The “magic blow” of improvised “penny” ingredients is used almost everywhere: you can use them to treat a sore throat, clean the tiles in the kitchen, and bleach stale linen - a miracle remedy, no less...
And in home cosmetology, the tandem of salt and soda has firmly taken pride of place in the top of the simplest and at the same time effective means for cleansing the face of pimples, blackheads and acne. After all, salt (ideally sea salt) is a universal base for any homemade scrub, and soda has been known since Soviet times as the best anti-grease agent.
Therefore, we have prepared a selection of the best homemade face masks that will become your “secret weapon” in the fight against excess oily skin and blackheads on the nose, and our expert cosmetologist Nadezhda Svirid recorded a video with the preparation and use of salt masks, as well as additional life hacks for facial skin care at home.
Be sure to watch the video and subscribe to our YouTube channel, and the most attentive readers will receive a gift at the end of the article.
So, let's talk about salty...
How does baking soda scrub affect the skin?
Baking soda works great as part of scrubs, and their options are so diverse that they are suitable for any skin type, having a beneficial effect on its condition.
Baking soda is made up of sodium, carbon and oxygen. Each of them has an effect on the skin: oxygen and hydrogen, forming water, give a softening effect, water removes toxins and impurities, charcoal penetrates deep into the pores and cleanses them, normalizes the functioning of the sebaceous glands, and heals microcracks. And sodium enhances the effect of each of the components.
You can quickly and without much financial expense make an effective cosmetic facial scrub with baking soda.
However, it is necessary to add emollients - the independent action of soda is quite aggressive and can cause harm. Baking soda is easy to use and effective; in a short time it helps improve skin condition, relieve inflammation and restore freshness.
Improved complexion
Due to its mild action, sodium bicarbonate helps relieve mild inflammation, minor allergic rashes, lightens age spots and evens out complexion.
Effective gentle express peeling
The product, which contains soda, is effective as a peeling: the smallest grains of powder carefully remove dead skin particles, removing flaking and making the skin smooth. Its regular use helps restore freshness to the face and reduce pigmentation.
Normalization of water-salt balance
Lack of moisture makes both dry and oily skin flabby and depleted, elasticity is lost, which leads to the appearance of wrinkles. A soda scrub can normalize the water-salt balance, which increases skin elasticity and enriches it with useful minerals and elements. The skin becomes less sensitive to external irritants, the area of vulnerable areas decreases, which gives the face a healthier appearance.
Narrowing pores
Baking soda reduces oiliness, clears clogged pores and tightens large pores. Regular procedures reduce oily shine and allow the skin to breathe. The antiseptic properties of sodium bicarbonate prevent the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria.
Cleansing
The product easily copes with deep cleaning, freeing pores from dirt and makeup residues. A facial scrub with baking soda cleanses the skin well, getting rid of blackheads and acne. It is also valued for its anti-inflammatory and disinfectant effect.
Calming effect
Soda scrub activates cell regeneration and relieves subcutaneous inflammation. The calming effect is manifested in case of external irritation and sunburn.
Rejuvenation, smoothing
The exfoliating effect of baking soda powder helps renew the epidermis and also improves collagen production. As a result, the skin becomes firmer, more elastic, and smoothes out. Cell renewal under the scrubbing effect of sodium bicarbonate leads to increased skin tone and stimulates rejuvenating processes.
Oxygen saturation
Facial peeling with a product containing sodium bicarbonate, combined with light massage movements, improves blood microcirculation, which helps saturate cells with oxygen. This massage removes dead skin particles and allows it to “breathe”. As a result, the face looks fresher.
Soda effect
What effect can you expect from cleaning with soda?
- Baking soda helps cleanse and remove the stratum corneum.
- Gets rid of acne and blackheads.
- Relieves inflammation and has bactericidal properties.
- It dries out the skin, so it should be used for oily skin.
- Removes residues of impurities and decorative cosmetics from pores.
- Heals microcracks, which is explained by its disinfectant properties.
Who is suitable for scrub with soda?
Making a facial scrub with baking soda will not be difficult either in professional beauty salons or at home.
An optimal peeling product with sodium bicarbonate without the addition of emollients is suitable for those with oily and combination skin.
For dry, yogurt or natural fermented milk products are added to the composition. Those with problematic skin will also find benefits in using baking soda, especially for teenagers.
Oily skin
To normalize the functioning of the sebaceous glands, more frequent use of sodium bicarbonate is recommended. The best option is one procedure every 7-10 days.
Regular peeling will help reduce acne, normalize the secretion of the sebaceous glands, and remove unevenness.
A scrub made from only two components – baking soda and water – is suitable. But to enhance the effect, you can add salt or coffee grounds. A prerequisite is that after the procedure you need to apply a moisturizer to your face. Regular use of soda scrub will reduce the number of acne, relieve minor inflammation, make the skin softer, and eliminate unevenness.
Dry skin
Those with dry skin also need deep cleansing periodically. But you need to add emollients to the scrub, otherwise after treatment you may experience a feeling of tightness, because sodium bicarbonate dries the skin.
