20 Best Beauty Benefits Of Baking Soda

Are you tired of shelling out money for costly beauty parlour packages? Fed up of several beauty hacks at home with no good success? Chances are that you have not yet tried baking soda for your skin. Yes, this most common kitchen ingredient, baking soda, which is widely used for cooking and cleaning, is equally good for health and beauty.

Baking soda can be called as a magical multi-tasking ingredient that can help your skin in many ways. Wondering how? Read through this article to get a glance at unexpected beauty benefits of baking soda, especially different ways of using baking soda for face and skin.

What Is Baking Soda?

Do not confuse baking soda with baking powder. Baking soda or sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) is a common cooking agent, generally added to baked goods to make them rise. This common cooking ingredient is incredibly versatile and used for several beauty hacks.

Beauty Benefits Of Baking Soda

Here we listed out the top beauty benefits of baking soda.

1. Baking Soda for Face Pack:

Baking soda exfoliate can be created at home to remove dry skin from your face. Baking soda can also be used as hand rub to scrub away odor and dirt from the hands. When mixed with warm water, it acts as natural scrubbing agent, leaving the hands clean and soft.

How To Use:

1. Mix a teaspoon of baking soda in a container with half cup water.
2. Apply and rub the mixture onto the face in a circular motion.
3. Leave for 10 minutes and then rinse off.

2. Baking Soda for Acne:

How To Use:

1. Mix a teaspoon of baking soda in a container with half cup water.
2. Prepare a fine, gritty paste and apply on the acne affected skin.
3. Leave for 10 minutes and then rinse off.

Alternatively, try baking soda as detox bath soak for acne on your chest and the back.

How To Use:

1. Get warm bathwater ready and sprinkle half cup baking soda in it.
2. Stir to combine.
3. Soak into this water bath for 20 minutes.
4. Following the tub bath soak, rinse off under the shower.

   

Does It Work:

The common cause of acne on the skin is PH imbalances. Baking soda is amphoteric in nature and can help neutralize PH imbalances on the skin. Hence it can be used to treat acne. The baking soda paste can act as an exfoliating agent by removing dirt, oil, and dead skin cells.

3. Baking Soda for Acne Scars:

Acne affects the chest, face, and back. It results in the skin scarring, which may turn quite uncomfortable.

How To Use:

1. Mix 1 cup water with half cup baking soda to make a thick paste.
2. Add more water or baking soda to get the right consistency as the paste should be thick enough to be pinched between fingers.
3. Apply the paste to the acne scars.
4. Leave the paste for 5 minutes and then rinse away with clean water.

4. Baking Soda for Blackheads:

Baking soda can work to minimize blackheads and prevent breakouts on the face, hands, back, chest and any other acne-prone areas of the body.

How To Use:

1. Make a paste of water and baking soda. Splash your face with warm water or the pores to open up or wipe the face with a clean cloth dipped in warm water.
2. Apply the baking soda paste on the face, particularly on the areas of blackheads.
3. Apply gentle massage on the T-zone area for the skin to loosen up and exfoliate.
4. Leave the paste for a couple of minutes and rinse off with lukewarm water.
5. Then, splash your face with lukewarm water and tone it with apple cider vinegar mixture that has equal amount of water.

5. Baking Soda for Blemishes or Dark Spots:

Baking soda works wonders in removing dark spots, acne marks and blemishes. As it sloughs off dead skin cells, it lightens the skin. Baking soda and lemon juice lighten and fade scars on the skin due to their bleaching properties.

How To Use:

1. Mix a teaspoon baking soda with little water or lemon juice to make a fine paste.
2. Wash skin and leave it slightly damp.
3. Massage the mixture on the affected areas and leave for a couple of minutes.
4. Rinse off with lukewarm water and moisturize the skin. Repeat the procedure twice a week.

6. Baking Soda for Pimples and Pimple Marks:

Baking soda helps remove the excess oil from the oily skin and can make the skin dry. Excess oil removal means no blackheads and breakouts. And the antiseptic and anti-inflammatory nature of the baking soda help reduce the size of pimples.

How To Use:

1. Mix 2 tablespoons water and 2 tablespoons baking soda and make a smooth paste.
2. Thoroughly clean and dry the face.
3. Apply the freshly made baking soda paste to pimples.
4. It may lead to a little sting of the pores are open.
5. Leave the paste on the pimples for 15 minutes and later rinse off.
6. Apply some moisturizer onto the face after taking off the paste.

Note: Do not leave it for more time as the baste may leave to skin drying.

7. Baking Soda for Pores:

Baking soda can act as mild antiseptics with anti-inflammatory properties. Thus, helps prevent future break out and constricts pores. Baking soda works as a natural astringent.

