Surprising Ways You Can Use Baking Soda for Acne

As much as we love discovering and test-driving new skincare products that promise to zap zits and banish blemishes, sometimes the quickest fixes are right in front of us. A little at-home DIY can be just the thing to get your skin back on track, and one common household product has been claimed to be especially effective in fighting pimples. Baking soda boasts a number of potential benefits that go beyond its original purpose—homemade teeth whitening is one of our favorites—but it also can be a helpful addition to your skincare routine.

Using baking soda for acne is hardly a new notion. It has been incorporated into numerous skincare products meant to battle acne and act as an anti-inflammatory. Better yet, baking soda might be utilized in more than one way to take on acne.

Whip Up a Spot Treatment

In a hurry? You can use baking soda to create a potential spot treatment for pesky pimples. Simply create a paste with equal parts baking soda and water—two tablespoons are recommended for most treatments. Blend until it becomes a well-mixed paste and then apply the solution directly onto your pimple. Let it sit and dry for 15 minutes and then rinse. Be sure to moisturize after to keep skin from drying out.

Make a Mask

You can also use baking soda as a facial mask. This might be drying, so use with caution. If you have combination skin, with some areas of your face dry and others oily, only apply the mask to the oily areas. Create a paste using the one-to-one ratio and then apply the mixture to a clean and dry face. Let the mask sit for 15 minutes and then rinse with warm water. Again, moisturize soon after removing the mask to prevent drying.

Create an Exfoliant

Because of baking soda's granular composition, it may act as an exfoliator when mixed with water or your favorite cleanser. If mixing with water, use the same one-to-one ratio as above to create a paste. You can also add in a teaspoon or two of organic coconut oil if you want the mixture to be more moisturizing. If mixing with a cleanser you already use, apply the amount of cleanser you would normally use into the palm of your hand, then gradually add baking soda and blend in until the desired amount of grittiness.

After wetting your face with water, gently massage the paste onto the skin in circular motions. Make sure you avoid scrubbing too hard as this may irritate your skin. Focus on gentle pressure. Rinse the solution off your face with warm water and moisturize soon afterward.

Use Baking Soda Sparingly

Biore Baking Soda Acne Cleansing Foam $10.00

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Baking soda can cause skin irritation. As such, for some people, it may actually make acne worse. If this is the case, you can also look for products that are made with baking soda to get the potential acne-reducing benefits without the irritation. One great option is Bioré Baking Soda Acne Cleansing Foam.

If you do make your own baking soda treatment, use it on your face sparingly, only once or twice a week at the most, and watch for any negative side effects or reactions. Always use a fresh box of baking soda, as the box you use for baking may be tainted with other products and might irritate your skin. You should also follow up with a moisturizer after using baking soda to try to avoid drying out your skin.