For years I've considered myself a baking soda connoisseur. I use it to clean my white Keds, bleach pit stains on white shirts, cure my hangover, and ease stomach aches. Little did I know my economy size bag of baking soda would also become an all-time fave for combating serious acne and naturally brightening my teeth!
Let me check any haters out there and tell you why I stand by the baking soda craze: It’s earth friendly (paraben free!), inexpensive, and healthy. Baking soda (a.k.a Sodium bicarbonate) naturally neutralizes PH levels, evening out things that are too alkaline or too acidic, which is key for keeping your skin and teeth not only beautiful, but healthy too! Since baking soda is a natural buffer and neutralizer, it acts as a top-notch exfoliate for your face with the ability to gently remove oil build-up and dead skin cells, and its super fine grain won't irritate your skin. Even celebs are on board with using this household cleaner as a beauty product: Emma Stone told French Elle she uses bakings soda every day to exfoliate.
Go ahead and give it a try—but don't use that box that sits in your fridge. Baking soda soaks up odor, so be sure to buy a fresh box before you get into any of the recipes below.
Teeth Brightener
Image: © Nobilior - Fotolia.com
I'm completely over pricey teeth whiteners that irritate my sensitive chops...but I used to buy them anyways! However once I found this natural and affordable recipe to brighten my teeth instead, I was hooked. It won't wear at the enamel as much as drugstore whiteners, so you don't have to compromise dental health to have a brilliant smile. Use about one teaspoon of baking soda and one teaspoon of lemon juice (or water, if the acidity is too much for you); enough to form a paste on your toothbrush. Leave this on for about one full minute, rinse as you would with regular toothpaste, and get ready to see some bright results!
Super satisfied? Check out Everydayroots.com for additional ways to whiten your teeth with baking soda.
Detox Bath
Image: © Gennadiy Poznyakov - Fotolia.com
This spring, quite a few of my besties are still suffering from dry and itchy skin leftover from the winter cold. The beautiful weather is here to stay (at least for now!) so it's officially time to say goodbye to that dead skin that holds winter-blues in every flake. Again, baking soda can restore your skin to a healthy PH level, so adding this ingredient to your bath can help it stop freaking out. This is also an awesome way to eliminate additional toxins in your body while you chill in the bath. Add two cups baking soda, two cups epsom salt and mint leaves or lavender oil (just for the yummy smell) to warm bath water. Then, grab your favorite book and soak for 40 minutes!
Baking Soda Face Mask
Image: © Piotr Marcinski - Fotolia.com
For anyone just getting into baking soda, I recommend only using this mask a couple times a week. Personally, I can use baking soda on my face every day without reaction, but its better to start slow until you really know how your skin feels about the whole thing. Mix warm water with baking soda in a small bowl to make a paste and massage into your skin. Leave on for about 10 minutes (you’ll know when it’s time because the baking soda will harden and begin to flake off) and rinse well. Your skin should feel soft, clean, and completely make-up free. Use trial and error with this one, y'all! If you pat your face dry and it hurts? That means you’ve still got baking soda on it and need to rinse again.
Feeling bold? Add some apple cider vinegar and tighten up those pores!