How To Use:

1. Make some baking soda paste using a water and massage the paste for half a minute on the skin.
2. Clean with clean water and pat dry.
3. Repeat twice a week for good results.

8. Baking Soda for Dark Neck:

As mentioned earlier, baking soda acts as a natural exfoliant that cleanses the skin and gradually removes the discolored patches on the skin. It helps in removing hyperpigmentation.

How To Use:

1. Mix water (1 part) and baking soda (3 parts) to form a thick paste.
2. Apply the paste on the skin of the neck and allow to dry for a few minutes and then wash off.
3. Repeat twice a week to removes dark spots from the neck.
4. Also, you can use baking soda for lightening your knees and elbows.

9. Baking Soda for Itchy Skin:

Itchy skin may be irritating. Baking soda may help relieve itching to an extent.

How To Use:

1. A tub-bath soak in water mixed with baking soda for 30 minutes may help.
2. Add 1 cup baking soda in warm water tub and soak in it.
3. Later, get under the shower and pat dry the skin.
4. In Case of localized itching, make baking soda paste using with water and ally on the affected area.

10. Baking Soda for Oily Skin:

Oily skin may trouble during the warmer weather conditions. Baking soda may help skin get better.

How To Use:

1. Make baking soda paste by mixing equal amounts of baking soda powder and water.
2. Apply on the oily face, leave for 5 minutes and rinse off.
3. The powder works by neutralizing the pH of the skin.

11. Baking Soda for Skin Rashes:

The antibacterial and the anti-inflammatory properties of baking soda help remove skin rashes. It works by drying out the skin with its alkaline properties. Also, the swelling and rashes could subside.

How To Use:

1. Mix equal parts of baking soda and coconut oil to make a paste. Coconut oil with soothing antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties help cool the skin.
2. Apply of the affected area and leave for around 5 minutes.
3. Apply twice a week to feel the relaxing and the soothing effect.

12. Baking Soda for Moles:

Moles on the skin may be troublesome. Baking soda can work on the moles as it acts as a caustic solution when mixed with other liquids like water. It works by reacting with the skin tissue with the moles and dehydrating, as baking soda works as bleaching agent.

How To Use:

1. Make baking soda and water paste and apply on the moles and wash off after a few minutes.
2. Initially, the moles may get darker, but gradually begins to reduce in appearance.
3. Positive results may start showing up after a few weeks.

Alternatively, baking soda can be mixed with Vitamin E oil or with apple cider vinegar. The combinations work well for flat moles.

13. Baking Soda for Chapped Lips:

Chapped lips are the most common problem during dry, cold weather. Baking soda scrub sloughs off dead cells removes old skin, improving the chapped-lip condition. It also bleaches your skin to naturally lighten your lip color.

How To Use:

1. Make baking soda paste by mixing in equal amount of water.
2. Apply the paste over the chapped lips with clean fingers.
3. Massage gently and leave the paste for a few minutes and wipe off with a damp cloth.
4. Regain the lost moisture by moisturizing the lips.

14. Baking Soda for Face Tan:

Amazing properties for baking soda also works on face tan.

How To Use:

1. Mix water with baking soda in equal amount and a little lemon juice.
2. Clean your face and apply the paste as a layer of mask on the face.
3. Leave the face mask for 10 and wash off with clean water.
4. Leave the skin with moisturizer.

15. Baking Soda for Facial Hair:

Unwanted facial hair may be troublesome. Using creams or shaving to get rid of them may leave the skin irritated. But, baking soda can work as an age-old natural remedy with used with other ingredients like melted sugar, lemon juice and honey.

How To Use:

1. Wash your face cleanly with gentle cleanser to remove oil and dirt.
2. Make paste with 4 tablespoons baking soda and 1 tablespoon water and apply on the skin with facial hair in circular motion, using a clean damp cloth.
3. Leave for 5 minutes and rinse off with lukewarm water.
4. Now, mix 1 cup sugar, half a lemon juice, ¼ cup honey in a small bowl.
5. Allow the mixture to heat for a minute in a microwave Or heal the mixture on low flame on the stove. Keep stirring intermittently to prevent burning.
6. While the mixture cools down to room, temperature, pat dry your face with a clean towel.
7. Apply the cool sugar wax on the facial hair using a clean popsicle stick or spatula.
8. Press a dry, clean cloth firmly over the sugar wax. Hold your skin with one hand and pull the cloth strp away with the other hand in the opposite direction of the hair growth.
9. After removing the unwanted facial hair, wipe off with a damp cloth.

Note: Do not try the method in case of sensitive skin.

16. Baking Soda For Face Whitening and Skin Fairness:

Since ages, baking soda has also been used as face whiteners and to improve skin fairness. Baking soda can work as a wonderful face mask and may work gradually in whitening the skin (may take weeks for it work).

