5 Ways To Get Glowing Skin With Baking Soda

What makes beauty and sodium bicarbonate a perfect pair? It's an anti fungal, an antiseptic, gently exfoliates away even the toughest calluses, and tackles more smells than what's in your crisper drawer.

Baking soda, actually a kitchen staple, can be used for DIY beauty treatments. We share the secret of transforming this chemical into a beauty product.

* As an all-over scrub

Make a paste of 3 parts baking soda, 1 part water, and 1 part ground oatmeal. Rub in a gentle circular motion to exfoliate skin and remove dead skin cells. Rinse clean with warm water.

* To remove product buildup

Get rid of extra product buildup in your hair by sprinkling about a quarter-size of baking soda into your palm along with your favorite shampoo. Shampoo as usual and rinse thoroughly. The baking soda helps remove the residue that styling products leave behind so your hair is cleaner and more manageable.

* As a prelude to a manicure

Dip a small nail brush into some baking soda and gently scrub under nails and around cuticles until clean. Then, make a paste of 3 parts baking soda and 1 part water, and rub in a gentle, circular motion over hands and fingers to exfoliate and smooth. Rinse clean with warm water and apply polish as usual.

* To soften tough calluses

First, soften the calluses: Add 1 Tbsp baking soda to a basin of warm water and add a few drops of lavender oil. After a nice long soak, scrub calluses away using 3 parts baking soda, 1 part water, and 1 part brown sugar. Follow with an application of a rich moisturizer and a warm towel foot wrap. Let sit for 5 to 10 minutes.

* As a bath soak

For a relaxing end to a long day, add ½ cup of baking soda to your bath to neutralize acids on the skin and help wash away oil and perspiration while you soak. When combined with water, baking soda goes to work softening and soothing skin while calming irritants that the body brings to its surface as a result of a bite, skin irritation, or mild sunburn.