Here’s the truth about using baking soda for homemade acne treatments
We bet you currently have at least one package of baking soda stored in your kitchen. Whether it’s in the pantry waiting to be mixed into your favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe or sitting under the sink ready to be used as part of a homemade cleanser, there’s no denying that baking soda wins out when it comes to versatility. However, contrary to what you may have heard, there is one area where baking soda isn’t appropriate: your face.
According to anecdotal evidence, baking soda has been used as a homemade mask or spot treatment for acne. However, according to top dermatologists Marnie Nussbaum, MD, FAAD, and Annie Gonalez, MD, adding this ingredient to your skincare routine can do more harm than good. To get the facts straight, we asked the experts what they think about using baking soda to fight acne.
Here’s how to use baking soda safely, as well as its benefits and possible side effects when used on your skin.
Meet the Experts
Marnie Nussbaum, MD, FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist in New York City who specializes in non-invasive cosmetic rejuvenation treatments.
Annie Gonzalez, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Glossense Dermatology and Aesthetics in Miami.
What is baking soda?
Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, is a compound with alkalizing properties and is technically classified as a salt, Nussbaum explains. The alkalizing effect is important when using baking soda in skin care and acne, Gonzalez notes, but by the same token, baking soda also helps neutralize internal and external acidic substances.
Baking powder
Ingredient type: Exfoliant
Potential benefits: Exfoliation, anti-inflammatory properties, and helps balance the pH of oily skin.
Who should use it: Only people who are strapped for cash and don’t have access to products with ingredients specifically formulated to fight acne, like salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide, should use it, Nussbaum warns. It’s also generally a better choice for oily skin types, but even then, it can be problematic, Gonzalez adds.
How often you can use it: No more than once a week.
It works well: Just mix it with water for a spot treatment.
Don’t use it with: Because baking soda can be very drying, don’t use it with other skincare ingredients that can cause drying, such as retinoids or acids.
There’s no denying that baking soda can play a role in many at-home beauty treatments, not to mention that it’s a very affordable ingredient for these uses. It’s a potential physical peel; it can replace dry shampoo in a pinch and is ideal for foot baths. It can easily be turned into toothpaste and is a key ingredient in many natural deodorants (both DIY recipes and ready-made versions). You get what I mean. But when you use baking soda on your face to fight acne, things start to get a little tricky and you need to tread carefully.
Benefits of Baking Soda for Acne
There are a few; otherwise there wouldn’t be countless articles praising it as a natural way to fight acne. Check out some of the notable benefits below:
Exfoliation: Nussbaum says baking soda’s slightly grainy texture means it has an exfoliating effect. Peels are a way to prevent clogged pores and prevent blackheads, pimples, and red pimples from forming.
Is anti-inflammatory: Baking soda has anti-inflammatory properties, according to Gonzalez. That’s why it’s often found in many over-the-counter topical products designed to soothe minor skin irritations like insect bites and rashes, she notes. That’s why it can also help soothe red, inflamed breakouts, she adds.
Can help balance pH for oily skin: To put things into perspective, let’s start with a quick refresher from school chemistry class: The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral. Anything below 7 is acidic, and anything above 7 is alkaline. Our skin is normally acidic, with a pH between 4 and 6.1. “This is a healthy level that retains moisture while keeping out bacteria and pollution,” Gonzalez explains. “However, if your skin is more acidic than normal, it can lead to overproduction of sebum (the skin’s natural oil), which can clog pores and cause acne,” adds Nussbaum. In this case, Nussbaum says, the alkaline nature of baking soda can help balance the skin, returning it to a healthier pH.
Potential Side Effects
Nussbaum warns that because baking soda is so alkaline (it has a pH of around 9), it can easily disrupt the skin’s natural pH, over-stripping the skin’s natural oils and causing dryness, irritation, and inflammation. Gonzalez warns that disrupting the skin’s pH can also lead to premature wrinkles and eventually even worsen existing acne.
In short, baking soda has the benefits mentioned above, but there’s a fine line between the benefits mentioned and quickly entering skin-irritating territory. That’s why both doctors we spoke to warned against using it as part of a homemade acne treatment.
Applications
If you still want to test baking soda, remember that first and foremost, the oilier your skin is, the less likely it is to have problems. In other words, if you have a naturally dry and sensitive complexion, this is definitely not for you. Second, small, infrequent uses are safest. Nussbaum recommends mixing about two teaspoons of baking soda with enough water to create a paste-like consistency and using it as a targeted spot treatment for blemishes only. To be clear: Do not apply it to your entire complexion as a mask. Leave it on for five to 10 minutes, then gently rinse with warm water — and don’t do this more than once a week, Nussbaum says.Since it also has the potential to dry out the skin, you should be extra careful when using moisturizers and sunscreens.
If you experience adverse side effects such as redness, dryness, irritation, or flaking after using baking soda as a topical treatment, consult a licensed dermatologist.
Final Verdict
Ultimately, baking soda, a compound with alkalizing properties, is best used only in the kitchen or around the home. It can easily upset the skin’s natural pH balance by over-stripping natural oils, leading to dryness, irritation, and inflammation. Before trying to use baking soda as a water-mixed paste spot treatment, keep in mind that the oilier your skin, the less likely it is to cause problems. If you experience side effects such as redness, dryness, irritation, or flaking from using baking soda as a topical treatment, consult a licensed dermatologist.
DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek.
“Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more.
Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals.
Sunscreen
“We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.”
Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen
An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup.
Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand.
Vitamin C Serum
“A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum
The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum
This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants.
Peptides
Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.”
Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream
This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively.
This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek.
At-Home Peel Pads
Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate.
“The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.”
According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says.
Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad
A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection.
KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads
These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids.
Emollient Night Cream
“In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.”
“Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products.
Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream
One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme
“The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.