How To Use:

1. Cleanse and dry the face with clean water and apply baking soda mask (equal mixture of baking soda and water) on the face.
2. Allow the mask to it for 15 minutes and rinse off with warm water.
3. Skin may appear red immediately, but will fade out slowly.

17. Baking Soda for Face Ingrown Hair:

Ingrown hair form with the hair-ends get trapped underneath the skin. This condition may also lead to pus-formation and infection. Hence, it is important to get rid of the ingrown hair gently. Baking soda can help remove the ingrown hair by exfoliating and removing the ingrown hair for the dead skin removal.

How To Use:

1. Combine 1 teaspoon water with 1 tablespoon baking soda and spread the paste on the affected area of ingrown hairs.
2. Gently, massage the paste around the affected area in circular motion with clean fingers.
3. Rinse off the skin with water after a couple minutes.

18. Baking Soda for Burns:

Baking soda is a popular home remedy for burns, including sun burns. It works by removing heat from the affected area and giving a cooling effect. However, it is advisable to consult doctor in case of such burns before tying any home remedy. Similarly, baking soda gives the cooling effect and soothes the sun-damaged skin with boils on face that may even be itchy.

How To Use:

1. Make a paste of baking soda using water.
2. Apply on the affected area and then fas off gently.

19. Baking for Makeup Removal and as Face Wash:

Baking soda also helps remove makeup affectively.

How to use:

1. Mix half teaspoon baking soda with a half teaspoon distilled water in a small bowl.
2. Fash your face and remove make-up.
3. Apply the mixture on the difficult or problematic areas, leave for 3 minutes and then rinse off.

Note: Ensure not to allow the mixture get into your eyes.

20. Baking Soda as Hair Cleanser:

Baking soda mixed with shampoo is a great way to remove the oil and dirt from the hair. It also helps clear the residue left on the hair by using the hair products.

How To use:

1. Add a teaspoon baking soda to your shampoo.
2. Rub the mixture on the scalp and wash your hair with it.
3. Was off with lukewarm water.

Thus, baking soda can work as a natural ingredient that helps with skin and beauty care. However, certain precautions are to be practiced when using baking soda or any other ingredient on the skin. Check below for the precautions to be taken while using baking soda on the skin.

Precautions While Using Baking Soda On The Skin:

It is very important to be very careful and observe for skin reactions while applying any ingredient on the skin. This is applicable even while using baking soda, to avoid any further complications.

• Baking soda may cause dryness, irritation and redness in sensitive skin.
• It would be wise to initially test your skin’s reaction for the baking soda and go ahead with the procedure.
• Test the baking soda on a small skin patch before applying on face on anywhere on the skin.
• Discontinue in case of negative side effects and consult your doctor if the irritation persists.
• Also, it is important not to use baking soda regularly, as it may lead to skin damage in the long run by causing the pH imbalance, encouraging bacterial growth.
• It is thus, better not to use baking soda for skin for more than two times a week.

If enough precautions are not taken, it may lead to side effects. Keep reading to learn about the side effects of baking soda on face and side effects of baking soda on skin.

Side Effects Of Using Baking Soda On The Skin:

It is imperative to be very careful while while using baking soda as a beauty agent. Below mentioned are a few baking soda side effects on face and skin.

1. One most common side effect of baking soda for face is irritability to sensitive skin. In a few cases, it may causes armpit rashes, burning sensation, and redness for people who use baking soda regularly as a natural deodorant.
2. Even though baking soda is a natural exfoliant that tones down the skin, over-exfoliation can cause skin problems. Over-exfoliating leads to breakouts, redness, burning, and dry skin. The American Academy of Dermatology recommended offer time to your skin between exfoliation treatments, especially for sensitive skin, to prevent any irritation. Regular exfoliating with baking soda, isn’t recommended.

In short, baking soda comes with unexpected beauty benefits and can be used in several ways for maintaining the face and skin health. Have you ever tried baking soda for skin and face? Did any of these magical baking soda remedies work for youf? Have you experienced any side effects when using of baking soda on your skin? Share your experiences with other readers.

FAQ’s

1. Is Baking Soda Good for Dry Skin?

A. Baking soda may get tricky when using on dry skin as a healthy skin is slightly acidic in nature. The acid mantle of the skin works as a protective barrier and helps maintain overall skin health. But, washing it with baking soda may disrupt the skin’s protective barrier by altering its pH. Thus, the natural skin bacteria may get killed, making the skin prone to infections. The effect is even more higher in the case of dry skin, which can get even more drier due to the baking soda effect.

2. How Long Does it Take for Baking Soda to Whiten Skin?

Baking soda works as a wonderful face mask due to its exfoliating nature. However, the results may begin to show up gradually, when used regularly. It may take 3 to 4 weeks for the skin to whiten when baking soda is applied.