20 Beauty Benefits Of Baking Soda You Must Know!

Can you use baking soda for the skin? Is it safe? As we all know, we can use baking soda for various purposes. This substance always has your back, whether to keep your home free of odor, perform some intense cleansing, or bake. However, did you guys know that baking soda may be used for skin care, other than household chores? In this article, we have explained the top 20 baking soda beauty benefits. Keep scrolling.

Fun Fact

Ancient Egyptians used baking soda not only as a cleaning agent but also to embalm mummies.

Beauty Benefits Of Baking Soda

Baking soda is incredibly versatile and can be used to treat a lot of different issues. Following is a list of the 20 different beneficial ways in which you can use baking soda.

Note: Please ensure that you are using baking soda and not baking powder for the following remedies to be effective.

1. Baking Soda For Acne

You Will Need

• 1 tsp Baking Soda
• 1 tsp Water

Prep Time

2 minutes

Treatment Time

3 minutes

Method

1. Mix the baking soda and the water until you get a smooth paste.
2. Wash your hands and your face and pat them dry with a clean towel.
3. Massage the paste onto your nose and other areas affected by pimples, blackheads, or whiteheads.
4. Leave it on for about 2-3 minutes and rinse off the paste with warm water.
5. Rinse your face for a second time with cool water and pat dry with a clean towel.
6. Finish by using a non-comedogenic moisturizer as baking soda can be quite drying on your face.

How Often?

2-3 days at a stretch and then twice a week.

Why This Works

You can add baking soda to your skincare routine as it is an excellent remedy for pimples and blackheads. It is a mild exfoliant that helps remove dead skin and cleans your pores. It does this while helping dry out and heal existing acne. Baking soda also has antibacterial properties, which prevent acne breakouts. You can also use baking soda for acne scars and spots.

Andrea from the YouTube channel CurlsBeauty shares her experience using baking soda for over a month to treat her facial acne. She says, “Of course, there were a little bit of marks that went away, but I saw more difference on the texture of my skin. My skin is now much much smoother than before and it’s much much softer. And seriously, no joke, I feel like I have no pores whatsoever (i).” She uses it once a week, followed by exfoliation.

2. Baking Soda For Blemishes

You Will Need

• 1 tsp Baking Soda
• 1 tsp Lemon Juice

Prep Time

2 minutes.

Treatment Time

3 minutes

Method

1. Mix the baking soda and the lemon juice until you get a smooth paste.
2. Wash your hands and your face.
3. Using a towel, pat away the excess moisture from your face, leaving it slightly damp.
4. Massage the paste onto the areas affected by acne marks, dark spots, and pigmentation, or may relieve sunburn as well.
5. Leave it on for about 1-2 minutes and rinse off the paste with warm water.
6. Rinse your face for a second time with cool water and pat dry with a clean towel.
7. Finish by using a non-comedogenic moisturizer as baking soda can be quite drying on your face.

How Often?

2-3 times a week.

Why This Works

BYou can use this blend of lemon and baking soda for dark spots. Lemon has bleaching properties that help lighten and fade scars. It also helps you achieve an even skin tone by getting rid of dead skin cells.

3. Baking Soda For Large Pores

You Will Need

1 tbsp Baking Soda

1 cup Water

Prep Time

2 minutes

Treatment Time

2 minutes

Method

1. In a jug, dilute the baking soda with a cup of water and set the mixture aside.
2. Wash your face as your normally would with your regular cleanser.
3. Splash the baking soda onto your face and then pat dry.
4. Proceed to moisturize your face with a non-comedogenic product.

How Often?

Use this toner about 3-4 times a week instead of your regular toner.

Why This Works

This is an effective baking soda cleanser for your skin. You can apply baking soda for pores as it acts as an astringent. It helps clean out your pores while shrinking them. This treatment also prevents acne by keeping your pores clean and sealed.

