Should You Use Baking For Facial Cleanser.
You could call it a “Baking Soda Renaissance”; as eco-friendly,
budget-friendly alternatives to synthetic body products attract
interest, simple household strongholds like baking soda are making a comeback.
What gives this movement so much traction is that, in many cases, the simple alternatives
work just as well as (and often better than) the expensive, store bought stuff.
Using baking soda in lieu of shampoo has gotten the most attention, and its
popularity has sent people looking for other ways to incorporate baking soda
into their daily maintenance routine.
Thus comes the question, “Can you baking soda for facial cleanser.
Is it safe, and does it work?
Here are your answers.
The Question Of Skin Safety.
You may be wondering whether it’s safe to use baking soda on your
skin; after all, it can be used to clean bathroom tiles and drains.
Is it okay to expose face to baking soda?
The answer is yes.
From cosmetic scientists to leading acne resource guides, the safety of using
baking soda on your face is not disputed.
Some people have more sensitive skin than others, so there are occasional reports of
redness, itchiness, and a burning sensation from the use of baking soda washes or masks.
In most cases, using less baking soda (or diluting it with more water) will
lessen or eliminate those discomforts.
Baking Soda’s Role.
Baking soda’s role in skin is primarily as an exfoliant.
We exfoliate to remove dead skin cells, thus preventing them from
building up on the surface of the skin.
Exfoliating clears pores and leaves the of the skin feeling smooth and healthy.
There are two kinds of exfoliants: chemical (which gently burns off the outer skin
cells) and physical (which buffs those same cells off by scraping or peeling).
Baking soda falls into the physical category.
Its tiny particles are mildly abrasive, so when applied to the
skin, it scrubs the surface clean and buffs dead skin cells out of pores.
In fact, baking soda’s power to scrub without scratching has made
it a favorite for everything from scrubbing sinks to washing hair.
Curious.
Washing hair with baking soda and vinegar actually becoming very popular.).
How To Do It.
Using baking soda as a facial exfoliant can be done in one of two ways:
For a baking soda facial cleanser, simply add a small amount of baking
soda to your regular face wash.
Mix it together in your hand, and wash your face as usual, being sure to rinse very
well and follow up with a light moisturizer.
This can be done every day with a small amount of baking soda, or once or
twice a week if you use a higher ratio.
For a baking soda mask, combine soda and water to create a paste.
Apply to the skin, leave on for a few and then thoroughly rinse to remove.
Apply a moisturizer.
It’s okay if the mask gets hard and crackly.
When it dries to the skin, it will latch on to the cells around it, thus removing
dead cells and dirt when you rinse it off.) Doing this too often could
dry your skin out, so try starting just once a week and adjust from there,
according to your own skin’s reaction.
Some people report slight feelings of tingling, itching, or burning when they
apply baking soda to their face, but for most, it’s not enough to cause discomfort.
Everyone’s skin is a little different, so it’s possible that people who have
stronger reactions to the treatment are simply more sensitive to baking
soda and should try smaller amounts (or try using something else).
It’s also possible that they did not apply moisturizer after using the baking soda.
Always moisturize after a baking soda treatment; failure to do so can make
your skin painfully dry (to the extent that it flakes off), and will probably
not make the experience a positive one.
You can use a normal, store-bought moisturizer, just like you normally
would after cleansing your face.
Or, if you’re also interested in natural, at-home moisturizing solutions, consider
rubbing a very small amount of extra virgin olive oil into your skin.
The Results In writing this article, decided to try it out for myself.
In my experience, baking soda great as a skin cleanser and mask!
To test these techniques, I washed one side of my face with my regular cleanser
mixed with 1 teaspoon of baking soda.
To the other, I applied a baking soda mask (baking soda plus water,
mixed into a paste), which I let dry and rinsed off after 6-7 minutes.
I had a little fun with how goofy the mask made me look (as all facial masks do),
but skin-wise, the results are excellent.
The side of my face that received the baking soda application is
slightly smoother than the other, but both feel much softer than usual.
I’m not alone in my approval baking soda as a facial product.
Polling data on Acne.org shows that the average user review of baking soda is 4.4
stars out of five, and 91% of visitors would recommend that others use baking
soda for facial skin cleanser, as well.
Did you know that baking soda serves other purposes around the home.
You can clean with baking soda, shampoo with baking soda, and do many other
things with this affordable, safe, and eco-friendly stronghold of simple living.