Baking soda, or bicarbonate of soda, is an ingredient you probably have in your cupboard or refrigerator right now. It is also one of the most versatile beauty products. No matter what you are missing from your collection, bicarbonate of soda might work for the same beauty problem.
Not only can bicarbonate of soda fill in for beauty products that you are missing, but it also does so in an all-natural way. This saves your skin and hair from toxic chemicals that some products contain.
Some baking soda benefits are not well-known and may be surprising to you. With so many different uses for it, you may be able to eliminate many of your other daily beauty products.
33 Baking Soda Benefits
1. Removes blackheads and reduces the production of oil
Baking soda exfoliates your skin, which helps to remove blackheads. By gently scrubbing away dead skin cells, you will produce less oil as well.
2. Helps whiten teeth
Adding a little to your toothpaste can help with teeth whitening. Instead of using chemicals to whiten your teeth, you just have to sprinkle a little of this on top of your toothpaste each day.
3. Make an all-natural face mask
It is a key ingredient in many homemade all-natural face masks. There are several different types of masks you can create with it. These masks include:
- Brightening mask
By mixing it with grapefruit juice and olive oil, leaving it on your face for 15 minutes, rinsing, and moisturizing your face, your face will appear brighter.
- Blackhead removal mask
By mixing it with lemon juice, the homemade mask will harden on your skin. Once it has hardened, rinse it off with cold water to help get rid of blackheads.
- Acne treatment mask
Combining it with honey creates a mask that helps treat and prevent acne.
- Under-eye mask
When mixed with chamomile tea, baking soda can be placed underneath your eyes and left for 15 minutes. This will help with getting rid of dark circles under your eyes.
4. Smooth and soften skin
By soaking in a hot bath with one cup of baking soda, your skin will be soft and smooth when you get out.
5. Exfoliate your feet
Fill a bucket with hot water and sprinkle it in the water. Soak your feet in it until the water is no longer hot and then get more bicarbonate of soda to scrub your feet with. This will remove the dead skin easily.
6. Use it as a dry shampoo
In a pinch, you can rub it on your scalp to absorb extra oil.
7. Add volume to your hair
By putting a couple tablespoons of it into your normal shampoo, your hair could have added volume.
8. Use it as a natural deodorant
Instead of a typical deodorant, you can dab a paste made from baking soda and water on your underarms. This neutralizes your underarms, preventing the body odor smell.
9. Clean your hairbrushes and combs
Sometimes residue builds up at the base of the bristles. This residue can be cleaned out of your brush by soaking brushes and combs in warm water mixed with baking soda.
10. Soothe razor burn
No one likes the red bumps caused by razor burn, and the itching and burning are even worse. One of many baking soda benefits is that it can soothe all aspects of a razor burn. Mix it with water, apply it to the rash area, let it dry, and then rinse it off.
11. Use it as a fingernail scrub
Instead of clipping cuticles or pushing them back, using it in a mixture with water and a nail brush can have a healthier outcome. Just scrub gently in a circular motion.
12. To soften lips and make them pinker
By combining it with honey and rubbing it in small circles on your lips, you can get rid of dead skin cells. It will also add moisture, get rid of impurities, and make the natural pink color return.
13. Get rid of dark spots on your elbows and knees
Mix it with potato juice and rub it onto knees and elbows. Both ingredients have bleaching properties, so they can get rid of the discolored spots.
14. Remove ingrown hairs
Make a paste by mixing it with water, apply it to the area and gently massage. This loosens the hair, making removal with tweezers easier.
15. To shrink your pores
After creating a paste, gently massage onto your face. Not only does it clean your face, but it also shrinks your pores.
16. To fade moles
This is one of the baking soda benefits that is a bit more complicated. You have to combine it with Epsom salt, hydrogen peroxide, boiling water, and vinegar. Then you put the mixture on your moles for around 20 minutes. You will have to repeat this process two times every day until the moles fade.
17. Removing facial hair
Combine it with boiling water, and then wet cotton pieces. Secure the wet cotton pieces to your face, leave it on overnight, and remove in the morning. Rinse your face and apply moisturizer to prevent the area from drying out. Repeat this process until you notice that the facial hair is beginning to fall out.
18. Reduce dandruff
By massaging it into your wet scalp, it exfoliates the skin. After exfoliating, rinse the dead skin out of your hair. Not only does it remove dead skin, but it also unclogs hair follicles, which are usually the reason for dandruff.
19. Gets rid of and prevents foot fungus
By mixing it with vinegar, foot fungus can be cured and prevented. The mixture kills the fungus and stops it from reforming.
20. Removes chlorine
Chlorine can cause build-up or discoloration of your hair, and creating a mixture with dish soap can help get rid of the problems. A conditioner is necessary afterward, as it can dry your hair out.
21. Reduce the appearance of wrinkles
It helps tighten and firm skin, all while smoothing out wrinkles.
22. Cleans makeup brushes
Mix it with warm water and soak the brushes for around 15 minutes. When they are done soaking, rinse them thoroughly and leave them on a towel to air dry.
23. Gets rid of bad breath
Mix it with water, sea salt, and peppermint essential oil. Use the mixture like a mouthwash by swishing it around inside of your mouth and spitting it out.
24. Softens hands
Make a paste, put it on your hands, and scrub them until you’ve gotten every area. It will get rid of dead skin cells and leave your hands super soft.
25. Quickly fades self-tanner
Let’s face it, we sometimes get sunless tans that we eventually hate. Whether it is making your skin look orange or if it has just gotten splotchy, creating a paste and exfoliating your skin with it can help remove the tan.
26. Removes calluses
This requires repeated treatment but will successfully soften and remove calluses. Each night, soak your feet in a water mixture. Then create a paste and exfoliate the calluses. Rinse your feet, put on moisturizer and socks, and leave them on until morning. You may notice the calluses disappearing more and more each day.
27. Remove built up hair products
Putting it in your shampoo will help remove buildup from hair products. This will make it easier to comb and style your hair, as well as making it feel better.
28. Use it to make shaving easier
Before you shave, create a paste and apply it to the area you will be shaving. Let it sit for 15 minutes, occasionally massaging it. This loosens the hair follicle, making the hair easier to remove.
29. Make natural toothpaste
By simply making a paste out of bicarbonate of soda and water, you can have an all-natural whitening toothpaste. Just dip your toothbrush into the toothpaste and brush as usual.
30. Soothe sunburn
Mix it with water and soak a wet cloth in the mixture. Place the cloth on the sunburn and leave it there for 30 minutes.
32. Eliminate odors from your hands
There are many reasons that your hands might have a lingering odor. Cooking with garlic, for instance, commonly causes your hands to smell like garlic for days. You can eliminate the smell by washing your hands with baking soda and water.
33. Makes your smile better
It can help heal gingivitis, making your teeth feel and look better. It does this through its healing properties, and then it also protects the teeth from developing the disease again.
Final Thoughts on Baking Soda Benefits
Baking soda has so many potential uses in a beauty regime. If you’re ever missing an essential product, you may find that bicarbonate of soda will do the same job.
Baking soda is such a versatile product, and the cost is minimal. It is also available in just about any store, even convenience stores. It is always handy to keep extra in your pantry just in case you find yourself in a beauty emergency.
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