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
We mostly associate baking soda (or bicarbonate of soda) with its culinary uses or as a household cleaner. But it’s also a versatile cosmetic ingredient, especially for men.
I’m meticulous when it comes to personal care. But I don’t like spending more than I have to on toiletries, nor having more than I need; they take up space and eventually expire, landing in the trash.
I take the view that ingredients safe to eat are generally safe on the skin. That’s why baking soda has been part of my regular personal hygiene and grooming routine for many years.
Baking Soda for Skin Care
1. Face Cleanser
I like to give my face a quick cleanse at night before bed. Like most men, I don’t wear makeup, so there’s no need for a heavy cleanser.
I normally use micellar water, but a solution of lukewarm water and baking soda works in a pinch.
To make, add one teaspoon of baking soda to a pint or two of water. Splash it over your face, then rinse to avoid irritation. Finish with moisturizer.
It’s mild enough for most skin types, especially the acne-prone.
2. Relief from Razor Burn
Thanks to its mild anti‑inflammatory effect, baking soda can help calm razor burn.
Soak a cotton pad in one teaspoon of baking soda dissolved in a cup of water and use as a compress. Leave it to work for about 10 minutes.
Or make a paste of baking soda and water and spread it over the affected area. This is also an effective spot treatment for insect bites and pimples.
3. Exfoliator for the Face and Scalp
Mix a teaspoon of baking soda with a face wash or oil and massage in circular motions, avoiding the mouth and eye areas.
If you’re acne-prone, mix with noncomedogenic jojoba or sunflower oil. Leave it to sit for about 20 minutes if you want it to double as a mask.
For dry and mature skin, mix with almond oil.
But don’t use mechanical exfoliants or scrubs more than once or twice a week on the face—and be gentle. Overdoing it can cause soreness and broken capillaries. For regular use, non-gritty products with jojoba beads are a better option.
Scrubs are best used on the tougher skin of the body. Baking soda is especially good at removing self-tanner that has turned out uneven or of an undesirable color. It works by lifting the top layer of stained cells while breaking down the active tanning ingredient. Just mix with your body wash in the shower. To avoid patchiness, exfoliate before applying self-tanning products.
For shaved heads and naturally bald men, treat your dome as an extension of your face. Exfoliation prevents ingrown hairs of the beard and scalp while leaving a smooth surface.
4. Face Mask for Acne-Prone Skin
I used to do this when I was a teen, and it seemed to help.
If you’re prone to acne and blackheads, make a face mask with baking soda and clear honey.
Mix two teaspoons of each ingredient and spread it over your face and neck, avoiding the mouth and eye areas. Leave it on for about 20 minutes.
Add colloidal oats for a more paste-like consistency.
5. Soothing Bath Soak
Instead of adding soap-based additives to your bathwater that dry the skin, add half to one cup of baking soda. This cleanses without stripping the skin’s protective barrier and is ideal if you suffer from acne on your back and shoulders, often called “bacne.”
It can also relieve itching caused by dry skin or insect bites and soothe sunburn.
Keep the water no hotter than lukewarm.
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 your feet, use two or three tablespoons of baking soda in a suitably sized bowl, and one tablespoon for your hands.
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 it with a Band‑Aid. After about 12 hours, you should be able to remove the splinter with ease.
8. Relief from Foot Fatigue
This helped me a lot when I was on my feet all day while working as a waiter.
To revive tired, stressed feet, soak them for about 30 minutes in a bowl of warm water and four tablespoons of baking soda. Finish by rinsing with cold water for at least 30 seconds, then apply a foot gel or cream.
It should leave you feeling energized.
For Body Odor
9. Underarm and Foot Deodorant
Are you concerned about what commercial deodorants might be doing to your health? I haven’t used one for years.
I prefer either zinc oxide paste or baking soda.
To neutralize body odor and absorb perspiration, mix baking soda and cornstarch in equal parts. Pick up the mixture with a cotton ball or an old shaving brush and dab it under your arms. It should keep you smelling fresh and prevent sweat stains on your clothes.
This also works well as a foot deodorant if you deal with sweaty feet.
Additionally, you can sprinkle pure baking soda into your shoes overnight to eliminate foot odor.
For Hair Care
10. Clarifying Shampoo
Deep conditioners work better if you use a clarifying shampoo beforehand to remove product buildup. If you don’t have one, 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; its most likely cause is product buildup weighing it down.
Along with more volume, you’ll 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 barber powder. This absorbs excess oil and leaves the hair feeling clean and smelling fresh.
To use, sprinkle it into the crown and roots and brush through to the ends.
Apply sparingly to avoid a powdery cast. For dark-haired men, add a little cocoa powder to the mixture.
Oral Hygiene
12. Mouthwash
To neutralize bad breath, dissolve a teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of lukewarm water and use it as a gargle and mouthwash. Used daily, this not only freshens breath; it also helps keep the gums healthy.
13. Cleaning Solution for Dentures and Dental Retainers
You can clean dentures and removable dental retainers by soaking them for a few hours (or overnight) in a baking soda solution. This also neutralizes the unpleasant 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 restore them to their natural brightness.
Use baking soda—either on its own or with toothpaste—to brush away coffee, tea, and tobacco stains. According to the Journal of the American Dental Association, it is safe for daily use.
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.
Simple and Effective
Baking soda may not look like much sitting in its humble box, but it’s one of the most versatile and cost-effective items in my bathroom. From skin care to oral hygiene, it’s proven itself time and again.
© 2024 J. Richardson
