How to do an At-Home Facial

Baking soda (or sodium bicarbonate) is known for its use in baking, its deep cleaning prowess in your kitchen, and its freshening power in your fridge. However, it can also be used as a mild microdermabrasion for your skin. You can eliminate dark spots, black heads, fend off some forms of acne, and even tighten up wrinkles with a product that costs less than a dollar!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Small box of baking soda
• Hot/warm water
• Optional: lemon juice, essential oils

1. Buy a small box of pure baking soda. Typically these cost anywhere from 25 cents to one dollar.

2. Open the box, pour a small amount of baking soda onto your hand or into a small bowl.

3. Add a few teaspoons of HOT water. Immediately stir the baking soda until it becomes a soft, easily spreadable paste.

4. Wet your face, apply the baking soda paste to the skin. Avoid the eyes, inside of nose, and lips.

5. Leave on for 30 seconds.

6. Wash off paste with lukewarm water. Pat dry.

7. Follow up with witch hazel or favorite toner. Apply moisturizer.

Tips & Warnings

• You can spice up this routine by adding a few drops of fresh lemon juice to the mixture to lighten skin discolorations or fade old scars. Many people add light oils to the baking soda paste, and skip the moisturizer step.
• ALWAYS remember to do a patch test. If you skin begins to itch or burn when the baking soda is on your face, wash it off immediately. These kind of reactions are rare, but not unheard of.

Resources

• Thrifty Fun's Homemade Facial Mask Recipes

[aew4]

on 12/15/2008 nice article -- i love the at-home beauty remedies

[kimothie]

on 12/12/2008 Thanks for the recommendation, and I'm glad you're going to try this out! I use it, and I've turned my mom and girlfriends on to the many, many uses for baking soda.

[soanyway]

on 12/12/2008 I love this! I have used it for brushing my teeth a time or two but this is very cool! Thanks I have recom'd you!