4. Baking Soda For Dark Neck Skin

You Will Need

• 1 tsp Baking Soda
• 1 tsp Water

Prep Time

2 minutes

Treatment Time

15 minutes

Method

1. Mix and dilute the baking soda with water until you get a runny paste.
2. Cleanse your neck and pat it dry with a clean towel.
3. Apply the baking soda paste and wait for about 15 minutes.
4. Wash your neck with cool water.
5. Moisturize with a non-comedogenic moisturizer.

How Often?

Repeat this daily until you see your neck lighten. Once you notice a difference, use this treatment twice a week to maintain an even complexion. Following the same treatment, you can also use baking soda for lightening your elbows and your knees.

5. Baking Soda For Glowing Skin

You Will Need

• 2 tbsp Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice
• 1 tbsp Baking Soda

Prep Time

2 minutes

Treatment Time

15 minutes

Method

1. Mix the baking soda and the orange juice until you get a smooth paste.
2. Wash your hands and your face.
3. Using a towel, pat away the excess moisture from your face, leaving it slightly damp.
4. Apply paste onto your face like you would a face mask. Once your face is evenly covered, wait for 15 minutes.
5. Pat some water onto your face and rub the face pack loose.
6. Rinse your face with cool water and pat dry with a clean towel.
7. Finish by using a non-comedogenic moisturizer.

How Often?

Once a week.

Why This Works

This baking soda face mask boosts skin health. Orange has a slightly acidic pH which helps maintain the pH balance of your skin. It also contains a lot of vitamin C which helps give your skin a collagen boost. The exfoliating and cleansing properties of baking soda can remove impurities and dead skin cells from your pores.

Trivia

Ancient Romans used baking soda and pumice stones as soaps to wash during a bath. They paired them with sponges and applied perfumed oils afterward for smooth, soft skin.

6. Baking Soda For Oily Skin

You Will Need

• 1 tbsp Baking Soda
• 1-1.5 tsp Water

Prep Time

2 minutes

Treatment Time

2 minutes

Method

1. Dilute the baking soda with about a teaspoon of water. You need the paste to have a thick consistency.
2. Wash your face with your regular cleanser and pat dry with a clean towel.
3. Apply the baking soda all over your face, leaving out the fragile skin around your eyes, and scrub for about 15-20 seconds.
4. Rinse the baking soda off with cool water.
5. Moisturize with non-comedogenic, mattifying moisturizer.

How Often?

Twice a week.

Why This Works

This baking soda scrub helps exfoliate your face and control moisture. It is necessary to moisturize right after using this scrub as it can be quite drying on your face. Because baking soda can sometimes cause irritation, it is not recommended for people with sensitive skin to use this scrub.

Note: Do not use baking soda for sensitive skin as it can cause irritation like redness and minor cuts. People with sensitive skin should only use this scrub if recommended by a dermatologist.

7. Baking Soda For Rashes

Image: iStock

You Will Need

• 1 tbsp Baking Soda
• 1 tbsp Coconut Oil

Prep Time

2 minutes

Treatment Time

5 minutes

Method

1. Mix the baking soda and the coconut oil until you get a smooth paste.
2. Apply this mixture to the affected area and leave it on for about 5 minutes.
3. Rinse the mixture off with cool water.

How Often?

You can apply baking soda for a skin rash every day until the rash gets better.

Why This Works

Coconut oil has soothing antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties which help calm your skin.

8. Baking Soda For Dark Lips

You Will Need

• 1 tsp Honey
• 1 tsp Baking Soda

Prep Time

2 minutes

Treatment Time

2-3 minutes

Method

1. Combine honey and baking soda until you get a smooth paste.
2. Apply this mixture onto your lips and leave it on for about 2 minutes.
3. Using your fingertips, gently rub the mixture on your lips to exfoliate.

How Often?

2-3 times a week.

Why This Works

Baking soda and honey for skin can help get rid of the dead skin cells from your lips.They also help bleach your skin to naturally lighten the color of your lips.

