I’ve tried so many things to clean my face over the years, and nothing has worked as well as this. Are you ready for it?
Baking soda.
That’s right, the best facial cleanser I’ve used, I got from my own kitchen. Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) has so many great uses, and it’s so inexpensive. It’s non-toxic and earth-friendly. And it makes the gentlest, yet most effective face scrub I have ever used.
To use it as a scrub, put about a 1/4 teaspoon in the palm of your hand and add just enough water to make a paste (alternatively you can wet your face, dip your fingers into the baking soda and then apply directly to your face). Gently massage soda on your face. The tiny particles work like a gentle microdermabrasion to remove the dead skin. If it feels too abrasive, just wet your fingers with some water and water down the soda on your face. It will turn from a face scrub to a face wash. You can adjust it to fit the needs of your face for individual washings.
My face reacts very well to the baking soda. I don’t get acne flare-ups like I often do with other products, including “natural” ones. The one caveat is that it is a little drying to do the scrub (I think using it as a wash isn’t so drying). You don’t want to beat up your skin, so only do the scrub as often as you need it, and use a moisturizer afterward.
Over at 5 Seed, the philosophy is to just leave your face alone, putting as little stuff on it as possible. Maybe one day I won’t need to use the baking soda every day, but I think it’s a great option for when you do need to use something.
3 Comments so far
Leave a comment
Hi! Thanks for the link! I love using baking soda once or twice a month for exfoliation. It is too harsh for my skin every day. It’s a great cleanser, isn’t it?!
Great blog!
Comment by fiveseed May 31, 2010 @ 6:19 pmI’m hoping I can work down to once a week or something. It’s amazing.
Comment by Lisa C May 31, 2010 @ 10:01 pm[...] some, the no ‘poo regimen involves using baking soda on the hair instead of shampoo, and an apple cider vinegar rinse. That’s right, my best hair [...]
Pingback by Best Hair Conditioner « Natural Mama: Healthy choices for mother and baby September 14, 2011 @ 1:25 am