Baking soda is sometimes promoted as a DIY skincare “reset,” but dermatologists generally don’t recommend using it regularly on your face. Sodium bicarbonate is alkaline, while healthy skin is mildly acidic. Frequent use can disrupt the skin barrier, causing dryness, irritation, redness, or worsening of acne and sensitivity.
If you still want to try it
If your skin isn’t sensitive and you want to experiment, keep it very occasional:
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Patch-test first on a small area.
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Don’t use baking soda as a concentrated scrub or leave it on overnight.
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If using it at all, mix a very small amount with plenty of water to make a thin solution.
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Apply gently—don’t scrub.
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Rinse thoroughly after a short period.
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Follow with a fragrance-free moisturizer.
Avoid it entirely on broken, irritated, sunburned, eczema-prone, or recently exfoliated skin.
A safer nighttime “skin reset”
For most people, a simple routine is more skin-friendly:
Gentle cleanser → moisturizer → optional treatment appropriate for your skin concern.
If you’re trying to address acne, dark spots, oily skin, or rough texture, there are better-studied ingredients than baking soda. Tell me your skin type and what you’re trying to improve, and I can suggest a simple nighttime routine.