You can avoid this effect by adding honey, cream or butter to the composition. Dry skin is usually very sensitive, so make sure you are not allergic to any additional ingredients in advance.
Combination skin
This type implies the presence of areas with oily, dry and normal skin at the same time. This means that the composition of the scrub must be selected so that it cleanses oily areas and does not overdry dry ones.
To restore the optimal pH level of combination skin, cosmetologists advise adding fruit juices, liquid baby soap, and oatmeal. Kefir, sour cream or banana pulp also neutralizes the effect of peeling.
How does a salt and soda scrub work?
The upper stratum corneum can be cleaned either mechanically or chemically.
- Mechanical cleaning. Produced due to solid particles in the composition of the product. This could be fruit seed powder, bone meal, or minerals. Among them is table salt.
- Chemical cleaning. This is achieved by breaking down the bonds that hold the top layer of cells on the surface of the skin. The most famous representatives of this group are food acids. These also include sodium bicarbonate - soda.
A salt facial scrub belongs to one type of cleanser, and a soda scrub belongs to a completely different type. That is why they are often combined when used at home to achieve a double effect.
Soda scrub recipes
When used correctly, a homemade facial scrub with baking soda can be comparable in effectiveness to professional cosmetics.
Classic soda scrub for acne problem skin
To prepare a classic facial cleanser, take equal parts salt and sodium bicarbonate. Having combined them in containers, add washing gel. The liquid component will be needed so much that the abrasive particles turn into mush.
The freshly prepared mass is applied to the face in a thin layer with massage movements. Avoid the eye area. After 4-5 minutes, the scrub is washed off with warm and then cold water. After the procedure, apply a moisturizer.
The product will cope not only with acne, but also with acne. But carrying out the procedure every day is highly undesirable, so as not to harm the irritated skin. It is better to take breaks for 3-4 days.
Scrub made from coffee, soda and lemon peel
To enhance the scrubbing effect for oily skin, finely ground coffee is added to the composition; it not only improves cleansing, but also nourishes. In addition, this component acts as an antiseptic, disinfecting and preventing the development of pathogenic bacteria.
By the way, on our website facesave.ru there is detailed material on how to prepare and use a coffee scrub.
To prepare, you will need fresh chopped lemon zest. One part of soda should be diluted with two parts of water, to which add two parts of ground coffee and a part of finely grated lemon peel. Apply the finished scrub to the face with light massaging movements, and after 3-4 minutes, rinse with warm water.
Instead of lemon zest, you can use orange zest or natural apple cider vinegar.
A product with yeast and vitamin C will help deep cleansing. The ingredients, working together, remove toxins, cleanse pores and prevent further blockage. After using the scrub, the skin becomes matte, the tone is noticeably evened out due to the exfoliating effect.
It will take a little more time to prepare the cleansing composition, but the results are worth it. Brewer's yeast and soda are taken in equal parts. The ingredients are mixed and diluted with warm purified water to start the yeast swelling process.
After a few minutes, one capsule of vitamin C is added to the paste, everything is thoroughly mixed and a fairly thick layer is applied to the face.
The first two minutes of finger movements should be massaging and directed from the center to the periphery along the massage lines. After this, hold the product for another 10 minutes. It is better to rinse off the paste with warm water, then pat your face with a waffle towel and apply the skincare product. The period between procedures is 10-15 days.
Moisturizing scrub with soda and sour cream
For dry skin care, a moisturizing scrub with sour cream is suitable. The fermented milk product will remove flaking, soften the skin and prevent soda from drying it out. The ingredients are mixed in equal proportions, after which the product is applied to the face in a circular motion for 5-7 minutes. Wash off with warm water.
Instead of sour cream, you can take other products that will have a softening effect, for example, liquid honey, egg yolk, melted butter.
The interval between procedures should not be less than 4 days. The recommended course duration is 3 months.
The effect of soda on the epidermis
A natural component that has undergone simple chemical processing offers women and men several beneficial properties :
- a soda scrub will help get rid of dead and flaky scales,
- baking soda perfectly disinfects and removes dirt that has penetrated deep into the pores and is difficult to remove with simple means,
- helps remove blackheads and traffic jams,
- eliminates excessive oiliness, which leads to shine and shine,
- removes toxins from the skin,
- starts the regeneration process,
- rejuvenates and gives smoothness,
- improves the production of elastin and collagen,
- heals the face, makes the skin more beautiful and brighter.
Washing with soda is much more effective than using simple gels or foams.
However, when using sodium salt, you should remember that cleaning as often as washing with simple products is not recommended.
Even a simple scrub can be used frequently. But it is recommended to apply baking soda no more than 1-2 times a month .
How to choose soda?
There are not many offers from manufacturers in stores, and soda is most often found in 1-2 variants . But when choosing, there are several factors to consider.
Soda should only be baking soda , not activated or calcined. The production date must be current.
The product should not be yellow or have strong lumps. Damp soda is not suitable for the procedure , so it must be stored in dry conditions if it is intended to be used for facial cleansing.
Rules for using soda scrubs and precautions
In order for soda scrubbing to be beneficial and safe for the skin, you need to follow some rules.
