Baking soda is a gentle cleanser and a natural lightener, making it one of the holy grails of beauty. You’re probably aware of baking soda’s cleaning capabilities and that it lightens stains. Well, the same goes for your skin! Baking soda is a great candidate for lightening spots and scars due to its bleaching capabilities!
Baking soda, known as sodium bicarbonate, is a natural, benign ingredient that is an all-around fantastic home remedy!! When used regularly, baking soda gently cleanses, exfoliates, and naturally lightens the skin, chipping away at scars! As a result, it can treat dark spots, acne scars, age spots, and sunspots while also preventing breakouts!
The 10 DIY baking soda face mask recipes below will leave your skin looking radiant.
1. Baking Soda and Lemon Juice
This baking soda and lemon juice scrub will eliminate even the most persistent scars and blemishes! Remember to use it consistently — the more often you apply it to your skin, the quicker and more effective it will be!
Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp baking soda
- 1 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
Combine the ingredients in a mixing bowl. If you want a more paste-like consistency, you can add extra lemon juice. Next, scrub into the skin all over the face and neck. Let it sit for 15 minutes before rinsing with warm water. This is a fantastic way to reduce dark spots while also removing dead skin cells, blackheads, and whiteheads, leaving skin velvety smooth and shiny!
2. Baking Soda and Orange Juice
Baking soda and orange juice work together to create a potent face mask. Orange juice contains citric acid, which brightens dull skin while also naturally lightening dark areas.
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp baking soda
- 1 tbsp orange juice
Mix these ingredients and rub them onto your skin. Leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes before rinsing it off. The citric acid will shrink your pores and reduces the number of blackheads, leaving your skin clean and glowing.
3. Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide
This mask is not advised for people with sensitive or dry skin because it can irritate the skin. Since hydrogen peroxide is relatively strong and might dry up the skin, only use this baking soda peroxide face mask once a week! Hydrogen peroxide is, after all, one of the main chemicals in hair bleach. To avoid undesirable side effects, always test a tiny patch of skin before applying it to your face.
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp baking soda
- 1 tbsp hydrogen peroxide
Combine all of the ingredients thoroughly. Apply to your face or just to the dark spots for optimal results. Leave for 5 minutes before rinsing. After patting your face dry, apply a mild moisturizer to lock in moisture.
4. Honey, Lemon, and Baking Soda
This honey, lemon, and baking soda face mask will benefit all skin types. Honey has antibacterial properties and hydrating to the skin. Lemon and baking soda cleanse the skin while reducing acne scars and dark spots.
Ingredients:
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp honey
- 1 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
Combine all of the ingredients thoroughly. If the paste seems too thick, add additional honey or lemon juice. If the mixture is too thin, add a pinch of baking soda. Stir until a thick paste develops, then apply to your face or only the problematic areas. Let it sit for 15 minutes before rinsing with cool water. After patting your face dry, apply a homemade moisturizer.
5. Vinegar, Honey, and Baking Soda
Since baking soda is alkaline, raw apple cider vinegar can help restore your skin’s pH levels.
Ingredients:
- 2 or 3 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar
- 1 or 2 tablespoons of baking soda
- 1 teaspoon of honey
Combine these ingredients to form a paste. Smear this paste onto your face and massage it for about 2 minutes with circular strokes. Leave it on your skin for 15 to 20 minutes, then wash your face with warm water and apply moisturizer. Importantly, remove the mask immediately if your skin starts to burn.
This mask will instantly make your skin feel and appear fresher and brighter! If instant gratification is your thing, you’ll be delighted with the results of this mask.
6. Oats, Honey, and Baking Soda
The oats will cleanse and hydrate your skin while gently exfoliating it. Baking soda is an excellent home treatment for blackheads and pimples. It’s a gentle exfoliant that removes dead skin and unclogs pores while also assisting in the drying and healing of open acne.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup of ground oats
- 1 tablespoon of honey
- 1 teaspoon of baking soda
In a bowl, combine all of these ingredients and produce a paste. Apply the mixture to the face and neck in circular motions. Let it sit for 12 to 20 minutes before rinsing it off with warm water.
7. Tea Tree Oil, Honey, and Baking Soda
Tea tree oil is a natural acne treatment. This mask is ideal for those with oily skin.
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoon baking soda
- 3 or 4 tablespoons of honey
- 3 or 4 tablespoons tea tree oil
- 3 drops of lemon juice
In a bowl, combine all of these ingredients to produce a paste. Apply the mixture to your face and neck. Leave it on for 12-20 minutes, then rinse it off with warm water. Pat your skin dry and then moisturize.
8. Honey, Baking Soda, and Coconut Oil
This scrub will exfoliate your skin while also controlling moisture. It’s recommended to moisturize your face after using this mask because it can be somewhat drying. Coconut oil’s antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory qualities aid in soothing your skin.
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon Baking Soda
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon Coconut Oil
Combine these ingredients to make a paste and apply it to your face. Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes. Next, wash your face with cool water, then apply a moisturizer. This scrub can be used every day till the rash disappears.
9. Baking soda, Yogurt, and Lemon
Yogurt keeps your skin hydrated, while baking soda and lemon help to unclog and shrink skin pores.
Ingredients:
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon yogurt
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 drop of lemon juice or lemon essential oil
In a bowl, combine all of these ingredients and make a paste. Next, rub the paste into your face and leave it on for 5 to 10 minutes. Finally, rinse your face and apply moisturizer. Note: lower the amount of lemon juice before application if your skin is particularly sensitive.
10. Baking Soda, Honey, and Aloe Vera
Since aloe vera contains anti-inflammatory and antibacterial characteristics, this face mask reduces inflammation and redness while also speeding up acne healing.
Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 teaspoon aloe vera gel
In a mixing dish, combine all these ingredients and form a paste. Next, apply the paste to your entire face and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. Then, use a moisturizer after washing your face with cool water. Repeat this process twice a week.
Baking Soda’s Skin Benefits
Baking soda contains a lot of skin-friendly properties. Regular use of baking soda can help those with oily or acne-prone skin.
Antibacterial: Baking soda has antibacterial properties, which can help prevent breakouts.
Anti-inflammatory: Its anti-inflammatory properties help minimize acne and breakout inflammation by gently relaxing and cleansing the skin.
Cleaning: It helps deep clean the skin by removing oil, dirt, and bacteria.
Exfoliating: It exfoliates the skin’s top layer gently. Removes dead skin to reveal smoother, more radiant skin.
Lightening: It helps to lighten scars, black spots, sun spots, and age spots due to its lightening properties.
Evens out skin tone: It balances the skin’s pH and evens skin tone.
Not Sensitive Skin-Friendly
However, people with sensitive skin should avoid using these scrubs since baking soda can irritate their skin. According to Dr. David Lortscher, board-certified dermatologist and CEO and founder of the skincare line Curology, you probably want to stick to other washes and masks if you have sensitive and delicate skin. Lortscher adds that “scrubbing your face with a baking soda paste can be harsh and disturb your skin’s natural barrier, leading to red, raw and sensitive skin and leaving it susceptible to breakout.”
