Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, is a natural agent that has a wide variety of industrial, health, food and domestic uses. This miraculously versatile, odorless, crystalline substance, a staple in household kitchens around the world, is readily found in its natural state dissolved in mineral springs, making it one of the most cost effective substances available. There are several beauty benefits of baking soda. It has been widely used since ages as a natural, chemical-free, anti-bacterial agent to tackle a myriad range of skin problems. It works as an effective exfoliant removing dry, dead skin that can cause acne, black heads and other skin problems
Beauty Benefits of Baking Soda
Here is a list of benefits of baking soda on skin.
1. Natural Exfoliant
Baking soda is a great exfoliating agent as its fine granules remove dead skin cells without causing excessive irritation. To use it as an exfoliating agent for your face, you need to add a little water, because it already has a slight grainy texture. You may also add other ingredients such as lemon juice to make it a more effective exfoliant.
2. Chemical Free Cleanser
Baking soda is alkaline, which helps soften the sebum and debris on the face. It also clears and opens up pores and absorbs excess oil preventing breakouts. Baking soda’s anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties treat infections that cause blackheads and loosen the skin around blackheads, enabling easy extraction.
3. Treatment for Acne and Acne Scars
Baking soda helps prevent acne and lighten acne scars as its antimicrobial and antibacterial properties cure underlying infections. Due to its alkaline nature, baking soda helps correct the pH imbalances of the skin, which is one of the reasons for the formation of acne.
4. Skin Tightening Agent
Baking soda’s alkalinity not only contributes to its ability to slough off dead skin cells but also helps in tightening the skin pores. Adding other skin tightening ingredients like honey to baking soda make it an even more effective remedy for skin tightening.
5. Treatment for Sun Tan and Sun Burn
Baking soda works wonders for removal of sun tan. Mix with vinegar to form a paste and apply twice a week to affected areas. Due to its alkaline properties baking soda works very well as a treatment for mild sun burns (no open blisters). Use it to make a cool compress for your sun burn affected skin.
6. Treatment of Skin Rashes
Baking soda’s natural antimicrobial and antibacterial qualities make it ideal for the treatment of skin rashes. A paste made of baking soda and water, when dabbed on insect bites, allergic rashes, and skin exposed to poison oak/ivy can significantly reduce discomfort and inflammation.
7. Treatment for Fungal and Yeast Infections
Baking soda can help kill the growth of fungus on your skin. The primary reason for this (once again) is the alkaline nature of baking soda. Fungi thrive in acidic mediums, but die out quickly in alkaline ones.
Its alkaline properties also make it ideal for treatment of fungal infections. It can be ingested, mixed with water, for intestinal or organ fungus, or applied topically as a paste mixed with water for treatment of skin yeast infections.
Baking soda has many benefits for skin, but it needs to be used with caution as it is too strong and drying for a sensitive skin. If you have a sensitive skin, avoid using baking soda. In fact, baking soda should be applied to the skin no more than once or twice a week, in order to maximize its benefits and avoid the unpleasant side effects.