Baking soda tends to be kept in the pantry until the holidays come and baking is on top of the list of things to do in the kitchen or when there is foul odor emanating from the fridge. But did you know that baking soda actually can do a lot more than these two? Surprisingly, only a handful of people have used baking soda to its full potential so before you start to wonder why did you ever buy that box of baking soda, here are some of its amazing uses especially when it comes to beauty.
Remove buildup of products. Constant use of hair products can cause a buildup on our hair making it greasy and dull. A good way to reduce this is to add a quarter size of baking soda in your palm along with your favorite shampoo. Shampoo your hair as you normally do. The baking soda will help remove any residue from the styling product that you’ve been using.
Alternative to dry shampoo. If you don’t have time to hit the showers or when your hair starts to look greasy in the afternoon, a pinch of baking soda can be a good alternative to dry shampoo. Just sprinkle some on the roots of your hair then tousle. Comb afterwards to see your hair transform from greasy to fresh in no time.
Soften calluses. Another use of baking soda is to soften calluses on your feet and hands. For this treatment, fill a bowl with warm water then add a tablespoon of baking soda and a few drops of lavender oil. Soak your feet in the bowl for a few minutes then afterwards, scrub the skin gently. For the scrub, combine one part water with 3 parts baking soda and one part brown sugar. This will help remove dead skin cells easily. Follow this up with your moisturizer to reveal smooth and healthy skin.
Hairbrush cleaner. Have you looked at your hairbrush closely lately? Chances are you’ve seen some pretty gross stuff accumulating near the base of the bristles. But before you consider chucking your hairbrush or comb in the trash, just fill a basin with warm water and add a teaspoon of baking soda in it before soaking your brush and comb. Leave them for 20 minutes then rinse afterwards. Don’t forget to dry before using.
Spot-treatment for acne. People dread acne flare ups especially when you’ve ran out of pimple remover or mask. However, if you have some baking soda on hand then you’re in luck. Just mix a small amount of baking soda with water to create a paste then apply on your acne. Take note that this doesn’t work on deep cysts but those surface bumps can dry up easily.
As you can see, baking soda is certainly a miracle worker when it comes to beauty. Just imagine the various ways you can use this product other than for baking and getting rid of smell.
