Baking soda is one of those inexpensive kitchen staples that seems to have a solution for almost everything. It can help clean countertops, deodorize refrigerators, and freshen household surfaces. But when it comes to skincare, the story is very different.
You may have seen viral before-and-after photos claiming that baking soda can erase dark spots, wrinkles, acne scars, and dark circles, leaving the face dramatically smoother after only a few applications. The idea is tempting because baking soda is cheap, readily available, and already sitting in many kitchen cabinets.
However, rubbing baking soda directly onto your face is not a proven anti-aging treatment, and using it too aggressively can actually irritate your skin.
Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, is alkaline, while healthy facial skin has a naturally acidic surface environment. Applying alkaline substances repeatedly can interfere with the skin barrier, potentially leading to dryness, irritation, redness, burning, and increased sensitivity.
This is particularly important for people with mature, dry, sensitive, or acne-prone skin.
So instead of using baking soda as a harsh facial scrub, there are gentler ways to address the problems shown in the viral image.
For dark spots and uneven skin tone, daily sunscreen should be the foundation of your skincare routine. Sun exposure can make existing pigmentation more noticeable and contribute to premature skin aging. A broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher can help protect the skin from further UV damage.
For uneven pigmentation, ingredients such as vitamin C, niacinamide, azelaic acid, and retinoids are commonly used in skincare products. These ingredients have much more established roles in improving the appearance of uneven skin tone than baking soda.
See more on the next page