Hello all!
Today’s ingredient to soak in – baking soda. That orange color box has been occupying the space on our kitchen shelves for ages now and most of us have been using it for things other than baking too. Continuing our love for natural skincare, in today’s post, we will be discussing the beauty benefits of baking soda – these tiny particles give you a gazillion reasons to love it.
Please note that we always recommend trying a patch on the skin for our beauty recommendations just to test for allergies and reactions.
Beauty benefits of Baking Soda
Baking soda is a wonder ingredient for the face specially due to its mild exfoliating and anti-bacterial properties which helps in removing acne, pimples, blackheads and blemishes. One thing to note is that baking soda is abrasive in nature and should be diluted and applied correctly before using it on your delicate skin which otherwise can lead to skin irritation and rashes.
For Acne
Mix 1 tsp water with 1 tsp baking soda to make a smooth paste and apply on clean dry face on the pimples, blackheads. Leave it for 2-3 minutes and rinse with warm water. Rinse your face with cold water again, dry and finish off with your moisturizer.
This can be done twice a week.
Face Mask
Mix 1 tbsp of baking soda with 2 tbsp freshly squeezed orange juice and apply the paste on clean face in gentle circular motions. Leave for 15-20 minutes. Rinse clean and pat dry your face and follow with your moisturizer. Use it once a week.
As orange is rich in Vitamin C, this mask helps in making the skin brighter and glowing reducing the pores.
[Read: Homemade Face Masks]
Lips
Mix 1 tsp honey with 1 tsp baking soda and apply the paste on your lips. Leave for 2-3 minutes, gently rub to exfoliate and follow with your favorite lip balm.
[Read: Lip Scrub: Do’s, Dont’s and DIY!]
Pedicure
As already stated above, baking soda is known for its exfoliating properties and that is why, it works wonder for removing the dead skin in feet.
Mix 2-3 tablespoons of baking soda with warm water to make soothing foot soak. Add few drops of lavender essential oil (optional) and soak for 20 minutes. Then scrub your feet with a paste of baking soda and water with the help of a pumice stone. Massage with coconut oil and cover with a pair of socks. Wake up to soft feet 🙂
Dark elbows and knees
Baking soda and potato juice comes of great use for dark elbows and knees as both of these ingredients have natural bleaching properties. The elbows and knees are not delicate areas unlike face, the skin is thicker in these areas so we don’t have to worry about skin dryness but its advisable to follow the pack with a good moisturizer or sunscreen for a soft and smooth skin.
Squeeze out the juice of one potato by grating it, add 1 tsp of baking soda and mix. Apply the solution on elbows and knees and leave for about 10 minutes. Wash it afterwards with water, dry and apply the moisturizer. Use it once or twice a week.
Baking soda for sensitive skin?
Due to its abrasive nature, baking soda can be a bit harsh for sensitive skin. We always suggest testing a patch on the arm for any redness or irritation for all skin types but highly recommend it for sensitive skin. Also, it is advisable to not to use it too frequently, once a week is ideal.
Stay beautiful, stay happy!
Love,
V|XOXO
