- Using baking soda on hands & feet
- Baking soda for hair
- Can you use baking soda on your face?
- Baking soda benefits for the body
- Baking soda uses for teeth
Pretty much everyone knows that baking soda is used for cooking. You might even know about using it as an odour neutraliser in your fridge or for various cleaning tasks around the home, but we bet you've not heard of all the beauty uses for baking soda.
Today we're sharing how you can use it for your face, teeth, hair, body, hands, and feet. You'll be amazed by what it can do!
Why is baking soda a beneficial beauty tool?
Not only is baking soda natural, but it has several properties than make it ideal for treating a multitude of beauty dilemmas. It's gentle but abrasive nature are ideal in the place of harsh exfoliators, and it can also help to deodorise to keep the body smelling fresh. It's alkaline pH is gentle on skin and has even been found to soothe and calm it.
For hands & feet
1. Remove hard skin on feet
Your feet go through a lot, so it's important to look after them. Just as you would wash your hair, you should take time to soak your feet.
Take a large bowl big enough for both feet to fit in and pour in a few spoonfuls of baking soda. Fill it up with warm water and dip your feet in for 15-20 minutes. Exfoliate dead skin from the soles of your feet using more baking soda. Rub the powder into your skin in a circular motion.
2. Get soft hands
Baking soda will also work miracles for hard, dry skin on hands.
Just make a paste that's 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water. Rub the paste onto your hands in a circular motion, then wash your hands so that all the baking soda is rinsed off. You can follow up with a moisturising hand cream for good measure.
3. Clean fingernails
A nail brush will only clean so much of the grime under your nails. Use baking soda to get them sparkling.
Dip a nail brush into a bowl of baking soda and scrub under nails and around the cuticles.
4. Remove calluses
Calluses can be painful, but you don't have to suffer! Take a bowl large enough for both feet and add 1tbsp of baking soda and a few drops of lavender essential oil. Soak your feet in the water for 10-20 minutes.
Next, make up a paste of 3 parts baking soda, 1 part water and 1 part brown sugar and use to exfoliate. The mixture will scrub the calluses away. Finish treatment with a foot cream.
17. Removing stains from hands
Baking soda not only exfoliates, but it also has brightening properties. This makes it great for removing stains from the skin caused by things like spices. Mix together equal parts baking soda and liquid castile soap. Scrub hands clean and watch the stains disappear!
Baking soda for hair
5. Addvolume to hair
Volumising shampoos never really do what they promise on the packaging but could a baking soda shampoo do the trick? Get the results you want by adding 2 tsp of baking soda to your favourite shampoo and wash your hair as normal.
6. Homemade dry shampoo
Stuck in a pinch? Sprinkle a small amount of baking soda to your scalp and rub in with your fingertips to absorb unwanted shine.
7. Clean hairbrushes
This one isn't technically a use for your hair, but hair brushes come pretty close!
Remove as much hair as you can from the brush first and then prepare to wash. Fill a bowl (large enough to fit your hairbrushes) with warm water. Add 1 tsp of baking soda and soak the brushes for 20 minutes. Remove the brushes from the water and leave to dry on a towel.
If there's any leftover grime, you can use an old toothbrush to scrub it away.
8. Fix chlorine damaged hair
Been swimming and just can't get rid of that awful smell? Baking soda can help to strip product build-up from hair and neutralise odours. Use a 1:1 ratio of liquid castile soap and baking soda. As the powder will be stripping product from your hair, you'll want to use plenty of conditioner afterwards.
It's also thought that baking soda can help promote hair growth because of the way that it strips product build-up. It could be worth a try!
9. Hair removal
Remove hair naturally and without all the pain of waxing with this natural solution. Mix together 2 parts baking soda with 1 part turmeric and then add a few teaspoons of water to form a paste. Spread the mix on the patch of unwanted hair and leave to dry.
Remove the dry paste by rubbing it off with your hands or a dry towel. Shower to remove any residue and colour left by the turmeric.
Baking soda for the face
10. Baking soda face mask
Face masks are perfect for an at-home spa experience. Take some time to relax with this easy recipe. Mix together 1 tsp of baking soda and 2 tsp of coconut oil in a small bowl. Apply to clean skin and leave on for 5 minutes. Wash off with warm water, followed by cold water to close the pores.
11. Face exfoliator
For improved exfoliation, mix a small amount of baking soda into your favourite face cleanser. Exfoliate your face as normal, but take care to avoid the eye area.
