We’re all familiar with baking soda – the powdery white substance that’s used in recipes to cause cakes to rise in the oven. There are so many benefits to baking soda aside from baking, though – it can also be used for heavy duty cleaning and keeping your fridge odour-free. Not only that, but in recent years, baking soda has made something of a name of itself in the health and beauty industry.
According to science-backed evidence, baking soda has a whole host of skincare benefits and can be used to treat many different skin issues. Keep in mind that it’s baking soda, not baking powder, that is said to work as a skin treatment – so don’t get the two mixed up! So, let’s get into our top health benefits of baking soda for the skin:
1. Acne treatment
First up, baking soda is said to be a really good acne treatment, and works as a mild exfoliant that helps remove dead skin cells and cleanse your pores. You can use it for acne and blackheads, and it essentially dries out the excess oil that clogs up your pores and causes these common skin ailments. Its antibacterial properties also make baking soda a good preventative natural skincare remedy for acne breakouts.
To try out baking soda as an acne treatment, you’ll need one tablespoon of baking soda and one tablespoon of water. Mix the two together to form a smooth paste, then wash your hands and face. Pat your face dry with a clean towel, then take the paste and massage it thoroughly onto the affected areas of your skin. Leave the paste for 2 to 3 minutes before rinsing off with warm water. It’s a good idea to follow up with a moisturiser, as baking soda can be quite drying to your skin.
2. Removing scars and blemishes
When combined with lemon juice, baking soda has proven to be incredibly effective in lightening scars and making them less visible in appearance. This is thanks to the bleaching properties of the formula. As an added bonus, lemon juice and baking soda can also help you to achieve a more even skin tone, as they’re pretty good at getting rid of dead skin cells that may be lingering on the surface of your skin.
Make your own baking soda scar and blemish removal treatment by combining one tablespoon of lemon juice with one tablespoon of baking soda. Mix until a smooth paste is formed, then wash your hands and face, before drying your face with a towel. Leave your face slightly damp, then apply the paste onto your acne scars, dark spots or blemishes. Leave it for up to two minutes before washing off and finishing with a natural moisturiser.
3. Shrinking large pores
Baking soda is an astringent, which means it causes skin cells to contract. It helps clean out pores while shrinking them, which is helpful if you’re trying to diminish the appearance of large pores on your face. Additionally, large pores can become more easily clogged with dirt, which can eventually lead to acne. Baking soda can prevent dirt from entering pores by sealing them, reducing the potential for acne breakouts.
To try a natural alternative to your regular skin toner, mix one tablespoon of baking soda with a cup of water. After you’ve washed your face as you normally would using your regular cleaner, follow up by splashing the baking soda solution onto your face, then pat dry. Finally, moisturise your face with a natural product.
4. Lightening the skin on your neck
Certain areas of our skin are more prone to a build-up of dead cells, which can cause blemishes and discolouration. Because baking soda can remove dead cells through gently exfoliating the skin, it’s particularly useful in removing those tiny particles that may build up in unwanted areas of your neck over time. And we’ve already mentioned this, but baking soda also has lightening properties, so any blemishes you have on your neck should be less noticeable, too.
To make a baking soda treatment for lightening the skin on your neck, you’ll need to mix a tablespoon of the soda with half a tablespoon of water. You’re looking to make a thick, grainy paste that will work best to exfoliate the skin, so don’t dilute it with the water too much. Wash and pat dry your neck area, then apply the scrub in circular motions to the skin. Finally, wash off with water and moisturise with a body lotion to prevent dryness.
5. Encouraging glowing, youthful skin
With anti-ageing skincare being as popular as it is nowadays, it’s common to spend hundreds of pounds on a product that promises to work miracles and knock ten years of your face. As all skin is so different in make-up, there’s no guarantee that these products will work for you – so you may want to consider baking soda as a cheaper alternative. Using baking soda combined with orange juice can help boost the skin’s collagen and remove impurities. Thanks to the vitamin C content in oranges, your skin should take on a natural glow, while the baking soda offers a gentle exfoliation.
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