The face
For remove oils, grime, and dead skin cells
Baking soda is great to use on your face, albeit not frequently. The powder is mildly abrasive, which helps to remove oils, grime, and dead skin cells that can clog pores and cause acne. It also helps tighten pores and relieve inflammation. The easiest way to use baking soda on your face is to mix it with just enough water to form a milky consistency, then scrub skin gently. To up the soothing factor, combine baking soda with honey and colloidal oats until you get a thick mask like consistency. Massage it in, rinse clean, and repeat once per week.
Make a Brightening Face Mask
While baking soda works to cleanse and purify skin, lemon aims to brighten the complexion.Together, they deliver all the things you look for in a face mask.Mix freshly squeezed lemon juice from half a lemon with one to two tablespoons of baking soda, depending on your desired consistency. Mix in a teaspoon of honey to balance out the acidity and protect your skin's barrier. Apply the mixture to clean skin and leave on for 10 minutes.
Acne and baking soda
Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, is an alkaline substance helpful in managing pH levels. It helps neutralize acidic substances in and outside of the body. Because baking soda lowers the amount of acid in your stomach, it’s typically used for calming an upset stomach or curing indigestion.Baking soda also contains anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. This makes it an ideal ingredient in over-the-counter creams for skin irritation, bug bites, and mild rashes.For acne breakouts, baking soda can help soothe inflammation and mild pain. It can be used as an exfoliant or added to current acne treatments to boost effects. However, it’s not recommended for everyday use.
Dangers of using baking soda acne treatments
Doctors and researchers suggest using approved medical treatments for acne breakouts and other skin conditions, even if there have been some anecdotal success stories in the use of baking soda.
While there’s little research on baking soda’s effects on the skin specifically, this ingredient can do more harm than good.
Some side effects of using baking soda on your skin and face include:
overdrying of the skin
early onset of wrinkles
worsened acne breakouts
skin irritation and inflammation
This is because baking soda can interfere with the skin’s pH level.
While long-standing myths may say baking soda can help reduce your acne, dermatologists don’t recommend this as a treatment method. Instead, stick to approved medical acne treatments and over-the-counter products.If you do decide to use baking soda as a natural remedy for acne, be sure to limit the skin’s exposure to the substance and use moisturizer after. If you experience irregular side effects, pain, or rashes, visit a dermatologist immediately. You can book an appointment with a dermatologist in your area.
Makeup removal
It’s important to properly remove makeup to prevent breakouts, clogged pores, and even eye infections, but you also don’t want to leave your face red and burning when you’re done. Cleansers that have an oil base or an oil-and-water base work best to remove the waxy products found in makeup. Jojoba oil, coconut oil, and olive oil all work great to gently remove makeup. Be careful with products that contain alcohol because they can be drying and irritating.
Exfoliation
Cleansers with glycolic and salicylic acid can help remove dead skin and chemically exfoliate your skin. You can also gently use a buff or an electric brush. Just make sure that you apply light pressure and give your skin plenty of time to recover in between exfoliation. Over-exfoliation can cause your pores to swell and can make irritation and breakouts worse.
Oily skin
Foam is your friend. A foaming cleanser can help lift excess oil off your skin.
The feet
Remove Calluses and Dead Skin With a Baking Soda Foot Soak
The summertime means more time spent wearing sandals or walking barefoot by the pool. Inevitably, that might also mean that your feet are suffering from things like calluses and dead skin. Luckily, you can take care of it easily at home with a simple baking soda foot soak. Calluses and dead skin tend to form due to things like lack of moisture and constant friction. Exfoliating and moisturizing the feet is a great way to combat these issues. While you could spend time scrubbing away at them, a much easier method is to use an exfoliating soak.
On top of baking soda, we suggest adding some milk to your foot soak. Milk is a natural hydrator for tough, dry skin. It also contains lactic acid which is another mild exfoliator that will help reveal smooth, fresh tootsies.
The skin
Fights skin infections
The anti-bacterial properties of baking soda help prevent the occurrence of breakouts on your skin. It also aids in keeping just about all kinds of rashes and skin infections at bay,BB pro tip: When mixed with coconut oil, the alkaline, anti-fungal and also pH balancing solution of baking soda for your skin (or a paste) can help treat skin infections that you might have.
Aids in pain-free hair removal
Baking soda works great in the field of hair removal as well. Whether you wish to get rid of some of your facial hair or remove that stubborn ingrowth, you can count on baking soda to come to your rescue. This alkaline compound tends to dehydrate your hair follicles in the process of exfoliation so that the unwanted hair can come out easily without causing you much pain. BB pro tip: When mixed with equal part os turmeric and water, baking soda can turn into a thin paste which can be used to exfoliate your skin and remove unwanted hair. It also prevents the treated area from being infected in the immediate future, which is pretty important since exposed hair follicles can be quite susceptible to infection.
Fights body odour
Speaking of killing bacteria, if you’re a person who sweats a lot and is troubled by the problem of body odour, using baking soda for this skin issue can certainly help your cause.BB pro tip: Not only does applying a solution made from baking soda and lemon juice before taking a bath helps kill the odour-causing bacteria, but it also helps control your perspiration levels by absorbing any excess moisture and by managing the pH of your skin. And we’re pretty sure you’ll love that lingering lemony fragrance too.
