Baking Soda for Skin, Hair, and Personal Hygiene

Fulfill a variety of your personal hygiene and grooming needs with one simple product: baking soda. I use it more in the bathroom than I ever have in the kitchen!

Baking Soda, the Personal Care All-Rounder

I’m very particular about personal hygiene and caring for my skin. But I don’t like to spend more than I have to on toiletries, nor have more than I need.

I’m also largely of the opinion that whatever doesn’t harm the inside of the body won’t harm the outside.

We mostly associate baking soda (or bicarbonate of soda where I’m from) with its culinary uses or as a household cleaner. But it’s also a versatile cosmetic item, especially for men.

Provided it works well for your skin and hair, this single item can replace numerous products, saving money and space.

It seems that whenever a skin softener, cleanser, or odor neutralizer is needed, baking soda can help.

It has been part of my regular personal hygiene and grooming regimen for many years.

Baking Soda for Skin Care

1. Face Cleanser

I like to give my face a quick wash at night before going to bed. Like most men, I don’t wear makeup, so there’s no need for a heavy cleanser.

I simply rinse my face with a solution of cold water and baking soda. That’s all there is to it. There’s no need to rinse (although you can), and it cleanses pore-deep.

To make, add one teaspoon of baking soda to a pint or two of water.

It’s suitable for all skin types but is a good home remedy for the acne prone.

2. Relief from Razor Burn

Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, baking soda relieves razor burn.

Soak a cotton pad in a milky solution of baking soda and water and leave for about 10 minutes as a compress on the affected area.

Or you can make a paste of baking soda and water and apply it directly to the affected area.

As a paste, it’s also good for insect bites and to treat spots.

3. Exfoliator for the Face and Scalp

To exfoliate, mix a teaspoon of baking soda with your facewash or an oil, and gently massage in circular motions over the face and neck, avoiding the mouth and eye areas.

If you’re acne-prone, mix with noncomedogenic jojoba oil, adding colloidal oats if at hand. You can also leave this on the face for 20 minutes to work as a mask.

I mix with almond oil, which benefits dry and mature skin.

Use a mechanical exfoliant (such as this) no more than once or twice a week, and be very gentle to prevent soreness.

Baking soda scrubs may also be used for the body and are useful for removing self-tanner that has turned out uneven or of an undesirable color. Just mix with body wash in the shower.

If your head is shaved, always treat your scalp as an extension of your facial skin. Exfoliating will prevent ingrown hairs, exactly as it does in the beard area. But it won’t treat hair loss.

4. Face Mask for Acne-Prone Skin

I used to do this when I was a teen, and I think it helped.

If you’re prone to acne and blackheads, make a face mask of baking soda and clear honey.

Mix together two teaspoons of each ingredient, spread over your face and neck, avoiding the mouth and eye areas, and leave to work for about 20 minutes.

As with the face scrub, you could add colloidal oats to this mixture, too.

5. Soothing Bath Soak

Instead of adding soap-based products to your bathwater, which have a drying effect, add four ounces of baking soda. This cleanses without stripping the skin of its protective barrier, and is ideal if you suffer from acne on the back and shoulders, a condition that may be referred to as “bacne.”

It can also relieve itching caused by dry skin or insect bites and soothe sunburn.

The water temperature shouldn’t be more than lukewarm.

Mosquito on hand — Baking soda can relieve itching caused by insect bites.

For Hands and Feet

6. Manicure and Pedicure

Before a manicure or pedicure, soak your hands or feet for about ten minutes in a solution of baking soda and warm water. This softens nails, cuticles, and hard skin.

For feet, you’ll need two or three tablespoons of baking soda in an appropriately sized bowl, and for hands, one tablespoon.

For cleaner-looking nails, add the juice of one lemon.

Baking soda may also help prevent toenail fungus.

7. Splinter Removal

If you have a splinter, apply a paste of baking soda and water, and cover with a band aid. After about 12 hours, you’ll be able to remove the splinter with ease.

8. Relief from Foot Fatigue

This helped me a lot when I used to work on my feet all day. You can do it while watching TV in the evening.

To refresh tired, stressed feet, soak for about 30 minutes in a bowl of warm water and four tablespoons of baking soda. Finish by running cold water over your feet for at least 30 seconds, then apply a foot gel or cream.

It should leave you feeling revived.

For Body Odor

9. Underarm and Foot Deodorant

Are you worried about what commercial deodorants might be doing to your health? Personally, I haven’t used one for years.

I prefer either zinc paste or baking soda.

To neutralize body odor and absorb perspiration, mix baking soda with cornstarch to a ratio of 1-to-1. To apply, pick up on a cotton ball or an old shaving brush and dab under your arms. It will keep you smelling fresh, and there’ll be no sweat stains on your shirt.

This also works well as a foot deodorant if you suffer from sweaty feet.

Additionally, you can sprinkle pure baking soda into your shoes overnight to rid them of foot odor.

Worn, brown men's shoes — Sprinkle pure baking soda into your shoes overnight to rid them of foot odor.

For Hair Care

10. Clarifying Shampoo

Conditioners work better if you use a clarifying product beforehand to free the hair of product buildup. If you don’t have one, just mix a dandruff shampoo (like Head & Shoulders) with an equal portion of baking soda and lather twice.

Do this whenever your hair seems flat and limp; it’s most likely because product buildup is weighing it down.

You’ll also notice that your hair is easier to comb.

11. Dry Shampoo for Greasy Hair

Instead of buying dry shampoo, mix baking soda 1-to-1 with cornstarch or body powder. This absorbs excess oil and leaves the hair feeling clean and smelling fresh.

Sprinkle into the crown and roots and brush through to the ends.

Use sparingly, or your hair will appear powdery.

Oral Hygiene

12. Mouthwash

To neutralize bad breath, dissolve a teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of lukewarm water and use as a gargle and mouthwash. This not only freshens breath; it keeps gums healthy, especially if used daily.

13. Cleaner for Dentures and Dental Retainers

You can clean dentures and removable dental retainers by soaking for a few hours (or overnight) in a baking soda solution. This also neutralizes the nasty taste that often lingers on the dental plate.

To make the solution, stir a teaspoon of baking soda into a glass of lukewarm water.

14. To Clean Natural Teeth

Baking soda can’t bleach teeth, but it can return them to their natural brightness.

Use baking soda—either on its own or with your regular toothpaste—to brush away coffee, tea, and tobacco stains. In order not to damage tooth enamel, use only once or twice a fortnight.

Having teeth that stain easily, I also dampen my toothbrush with three percent hydrogen peroxide, which has helped retain the results of my last whitening treatment.