Having silky soft and healthy skin is as simple (and cheap) as reaching into your kitchen cupboard. Soda or sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) has many health and beauty qualities that have been shown to be beneficial in skincare. It removes oils and acids present on the skin, neutralizes odors, softens skin and aids in healing. The simplest way to reap the skincare benefits of baking soda is to add it to the bath or to a homemade facial or body scrub or cleanser.
It is important to use baking sode with care. Improper use, including overuse, has been shown to cause cracking and drying of the skin.
This is why I avoid using baking soda as the only ingredient. Instead, I always combine it with other natural ingredients that have moisturizing properties. These include various oils (olive, sesame, coconut and almond), honey and aloe vera. This is particularly essential in scrubs and cleansers that will be applied directly to the skin.
No time for homemade skincare products? You can still enjoy the benefits of baking soda by adding 1/3 to 1/2 cup to your bath along with a commerical product.