9. Baking Soda For Whitening Teeth

You Will Need

• 1/2 tsp Baking Soda
• A few drops of Water

Prep Time

2 minutes

Treatment Time

2 minutes

Method

1. Mix the baking soda with a few drops of water until you get a thick paste.
2. Scoop the mixture up with your toothbrush and start brushing your teeth.
3. Do not brush your teeth sideways as this can be abrasive. Instead, gently brush it up using up and down and circular motions.
4. Rinse the toothbrush and your mouth.

How Often?

Every other day for a week. Twice a week after that.

Why This Works

Baking soda is a mild abrasive which helps remove the stains from the surface of your teeth, making them appear to be whiter.

10. Baking Soda For Moles

You Will Need

• 1 cup Baking Soda
• 1 cup 3% Hydrogen Peroxide
• 1 cup Epsom Salt
• 1/4 cup Boiling Water
• 1/4 cup White Vinegar
• Bottle for storage

Prep Time

2 minutes

Treatment Time

15-20 minutes

Method

1. Combine the Baking soda with the Epsom salt and hydrogen peroxide.
2. Add the boiling water to the mixture and blend.
3. Add vinegar to the solution and then store it in a bottle.
4. Apply this solution to your moles and leave it on for about 15-20 minutes.
5. Rinse with water.

How Often?

Twice a day until the mole fades.

Why This Works

Baking soda and vinegar for skin, when combined together, forms a caustic solution that helps dehydrate moles while also bleaching them.

11. Baking Soda For Facial Hair

You Will Need

• 1 tbsp Baking Soda
• 200mL Boiling Water

Prep Time

5 minutes

Treatment Time

Overnight

Method

1. Combine the baking soda with the boiling water and let the solution cool.
2. Soak a piece of cotton in the solution and then drain it.
3. Secure it to the problem areas with some bandage.
4. Leave it on overnight.
5. In the morning, remove the bandage, rinse your face, and apply a nourishing moisturizer.

How Often?

Every day until you notice a difference.

Why This Works

This solution helps dehydrate your hair follicles and damages them, resulting in the hair falling out. However, since baking soda can cause skin irritation, conduct a patch test before you try out this remedy.

Note: If you have extremely dry skin, using it everyday may not be ideal. For those with skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis, consult your doctor before trying the remedy.

12. Baking Soda For Ingrown Hair

You Will Need

• 2 tbsp Castor Oil
• 1 tbsp Baking Soda
• 1 tsp Water
• 1 pair of Tweezers

Prep Time

2 minutes

Treatment Time

20 minutes

Method

1. Wash your hands and the affected area. Proceed to pat them dry with a towel.
2. Apply the castor oil onto your skin and massage it in with your fingertips for about 15 minutes.
3. Wipe away the oil with a damp towel.
4. Combine the baking soda with a teaspoon of water and start gently rubbing the mixture onto the affected areas. Do this for about 2 minutes.
5. Your ingrown hair should be more exposed at this point. Using a tweezer, pluck them out and then proceed to wash your face again.
6. Let your skin heal naturally.

How Often?

Whenever necessary.

Why This Works

Baking soda exfoliation gently removes dead skin cells while keeping your skin from getting infected.

13. Baking Soda For Thick Hair

You Will Need

• 3 cups Water
• 1 cup Baking Soda
• 20 drops Castor Oil

Prep Time

5 minutes

Treatment Time

5 minutes

Method

1. Combine all the ingredients and store it in a shampoo bottle.
2. Rinse your hair with water and pour some of the baking soda solution onto your scalp.
3. Massage your scalp and your hair with the solution for a couple of minutes.
4. Rinse the baking soda out and proceed to condition your hair.
5. Squeeze the excess water out of your hair with a towel and proceed to let your hair air-dry.

How Often?

Substitute your regular shampoo with this solution and use it as often as you would shampoo.

Why This Works

The ‘no-poo’ method has been getting a lot of attention lately, and this baking soda solution is one of the most popular ways of jumping on the bandwagon. Baking soda helps gently cleanse your hair without the harsh chemicals that shampoo contains. It also helps add volume to your hair without stripping away its natural oils. This method also helps curb hair loss and promote new hair growth.

