I love finding new uses for pantry staples. Lately, I’ve been on a natural kick…you’ve probably noticed my posts about essential oils, eating unprocessed…. And while I’ve used baking soda ‘unconventionally’ (as an awesome dry shampoo, tooth whitener, to clean my cuticles), there are a lot of other ways that I can use baking soda! Here’s my best baking soda beauty tips.
Baking Soda Beauty Tips
And, since I just bought a 13-pound bag at Costco (Yes, I am THAT girl.), I had better start using it a whole lot more.
Obviously, I needed to figure out how to use more baking soda. The first place I started with was, oddly enough, self-care. Did you know that you can use baking soda as a replacement for a lot of those yucky scrubs and soaks?
For Your Hair
Dry shampoo
Sprinkle baking soda on your roots a little bit at a time. Use VERY sparingly, since using too much will make you have white hair. Let the baking soda sit for 3-5 minutes to absorb any oils, then comb through.
No ‘poo
You’ve probably heard the “no ‘poo” hype, and, while it didn’t work for me I haven’t tried it (it’s coming this month, people!), basically, you use baking soda water to clean your hair and apple cider vinegar in place of conditioner.
Clean your hairbrush
If you use products like hairspray, wax, or gel, then your hairbrush could use a cleaning. To de-gunk your brush simply put it in a bowl of warm water and add 2 teaspoons of baking soda to clean it. Let it sit for at least 10 minutes, then rinse. Allow your brush to dry before you use it again.
For Your Face
Exfoliate naturally
Mix baking soda with water until it forms a paste, then exfoliate your cares away. You can also mix honey and baking soda to make a moisturizing scrub.
Zap zits
Mix a smidge of baking soda with a drop of lemon essential oil to make a paste and apply to blemishes. Seriously, it works!
Get sparkly teeth
Wet your toothbrush and dip in baking soda, then brush as normal. You’ll clean and whiten your teeth.
Mouthwash
Mix half a teaspoon in warm water and swish through your mouth.
For Your Body
Soothe a sunburn
Soak a washcloth in 4 tablespoons of baking soda dissolved in one quart of water, and apply it to your sunburn.
Aftershave
Add two tablespoons of baking soda to one cup of water and wipe gently to soothe irritation.
Deodorant
Grab an old makeup brush (make sure it’s clean!) and dust baking soda under your arms for an all natural anti-sweat solution. This works great for me in the winter months. During the summer, I use beeswax deodorant.
Clean your nails
Dip a damp toothbrush (NOT the same one you use for your teeth!) in baking soda. Gently scrub your nails to remove any discoloration and soften your cuticles.
Detox bath
This is great if you’re recovering from a hard workout (or if you’ve been sick and are in the achey recovery stage). If you’ve got an aching body, add a 50/50 mix of Epsom salts and baking soda to your bath.
Want more baking soda ideas? Here’s some for your home.
Exfoliating scrub:
Mix 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon granulated sugar and 2 teaspoons water. Massage onto your face and let sit for a few minutes. Rinse well with warm water. Do this once a week for clear skin.
Awesome! Thanks for sharing!!
What is the best kind of baking soda to use for no poo?
While you can find organic baking soda, I just use this one: https://amzn.to/1LyAeeC MUCH cheaper (and you get bulk, so you don’t have to continuously buy little boxes/bags!)