Can the secret to great looking skin be sitting on a shelf in your kitchen? We really do think so, and it’s in the shape of… baking soda!
Flawless, pore less skin will never go out of style, which is why the cosmetics industry works hard to try and get products out there that’ll help achieve this look. Then Alicia Keys decided to take it all off – and keep it off – her makeup, that is, and droves of her followers thought they’d do the same. The only thing is, Alicia has perfect skin, and most of us don’t.
Let’s face it – beautiful skin really does turn heads, for it’s starting to become a rare sight indeed, especially if it’s bare and free of makeup. We’re talking smooth, clear skin with little or no pores visible, ( runway models, etc, usually have layers of makeup on to achieve the look of beautifully bare skin).
If you fancy sporting a naturally bare and beautiful look, skin-wise that is, bring out the baking soda and let the beautifying treatments begin.
Blemishes, be gone!
What you’ll need:
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp lemon juice
What to do: Prep your face by washing it and patting dry. Using your clean hands, mix the two ingredients together and smoothen the paste onto affected areas of your face, e.g acne scars, dark spots, etc. Leave on for five minutes before rinsing off with room temperature water. Finish off with your usual moisturiser. Try using this beauty mask 2-3 times a week and you should see those imperfections slowly fade away.
Dull, lacklustre skin
What you’ll need:
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp water
- 1 tsp mashed avocado (ripened flesh)
- 1 tsp organic honey
What to do: Prep face ( remove all makeup , wash, pat dry). Using clean hands, mix all ingredients into a paste and smoothen onto clean face. Leave for 15-20 minutes. Rinse clean, pat dry and finish with the lightest moisturiser you have.
Oily, acne-prone skin
What you’ll need:
- 1 tbsp baking soda
- 1 ½ tbsp water
What to do: Wash and pat dry your face. Mix the two ingredients into a light, thin paste. Apply onto face, avoiding delicate area around the eyes. Lightly scrub for about half a minute and rinse your face clean. Finish off with a gentle toner and mattifying moisturiser.
For lightening dark lips
What you’ll need:
- 1 tsp honey
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp lemon juice
What to do: Combine all three ingredients until you get a smooth paste and apply this mixture onto your lips. Leave it on for about three minutes. Use your fingertips to gently rub the mixture on your lips to exfoliate them. Rinse and apply your favourite lip balm.
For dark armpits
What you’ll need:
- 1 tbsp mashed cucumber (without skin)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp baking soda
- 3 tbsp lemon juice
What to do: Combine all the ingredients into a paste. Apply onto your armpits and leave on for 10 minutes – you might have to lay down with your arms up for this. Wash it off and pat dry with a towel. For the best results, do this once every other day for month.
Works for lustrous hair too!
The no-poo method of hair washing has been making waves lately, but here’s what you might not have known: Women have been washing their long and lustrous hair without the use of chemical-laden shampoos for as long as history can remind us. If you haven’t tried it before, here’s your chance!
What you’ll need:
- 3 cups water
- 1 cup baking soda
- 20 drops castor oil
What to do: Combine all the ingredients and store it in a shampoo bottle. To begin, rinse your hair with water. Shake your baking soda solution and pour some onto your scalp. Massage it in for a few minutes. Rinse clean and either squeeze out excess water from your hair or use a towel. When hair is still damp, massage a tiny amount of jojoba oil onto hair hair ends and allow to dry naturally.