Image: iStock

You Will Need

1 tbsp Baking Soda

Prep Time

1 minute

Treatment Time

5 minutes

Method

1. Rinse your hair and while it is still damp, take a tablespoon of baking soda and apply it to your scalp.
2. Gently massage your scalp with your fingertips so that the baking soda may exfoliate it.
3. Rinse your hair.
4. Skip shampooing and directly proceed to condition your hair.
5. Squeeze the excess water out of your hair and let it air-dry.

How Often?

Twice a week, until the problem subsides. Scale it down to once a week after that.

Why This Works

The baking soda will help exfoliate your scalp, removing all the dead skin. It will also help unclog your follicles without drying out your scalp (clogged follicles are often the culprit when you have a dandruff issue.)

15. Baking Soda For Your Feet

You Will Need

• 3 tbsp Baking Soda
• 1 Bucket (big enough to soak your feet.)
• Water
• Pumice Stone
• Moisturizing Lotion/ Oil
• 1 pair of Socks

Prep Time

5 minutes

Treatment Time

25 minutes

Method

1. Fill a third of the bucket with warm water and to it add the three tablespoons of baking soda.
2. Soak your feet in this water for about 15-20 minutes.
3. Using a pumice stone, gently scrub the dead skin off your soles and feet.
4. Once you’ve scrubbed away the dead skin, massage your feet with a moisturizing lotion or some coconut/olive oil.
5. Cover your feet with a pair of socks.

How Often?

Thrice a week until your soles are soft again.

Why This Works

As we already know, baking soda is an excellent exfoliating agent. It helps soften the dead skin on your feet, making it easier to exfoliate. This treatment will give you soft feet in no time.

16. Baking Soda For Body Odor

You Will Need

• 1 tbsp Baking Soda
• 1 tbsp Lemon Juice

Prep Time

2 minutes

Treatment Time

20 minutes

Method

1. Combine the ingredients until you get a smooth paste.
2. Apply the paste to the parts of your body that perspire a lot.
3. Let it sit for 15-20 minutes and then proceed to wash the mixture off in the shower.

How Often?

Everyday or every other day for a couple of weeks.

Why This Works

Use baking soda and lemon for skin as a sweat manager. Baking soda helps absorb the excess moisture from your body when you perspire. It also acts as a natural deodorant while killing bacteria and alkalizing the body so that it doesn’t perspire too much.

17. Baking Soda For Armpits

You Will Need

• 1 tbsp Mashed Cucumber
• 2 tbsp Olive Oil
• 1 tbsp Baking Soda
• 3 tbsp Lemon Juice

Prep Time

5 minutes

Treatment Time

10 minutes

Method

1. Combine all the ingredients in a bowl until you get a smooth mixture.
2. Apply this paste to your underarms and let it sit for about 10 minutes.
3. After 10 minutes, wash off the paste with lukewarm water and pat dry with a towel.

How Often?

Twice a week.

Why This Works

This method not only helps keep body odor at bay, but it also helps lighten your underarms.

18. Baking Soda For Burns

You Will Need

• 1 tbsp Baking Soda
• 1 tbsp Water

Prep Time

2 minutes

Treatment Time

20 minutes

Method

1. Combine the baking soda and water to get a smooth, consistent paste.
2. Apply this paste on your burns and let it sit until it dries.
3. Once the paste has dried up, wash your burns with cold water.

How Often?

Once after you’ve been burned. Repeat if you need to.

Why This Works

Baking soda helps draw out the heat from a burn because of the cooling effect it has on your skin while it dries up.

19. Baking Soda For Nail Fungus

You Will Need

• 4-5 tbsp Baking Soda
• 1 cup White Vinegar
• Water
• Paper Towels
• 1 Bucket (big enough for soaking your feet.)

Prep Time

5 minutes

Treatment Time

30 minutes

Method

1. Fill a third of the bucket with water and to it add the vinegar.
2. Soak your feet in the vinegar water for about 15 minutes.
3. Pat your feet dry with paper towels.
4. Discard the vinegar-water and refill a third of the bucket with fresh water.
5. To this add the baking soda and soak your feet for another 15 minutes.
6. Pat your feet dry with paper towels.