Skin preparation
Before using the soda composition, be sure to remove makeup. It is also recommended to steam your face. For those with dry skin, it is better to avoid steaming and, on the contrary, rub with an ice cube.
Application rules
The scrub is applied to the face strictly along massage lines, with light movements, without pressure or excessive effort, so as not to damage the skin. You should move from the bridge of the nose to the edges of the forehead, from the wings of the nose to the ear, from the chin to the ear.
Avoid applying the product to the area around the eyes, upper and lower eyelids.
You should not increase the dosage of bicarbonate in the composition of the products so as not to dry out the skin.
Duration of the procedure
When using for the first time, it is not recommended to peel for longer than 2-3 minutes. The following cleaning sessions can be carried out for a longer time, but the exposure time of the drug should not exceed 10 minutes. If any unpleasant sensations arise during the treatment: burning, tingling, etc., the product must be washed off immediately.
Skin care after scrub
It is better to rinse off the scrub with warm and then cold water to tighten enlarged pores. If necessary, water can be replaced with a decoction of medicinal herbs, such as chamomile or calendula, which has soothing properties. This decoction will help prevent redness, inflammation and other side effects.
No other special care is required. Immediately after the scrub is removed from the skin, it needs to be given time to rest, i.e., it is not recommended to apply decorative cosmetics for another couple of hours.
It is better to apply cream care in accordance with your skin type to enhance the effect, as well as to prevent skin dehydration.
In the summer, immediately after the procedure, it is not advisable to go out into the open sun to avoid getting burned.
How often can you use a baking soda scrub?
The frequency of using a scrub with soda depends on the skin type, its condition and the desired result. Thus, the procedure for deep cleansing is carried out once a week, and to combat acne – once every 3 days. If you have dry skin, then such a scrub can be used no more than once every 10 days.
Contraindications
Before using sodium bicarbonate in cosmetics, you should make sure that you have no contraindications, otherwise, instead of the expected effect of cleansing and rejuvenation, you may end up with many problems.
Vascular network
Weak capillaries and fragile vessel walls are sensitive to mechanical stress on the skin. To avoid worsening the problems of the vascular network, people suffering from rosacea are not recommended to use bicarbonate scrubs.
Allergy
If you have an intolerance to any of the components included in the scrubs, you should not use them. To find out the body's possible reaction to the ingredients included in the drug, perform an allergy test.
Apply a small amount of the prepared mixture to your wrist or elbow. If redness, burning or itching appears on the skin within 10-15 minutes, then it is better to avoid using the scrub.
Open wounds
Deep scratches, abrasions, open wounds and inflamed areas on the skin also exclude the use of hydrocarbonate peeling. The main component can be aggressive on wounds and will slow down their healing.
Excessive breakouts and severe flaking
Excessive rashes and severe peeling will most likely require medical treatment. At a minimum, it is necessary to find out the reason for their appearance. You will have to stop using the scrub - soda will dry out the skin even more, which will worsen the problem.
The advantage of home beauty treatments based on baking soda is the complete absence of harmful chemicals. The ingredients for peeling can be varied depending on your own preferences, and your budget and personal time are significantly saved.
Subject to the conditions of correct use, ordinary baking soda will become your reliable ally in restoring the beauty and health of your skin.
Beneficial effects of the scrub
Despite the fact that sodium bicarbonate is an aggressive substance by its nature, many girls and women use it with great success for home cosmetology. Its miraculous properties are explained by the fact that the substance performs a large number of useful functions, such as:
- cleansing the skin of old cells,
- removes inflammation
- relieves redness,
- dries out oily areas of the face,
- brightens the skin,
- Removes dirt and sweat from the facial skin.
Thanks to such beneficial actions, the prepared cosmetic product based on sodium bicarbonate will be especially useful for those with oily skin. It is a real salvation from blackheads and oily shine.
INTERESTING fact: How to take a bath with soda for weight loss
Reviews
Marina, 21 years old: “At the age of 15, I tried soda on myself to remove blackheads on the wings of my nose. The result was excellent - the acne went away and the skin dried out. Since then I have been using soap and soda scrub regularly. Especially if there is a photo shoot coming up, so that the face in the frame does not shine. But this is my secret."
Svetlana, 35 years old: “I have never saved on cosmetics and visits to a cosmetologist before, my principle is that the skin should glow. But during the quarantine period, I was forced to abandon regular skincare procedures. The complexion became somewhat pale, and an oily sheen appeared in the T-zone. And then I took a risk. I chose the option with oatmeal and honey. The result exceeded my expectations. Now I’m wondering why I spent so much money on the salon, because looking good is much easier and cheaper.”
Natalya Sergeevna, 48 years old: “My friends strongly advise me to switch to anti-aging cosmetics. But I'm not going to admit that I'm an older lady. Therefore, rejuvenating peeling with baking soda and honey has become my regular procedure. I saw results after the third use. I use the scrub every ten days. After removing the mask, I always wash my face with chamomile infusion. I don’t need anti-age cosmetics yet.”