Body Deodorant
Most things that stink have acidic or basic odor molecules. Baking soda brings them to a more neutral, odor-free state. No wonder sewage plants and feedlots use the stuff. It also works on your body odor. Dust a little under your arms in the morning. If you don’t care for the powdery residue on your clothes, use stick deodorants that have baking soda. Look for ones that list sodium bicarbonate as a main ingredient.
Soothes Your Skin
Bitten by a mosquito? Brushed up against poison ivy? Baking soda to the rescue. It can relieve minor irritation, pain, itching, and redness. Mix up a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water. Smear it on your skin and leave for 20 minutes before you wash it off. Or soak in a bath with a half-cup of baking soda added to the water.
The Mouth
Aids in lip care
If your lips constantly feel chapped, flaky and look dark, they are in some serious need of exfoliation. As mentioned earlier, baking soda can work as a gentler exfoliator on lips too, revealing softer, pink lips underneath. BB pro tip: A DIY lip scrub is super simple to make - just mix the compound with water to make a thick, creamy paste. Apply it on your lips in a massaging motion, dabbing it lightly to get it really in there. Do this for 2-3 minutes and wash off with warm water; follow with a nourishing and calming lip balm!
Inexpensive Mouthwash
That garlic aioli pasta was delish. But now your breath is keeping even your dog away. Swish a teaspoon of baking soda in a half glass of water and rinse your mouth. It doesn’t merely mask the smell with a minty scent like most mouthwashes do. Baking soda actually banishes the odor altogether.
The Hair
Baking soda (also known scientifically as sodium bicarbonate) is known to be an exfoliating ingredient and when used in conjunction with apple cider vinegar, can also balance your scalps pH levels.
According to Burg, your natural pH tends to be slightly more on the acidic side, but a pH that's too high (i.e., more basic than normal) causes brittleness, while a pH that's too low (more acidic than normal) damages color. Subsequently, resetting your hair and scalp's pH balance back to its normal baseline can help remedy a number of issues, including dandruff, scalp irritation, dryness, and more.One of the biggest benefits of using baking soda in your hair is that it removes buildup: According to Guanche, "Some benefits of using baking soda for the hair include leaving it clean, shiny, and soft because the baking soda helps remove buildup of oils, soaps, and any remnants of hair care products. Baking soda helps strip any excess oils or hair products to leave the skin clean, soft, and shiny."
She continues, "Despite some claims, baking soda will not stimulate hair growth, however it does clean the scalp and hair, preventing buildup of oils and hair care products. It is important to note that baking soda has a pH of 9, which is higher than the pH concentration of our hair. When using a substance with a higher pH than the hair, the substance needs to be used in moderation because you do not want to strip the natural oils of the hair, leading to breakage and fragile hair."
Another amazing benefits
Helps Your Kidneys
These organs remove waste and extra water from your body. If you have chronic kidney disease from diabetes, high blood pressure, or other causes, acid can build up in your body. Sodium bicarbonate can bring the acid levels down and may help slow bone loss and build muscles. It’s important to work closely with your doctor if you want to try this. Scientists are still figuring out exactly when and how this works.
Helps Fight Cancer
Emergency rooms and hospitals stock sodium bicarbonate as a treatment for cardiac arrests, poisoning, and other cases. It also helps to counteract the acidic properties of chemotherapy medication for cancer. Some studies show that lower acid levels may slow certain tumors from growing and spreading.
Tamp Down Acid Reflux
Sodium bicarbonate helps fight the extra acid that might rise from your stomach up to your throat and even your mouth after you eat. You can buy it over-the-counter as a chewable tablet. Or drink your own homemade antacid by mixing a half-teaspoon of baking soda in 1/2 cup of water. Talk to a doctor before you give it to kids under 6, or if you start to use it regularly along with other medication.
Clean Your Child’s Toys
You can use baking soda instead of harsh chemicals to get grime off your baby’s tray, highchair, and toys. Remember that it doesn’t kill germs. But you can pair it with vinegar, which works as a disinfectant. Be sure to rinse well.
Freshen Dentures
Dissolve 2 teaspoons of baking soda into a cup of warm water. Then just soak your dentures to loosen food, get rid of odors, and freshen any lingering bad taste. It also works for retainers and mouth guards. For a more thorough job, clean them with some bicarbonate and a toothbrush.
What are the side-effects of baking soda for skin?
If overused or applied improperly, baking soda can have the following effects on your skin:
Overdrying of your skin
Wrinkling in eye area and forehead
Increased acne breakouts and blemishes
Irritated and inflamed skin
Worsening of skin rashes
The Links
https://www.healthline.com/health/baking-soda-acne
https://www.healthline.com/health/baking-soda-for-face
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/diy-foot-soak
https://www.firstforwomen.com/posts/beauty/baking-soda-foot-soak-for-calluses
https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/baking-soda-hair
https://www.bebeautiful.in/all-things-skin/everyday/the-benefits-of-baking-soda-for-your-skin
https://www.webmd.com/beauty/ss/slideshow-beauty-baking-soda-health
https://www.byrdie.com/baking-soda-for-hair-growth-4771963
https://www.treehugger.com/ways-use-baking-soda-your-beauty-routine-485837