Beauty benefits of baking soda

Shahnaz Husain *

Baking Soda,the inexpensive multitasking humble ingredient in every kitchen cabinet is powerful tool which can help you in day to day beauty problems besides routine heavy-duty cleaning.

Baking Soda carries antibacterial, antifungal, antiseptic and antiinflammatory properties which balances the pH level of skin to make it smooth,soft and radiant and brings new freshness in skin.

It is also a powerful medical tool effective at combating everything from colds to oral problems to skin issues when used for short periods. Apart from cooking and cleaning,baking soda also has amazing beauty benefits which can help you to look best from head to toe .

Baking soda, also known as soda bicarb or sodium bicarbonate has so many uses, that it can be called a wonder ingredient. It has myriad uses at home, like cleaning certain surfaces, relieving problems of digestion, removing odour, treating rashes, itching and even stings. Apart from these, baking soda can also be used for beauty treatments.

Bicarbonate of soda, or baking soda, is known to prevent body odour. During the hot and humid season, body odour can form easily due to perspiration. To remove odour, make a paste of baking soda and water and apply under the arms.

You can also add lemon juice to this paste. Leave on for ten minutes and wash off with water. Or, mix a little baking soda with your talcum powder and apply under the arms, or on the feet.

Baking soda is also very useful for oily skin and problems related to it, like blackheads, pimples and acne. Mix a little water with icarbonate of soda and make a paste. Apply this on areas with blackheads and open pores. Wash off after 5 minutes.

This not only reduces oiliness, but also cleanses the pores. It has a slight skinpeeling effect, which helps in the removal or blackheads.

In other words, it helps exfoliation, removing dead skin cells. But, it has a mild and gentle effect and does not cause skin irritation or sensitivity.

It can also be applied on acne prone skin, to help dry the eruptions. Where beauty treatments are concerned, baking soda can also help to reduce blemishes, dark marks and acne scars. Baking soda should be mixed with lemon juice into a paste. The skin should be dry. Apply the paste on the affected areas and massage gently. Then leave it on for 2 minutes and wash off with warm water.

Rinse the face again, using cool water. Do this twice a week. If the skin feels dry, mix one teaspoon pure glycerin with 100 ml rose water. Keep in a closed bottle in the fridge.

Use a little of this mixture to relieve dryness. It does not clog the pores of an oily skin. You can also make a facial scrub with baking soda for oily skin, to prevent blackheads and thus, prevent acne.

It also has a deep pore cleansing effect. Take a tablespoon of baking soda and two teaspoons oats. Add a tablespoon of water. Rinse the face with warm water. Then take the scrub and rub gently on the face, using circular motions.

Then wash the face with warm water, ending with cool water. This can be done twice a week for oily skin with open pores and blackheads.

For a weekly skin cleansing treatment, baking soda can be mixed with fresh orange juice into a paste. Apply the paste on the face and leave on for 10 minutes. Then moisten with water and rub gently. Wash the face with cool water. Do this once a week. It helps to remove dead skin cells and brighten the skin. It also helps to delay visible ageing skins.

Baking soda can also be used as a natural remedy for the removal of stains on the teeth. Take some baking soda and use it to rub on the teeth, like a tooth powder.

There are so many miraculous natural ingredients that it is best to go nature’s way for beauty treatments.