Baking Soda The Natural Beauty, Bath and Body Care Secret

by Melody Thacker, in Ideas (No Comments)

You probably know how versatile baking soda is for cleaning and deodorizing your home. But did you know this humble substance, sodium bicarbonate, has an amazing array of uses for beauty and skin care? It is all natural, inexpensive and can be purchased just about anywhere. So it’s worthwhile to know some of its uses! Baking soda really is the secret ingredient for natural beauty, bath, and body care.

Baking Soda Is A Natural Water Softener For Your Bath

Baking soda can do wonders for your skin. Pour half a cup into your bath water to soften dry skin and soothe rashes and minor skin irritations, including sunburn.

Baking Soda Is A Natural Exfoliant

You don’t need expensive exfoliants to give your skin a nice healthy glow. Baking soda helps slough off calluses and tough, dry skin. If you have thick, dry skin on your heels, knees, or elbows, mix baking soda with water in a 3-to-1 ratio to make a thick paste. Rub this paste into the dry skin areas after your bath (when the skin is softened). After rubbing it in thoroughly, rinse well, pat skin dry and apply a moisturizing body cream.

Baking Soda Is A Natural Shampoo

Did you know that baking soda and water alone make an excellent shampoo? It helps remove build-up caused by hard water or styling products. Mix about 1 teaspoon of baking soda to one cup of warm water. Add a drop of essential oil if you like. Pour over your hair, work with your fingertips, and then rinse well. There is no need for conditioner; the baking soda mixes with your hair oil to make a gentle, conditioning soap.

You can also add 1/4-1/2 teaspoon of baking soda per tablespoon of your regular shampoo.

If you don’t have time to wash your hair, just sprinkle dry baking soda onto your hair and brush it through. Or, put it on your comb or brush and work it through your hair, taking care to get it down to your scalp. It actually mixes with your hair oil to form a cleanser, which gives the impression that it is “absorbing” the oil.

Baking Soda Is A Natural Face Wash

Mix about a teaspoon of baking soda per one cup of warm water to make a facial wash. Swirl it around or shake it well; baking soda tends to sink to the bottom of such mixtures quickly. You might want to put the solution into a bowl and scoop it up with your hands. Gently rub it into your skin and rinse.

Baking Soda Is A Natural Tooth Powder

Nowadays, many toothpaste brands boast about the presence of baking soda in the ingredients because it is so well-known as a good tooth polish. Well, why not skip the commercial toothpaste and go right for the good stuff? Here are some suggestions for home-made tooth powder or paste using baking soda.

1. To a tablespoon of baking soda, add one drop each of neem oil, tea tree oil, and peppermint oil. Mix with water to make a paste-like consistency and use for several brushings (using a dime-sized portion each time).

2. Mix a tablespoon of baking soda with a few drops of peppermint oil, stir or shake well to combine, and use as a tooth powder. To do this, pour about a teaspoon of the powder into your palm and dip your toothbrush into it. You can also use plain baking soda as a tooth powder.

3. For a whitening toothpaste mix a teaspoon of baking soda with 1/4 teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide and 1 drop of peppermint oil to make a thin paste.

Do you use baking soda in your daily beauty routine?  If not, which one will you try? We’d love to hear about it, please tell us in the comments below!