Whether it's fighting off odors in the refrigerator, tackling stains in the washing machine or helping cookies rise in the oven, baking soda has a wide variety of uses in nearly every room of the home. In fact, the ingredient can be easily used as a skin-care product. Using baking soda as a facial skin exfoliant is simple, cheap and effective.
Benefits of Exfoliation
The main purpose of exfoliation is to gently remove the top layer of the skin, which consists mainly of dead skin cells, oil, sweat and dirt. As this layer accumulates, it dulls the appearance of the skin. Once this layer is removed through exfoliation, a healthier and more vibrant layer of skin is revealed.
Baking Soda Facial
Baking soda has a mildly coarse and gritty texture, yet it is extremely gentle on the skin. These two qualities make it ideal as a facial exfoliating scrub. The Beauty Brains website recommends adding 1 tsp. of baking soda to a small amount of your regular facial cleanser and mixing well. If you prefer cleansing your face before exfoliating, simply mix the baking soda with water to form a soft paste. Although you may need to adjust the exact amounts to achieve a proper consistency, a mixture of three parts baking soda and one part water tends to provide a proper texture.
Exfoliating Technique
Before exfoliating with the baking soda paste, cleanse your face with warm water and a gentle cleanser. Use your fingertips to apply a small amount of scrub to the chin, forehead, nose and both cheeks. Use your fingertips to gently massage the scrub into the face in small circular motions. Avoid the delicate skin around your eyes and keep the baking soda scrub out of your mouth and nose. To avoid irritating the skin, only massage the facial scrub into the skin for approximately 10 to 15 seconds. Rinse your face with warm water until you no longer feel the gritty granules of the baking soda. Pat the face gently with a clean soft towel.
Baking Soda Tips
As with any type of exfoliating product, a baking soda facial scrub can dry out the skin. Combat this loss of moisture by applying a thin layer of moisturizing cream to the face once it is dry. If the baking soda facial scrub causes your skin to become red or irritated, use less baking soda the next time you exfoliate.
Potential Dangers
Using baking soda as a facial skin exfoliant is generally safe and beneficial for the face. When compared to other exfoliating scrubs, baking soda is quite gentle and should not damage the delicate facial skin. However, exfoliating the skin too much may cause damage. Proper exfoliation simply removes the dead layer of skin cells on the surface of the face. If you continue exfoliating after this layer is removed, your may affect a healthy layer of skin as well. As a result, you may experience inflammation, acne or tenderness. Avoid the potential dangers of exfoliation by only using the baking soda facial scrub once or twice per week.
References
- The Beauty Tips: Tips on How to Exfoliate Your Skin To Have A Healthier and Beautiful Skin
- Real Beauty: Expert Q&A: Exfoliate Your Skin
- The Beauty Brains: Is Baking Soda An Effective Natural Exfoliant?
- Real Simple: 10 New Uses For Baking Soda
- Arm & Hammer: My Body Usages & Tips
- Homemade Beauty Recipes: Natural Facial Scrubs & Exfoliator Recipes
