.

I also wonder why the stuff is so damn expensive giving the simple ingredients it's made of. There's a similar product on the market and the ingredient order is water, alchohol instead of alchohol, water (FDA requires that they're listed in order of the percentage of the total, most to least) so I suspect the ratio of water to alchohol is just about the same. I'm going to mix some 50/50 and try and dissolve some aspirin tablets to see if I can replicate it. It also has some glycerin and glycol. Maybe a chemist on the board can add some insight to why they're there? Keep the asprin dissolved maybe?

I don't see any reason to wear gloves. Stuff burns if used as an after shave I can tell you.

Actually you should either wear gloves, or apply the product with a cotton swab (home mixed, or store bought) because your fingers will peal constantly if you don't. After just one application of this product with your finger tips, they will start to turn white. In a few days, your fingerprint will start to lift off. Don't worry, however, you have a spare set just underneath.

I have told people for years that they can just mix up their own tend skin at home. It even works just fine with nothing more than alcohol and aspirin.

James,

Why does it make your skin peel?

FWIW, I've been using straight rubbing alchohol as an aftershave on my face for years without problem. Can the aspirin make that much difference?

Yes Fred, the aspirin DOES make that much of a difference. The scientific name for common aspirin is acetylsalicylic acid. We all know what acid does right? Many wart removers and acne medications have salicylic acid as their active ingredient. Basically, put this on every day and burn off unwanted skin is what the directions say. Acetylsalicylic acid is much stronger than citric acid, so it is not the same as getting a little lemon juice on your fingers. That will only make your more likely to have a sunburn. This stuff will eat your skin. That is why it is used in tend skin after all. It eats away the skin that covers the trapped hairs, thus freeing them. The alcohol helps dissolve the aspirin and helps it to be absorbed by the skin. Now you know why one should not rub one's eyes after taking an aspirin without washing one's hands very well.

[ August 28, 2003, 07:36 AM: Message edited by: James W. Walker VII, CPE ]

Everything you wanted to know about acetylsalicylic acid: http://www.inchem.org/documents/pims/pharm/aspirin.htm#PartTitle:1.%20NAME.

The article does describe it as a weak acid: [URL=http://www.inchem.org/documents/pims/pharm/aspirin.htm#SectionTitle:6.1 Absorption by route of exposure]http://www.inchem.org/documents/pims/pharm/aspirin.htm#SectionTitle:6.1 Absorption by route of exposure[/URL]
My concern was that I've been applying it with gauze and it gets on my fingers. Applying it daily, I've noticed no side effects on my finger tips.

Typically, one starts by seeing white lines on the fingers. As time goes by, more and more of the finger print becomes white, and then it begins to separate from the finger tip. At that point, you can start the process all over again with the new skin under the layer you have already burned off. This process can take longer for some, or be speeded up on others.

I love tendskin. But get it in contact w/ your fingers and this 9% aceta..acid will burn right through it. Just try applying it on any random bumps you have on any part of the body or face, and watch it eat right through 'em in a matter of days. A great side effect if anything starts growing on you. I *heart* tendskin.

[ September 15, 2003, 08:55 PM: Message edited by: Tonic2 ]

Hi.

I really like this idea of home-made TendSkin.

What are the ratio's again? How much aspirin do you use?

Hook me up!

~saltz