The aspirin and isopropyl alcohol solution you speak of may help, but Tend put some other ingredients in there for a reason. They work best together. It is true that aspirin is the main active ingredient. However, do some investigating into the function of each and you will find they help in some way. Isopropyl alcohol disinfects as well as acts as a solvent for acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin). Water is an unnecessary - even unwanted - ingredient, but comes as an impurity in the isopropyl alcohol. The straight alcohol would work best, but also costs more and stings more when applied. Water actually reacts with the acetylsalicylic acid breaking it down to less useful salicylic acid over a period of several weeks. Incidentally, this chemical breakdown is why there is an expiration date printed on every bottle of Tend Skin. Propylene Glycol helps active ingredient(s) penetrate the skin. It is also a humectant, a substance that promotes the retention of water. In addition to letting the aspirin soak deep into your skin, it keeps your skin soft, moist, and pliable. These conditions deter additional ingrown hair growth. The aspirin itself does not burn the skin away as I have seen others speculate elsewhere on this forum. It is not a strong enough acid. It is an anti-inflammatory. It reduces redness and swelling at the sites of irritating ingrown hairs. It also helps with acne and other skin irritations. Cyclomethicone is used in a wide variety of cosmetic applications such as antiperspirants, deodorants, lotions, creams, hair sprays, bath oils, makeup and nail polish. Cyclomethicone is a clear, odorless silicone. It leaves a silky-smooth feel on the skin. Aside from water, it is the most dispesible ingredient. Glycerin is present in all natural lipids (fats) whether animal or vegetable. Glycerin shores up the skin’s natural protection by filling in the area known as the intercellular matrix and by attracting just the right amount of water to maintain the skin’s water balance. There is also research indicating that the presence of glycerin in the intercellular layer helps other skin lipids do their jobs better. Bottom line, glycerin softens your skin as well as acts as a solvent for the aspirin. When I make my own Tend Skin, I use Isopropyl alcohol, aspirin, Propylene glycol, and glycerin. Water is unwanted and already in the isopropyl alcohol I get from the drug store, and cyclomethicone is mostly for getting a smooth silky feeling finish. Since store bought aspirin is not pure acetylsalicylic acid, it would be best to get it pure from a chemistry supplier. However, I’ve found it too expensive. http://www.sciencelab.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PVAR&Product_Code=SLA1738 It is about $100 for 500g of pure acetylsalicylic acid. Whereas at the drugstore a bottle of 100 pills of 325mg strength runs $2-$3. Most of the fillers in store bought aspirin will settle out of solution anyhow. The propylene glycol, cyclomethicone, and glycerin can be purchased at the chemisrystore.com. http://www.chemistrystore.com/glycerin.htm
http://www.chemistrystore.com/propylene_glycol.htm
http://www.chemistrystore.com/cyclomethicone.htm
For $70 you can buy enough supplies to make about 5 gallons of Tend Skin. The exact ratios is a carefully guarded secret. However, they are listed in order of greatest to least concentration (by mass) right on the label. “Ingredients: Isopropyl Alcohol, Water, Propylene Glycol, Acetylsalicylic Acid, Cyclomethicone, Glycerin.” Hope this helps…