Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, has been valued since ancient times and is commonly recognized today as a leavening agent or cleaning product. However, it boasts a plethora of beauty uses as well.

Whether you’re looking for smoother skin, whiter teeth, or healthier hair, here are some ways baking soda can help you meet your beauty goals:

1. Clarifying Shampoo
Product build-up can make hair look dull and feel sticky, greasy, and limp. Baking soda clears away this residue, revealing healthy, shiny strands beneath. Mix one teaspoon of baking soda with a dollop of your regular shampoo, massage it into your hair, let it sit for two minutes, then rinse and shampoo as usual. Use this treatment once a month to avoid dryness and breakage.

2. Dry Shampoo
Dry shampoo is great for quick morning touch-ups or after a workout. Baking soda is an excellent natural dry shampoo that controls oiliness. Use it alone or mix it with essential oils for a pleasant scent. For light-colored hair, work the powder through your hair and then brush it out. Brunettes may add a bit of cocoa powder to avoid a grayish tint.

3. Fix ‘Swimmers’ Hair’
Blondes who swim often might get dull, discolored, or green-tinged hair. To remove this build-up, make a paste with baking soda and water, apply it to the affected areas, leave it for ten minutes, then rinse thoroughly. Shampoo out the paste and condition well, repeating as necessary.

4. Hair Brush Cleaner
Just like your hair, your hairbrush accumulates residue. Clean it by soaking it in hot water mixed with half a cup of baking soda for 15 minutes, then rinse and let it air dry.

5. Make-Up Brush Cleaner
Regularly washing make-up brushes and sponges is crucial to maintaining clear skin. Baking soda makes this easy—fill a bowl with warm water and a couple of teaspoons of baking soda, swirl each brush in the mixture, let them soak for 20 minutes, then rinse and air dry.

6. Facial Exfoliator
Switch out your conventional exfoliator for a baking soda version to avoid environmental harm from microbeads. Baking soda removes sebum and dead skin cells while preventing skin infections. Create a scrub with a tablespoon of baking soda, a few drops of water, and optional Vitamin E oil. Massage it onto your face in circular motions, rinse with warm water, then a cool rinse, and pat dry. Follow up with a moisturizer or coconut oil.

7. Pimple Treatment
Baking soda dries out pimples and removes excess oil. Create a paste with baking soda and water, apply it to the pimple, leave it for 15 minutes, then rinse off. This method can also help fade acne scars.

8. Blackhead Remover
Baking soda is effective against blackheads. Cleanse your skin, steam your face, apply a paste made of baking soda, sugar, and water, massage, then rinse with cold water. Repeat weekly until blackheads are gone.

9. Face Mask for Oily Skin
For oily skin, use a mask with baking soda, apple cider vinegar, and lemon juice. These ingredients exfoliate, treat acne, and balance skin pH. Mix half a cup of baking soda, a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, and a teaspoon of lemon juice into a paste, apply, let it sit for ten minutes, then rinse off.

10. Hand Soap
Baking soda, combined with castile soap, essential oils, and oatmeal, makes a great hand soap. It cuts through grease and dirt while being gentle and antibacterial.

11. Nail Treatment
Whiten nails and exfoliate cuticles with baking soda. For cuticles, use a paste of baking soda and water with a nail brush. For yellow nails, mix baking soda with lemon juice, apply it to the nails, let it sit, then rinse off.

12. Toenail Fungus
Baking soda creates an environment where toenail fungus cannot survive. Combine it with essential oils like tea tree or basil, apply the mixture to affected nails daily, and sprinkle baking soda in your shoes to kill lurking fungus.

13. Body Scrub
Exfoliate your body with baking soda to remove dead skin cells and reveal fresh, glowing skin. Use the same paste formula as for the face.

14. Calluses
Soak your feet in warm water with baking soda for 30 minutes before bed, then exfoliate with a baking soda paste, rinse, apply a rich moisturizer, and wear socks to bed. Repeat weekly until calluses are gone.

15. Itchy Skin
For relief from itchy skin caused by dryness, bites, or stings, apply a baking soda paste to the area, let it dry, then rinse off and use a soothing moisturizer.

16. Self-Tan Remover
If your self-tan becomes streaky or patchy, use a paste of baking soda and lemon juice to scrub away the uneven patches, then shower and moisturize to restore a natural skin tone.

17. Deodorant
Baking soda is a natural deodorant alternative. Mix a quarter cup of baking soda with 10-20 drops of essential oil and apply it under your arms after a shower.

18. Teeth Whitener
Baking soda gently removes teeth stains from coffee, wine, and more. Tests show it is less abrasive than many toothpastes when used correctly.

19. Mouth Rinse
Baking soda mouth rinse kills bad breath bacteria and reduces canker sores. Mix a teaspoon of baking soda in half a cup of water, swish and gargle without swallowing, and repeat daily.

20. Detox Bath Soak
Pair baking soda with Epsom salts for a detoxifying bath that promotes restful sleep and healthy skin. Add half a cup of baking soda and a handful of Epsom salts to your bath, along with essential oil if desired, and soak for 20-30 minutes.

Cautions of Baking Soda on Skin
While baking soda can be very beneficial for hair and skin, it can also be drying and irritating, especially for sensitive skin. Test any new treatment on a small patch of skin first and discontinue use if irritation occurs. Use baking soda treatments no more than twice a week to avoid disrupting your skin’s pH balance.