Only use baking soda in your skincare routine once per week or you could dry your skin out.
12. Get rid of blackheads
Getting rid of blackheads isn't easy. Baking soda is just what you need! Squeeze the juice of a lemon and mix with baking soda. Apply to the face and leave for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse off with warm and then cold water to close pores.
13. Treat acne
To cure acne, make up a paste of 3 parts baking soda and 1 part water. Apply the paste to each spot and leave on for 5-15 minutes until dry. Wash the paste off of your skin.
Alternatively, you could swap out the coconut oil in our face mask recipe for honey.
14. DIY lip scrub
Chapped lips? Try this easy lip scrub: mix equal parts honey and baking soda (you could add sugar for a little more exfoliation). Apply the mixture to lips and rub gently in a circular motion. Don't forget to apply lip balm afterwards to keep them moisturised!
15. Under-eye treatment
Baking soda has brightening properties that could help to get rid of dark circles.
Mix 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water until a paste is formed. Apply the paste to the undereye area using the back of a spoon and leave on for 5-10 minutes. Carefully rinse off, being careful not to rub it into your eyes.
Be very careful to keep the paste away from the eye itself, you only want to apply it under the eye, away from the waterline.
Benefits for teeth
22. Baking soda teeth whitening
Are your teeth starting to look a little bit on the yellow side? Mash up a strawberry with a fork and mix with 1 tbsp of baking soda. Apply the mixture to your teeth with your finger. Try to leave it on your teeth for as long as you can - about 15 minutes should do the trick.
23. How to make mouthwash
Mouthwash can be expensive, so why not make your own? Add 1 tbsp of baking soda to a glass of water, adding in a few drops of peppermint essential oil.
24. Homemade baking soda toothpaste
It's time to start brushing your teeth with baking soda! Make your own by mixing together 2 tbsp of coconut oil, 1 tbsp baking soda and 15-20 drops of peppermint essential oil.
All-over body uses
16. Body scrub recipe
The Homemade Experiment show us how it's done with this easy homemade body scrub. Unlike commercial scrubs, there are no chemicals or microbeads.
The recipe is simple, just 2 tbsp of baking soda and a few drops of your favourite essential oils. Mix in a little water until it resembles a thick paste. To use, rub in a circular motion all over the body and rinse.
18. Fake tan remover
Fake tan is wonderful, until you're left with patches of orange on your ankles and elbows. If no matter how much you scrub, it won't go away, it's time to turn to baking soda.
Mix together 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water and scrub in a circular motion on any patch you want to blend out.
19. Baking soda deodorant
Did you know that baking soda works its magic as a deodorant too? Thank Your Body has created the perfect recipe for keeping odours at bay. All you need is:
- 1/3 cup coconut oil
- 2 tbsp baking soda
- 1/3 cup arrowroot powder
- 10-15 drops of essential oil
20. How to get rid of dark underarms
Dark underarms bringing you down? Mix together 1 tsp baking coconut oil to 2 tsp baking soda until it forms a paste. Rub onto the underarm area in a circular motion and leave for 5 minutes. Rinse off.
21. Bath soak for soft skin
Baking soda is perfect for baths! Pour 1 cup full into a hot bath and swirl into the water. The soda will treat rashes, chickenpox, and sunburn - how magical is that?
Have you ever tried using bicarbonate of soda for anything other than cooking? We'd love to hear from you in the comments below!
Great
Hi I use a couple of teaspoon of baking soda down my sink and pour vinegar about a cup full on top and it foams cleaning and de oderizing my sink. It also works for the bath, handbasin and down the toilet.
Great idea!
Baking soda mixed with warm water in a glass vase. Leave for around 15 minutes and rinse. Water marks and grime gone! ?
Great tip! Baking soda has mild abrasive properties that can help scrub away stains and dirt, while warm water can help loosen and dissolve buildup.
Hi, this really works, sprinkle a generous tablespoon of bicarbonate of soda in the drum of your empty washing machine after using and it will keep it fresh smelling and deodorised until it’s next use, then simply load in your dirty laundry and the residue of dry bicarb will aid your laundry results. Just repeat this process at the end of using your washing machine each time.
Great tip! Thanks for sharing.
i use baking soda on my body and face i have a beautiful body thanks for the tip God bless
We're glad you found the article helpful!