How Often?

Twice a day until the problem subsides.

Why This Works

The vinegar kills the fungus while the baking soda helps prevent it from growing or re-forming.

20. Baking Soda For Mouth Ulcers

You Will Need

• 1 tbsp Baking Soda
• 1 tsp Water

Prep Time

2 minutes

Treatment Time

5 minutes

Method

1. Combine the baking soda and water until you get a smooth paste.
2. Apply this paste onto the ulcer and leave it on for a couple of minutes until it dries up.
3. Once dry, rinse the baking soda out and gargle.

How Often?

Once every day.

Why This Works

Baking soda helps neutralize the acidity in your mouth while also reducing inflammation. It helps soothe the ulcer and keeps it from getting infected.

You can use baking soda to treat several ailments, but it is always important to do a patch test before applying it on the affected area as it might cause side effects in some people. Read on to learn more about the risks of using it on the skin.

Side Effects Of Using Baking Soda For Skin

Baking soda has a drying effect on the skin. If you use it too frequently, it may overdry your skin and cause skin irritation or inflammation. According to anecdotal evidence, overusing baking soda may cause:

• Redness of the skin
• Acne breakouts
• Rashes
• Skin burning

Moreover, baking soda is basic in nature while our skin is acidic, which might affect the pH balance of the skin. Therefore, it is best to use it in moderation as well as with caution.

Infographic: 6 Reasons To Include Baking Soda In Your Beauty Routine

Baking soda is not only for cleaning surfaces, or for that matter, baking! It can be incorporated in versatile ways into your beauty routine. It can help lighten dark spots, manage acne, and as an exfoliant to clean pores, among many other benefits.

Check out the infographic to learn the reasons why baking soda is gaining so much popularity as a beauty ingredient.

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Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I mix baking soda and turmeric for my face?

Yes, you can mix baking soda and turmeric and apply the mixture to your face. This simple mixture may help dry out acne and exfoliate dead skin.

Can baking soda lighten dark inner thighs?

Anecdotal evidence suggests that baking soda has a slightly grainy texture that may help reduce pigmentation in the inner thighs.

What’s the difference between baking soda and baking powder?

Baking soda contains pure sodium bicarbonate, while baking powder is a combination of sodium bicarbonate and powdered acid.

Which is good for your skin: baking soda or baking powder?

Baking soda helps in exfoliating and cleansing your skin. Baking powder is purely used in baking. Hence, baking soda is ideal for use on your skin.

Watch this video to learn about baking soda’s amazing skin benefits! Also find out 9 ways to use baking soda to keep your skin looking and feeling healthy.

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Dr. Hari Hara SudhanMD

Dr. Hari Hara Sudhan is a dermatologist in Coimbatore,Tamil Nadu. He has 14 years of experience in this field. He is a regular contributor to newspapers and has also authored a book. He is a member of the Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists and Leprologists (IADVL) and Indian Medical Association (IMA) and specializes in Dermabrasion, Scar Treatment, Dental Fillings, Anti...more

Arshiya SyedaSenior Editor

 

Arshiya Syeda is a senior editor at StyleCraze with 7 years of experience. Prior to that, she was a content writer and combined her writing and research skills to write over 200 high-performing articles on hairstyles, hair care, and skin care. She holds a bachelor's degree in literature and psychology from Osmania University, Hyderabad, and a post-graduate diploma in psychological...more

Ramona SinhaEditor

Ramona is an editor at StyleCraze with 11 years of experience in writing and editing. She has authored over 200 articles on skin and hair care. She graduated from the University of Calcutta, West Bengal, and did her post-graduation from the University of Kalyani, West Bengal. She also did a certificate course in dermatology offered by the Novosibirsk State University...more

Swathi ESenior Beauty & Lifestyle Writer

Swathi has a postgraduate degree in English literature from The English And Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, and over two years of experience in writing on health and lifestyle. She also has a diploma in English journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Kottayam, and is a certified skincare coach. She writes on skin care and aims to present well-researched...more