DIY Beauty: Baking Soda Exfoliating Facial

I (Jessica) have talked a little about having hard water here in Boise, and what a shock it was to deal with after living in an area where that wasn't a problem for so long. I even showed you how to take hard water build up out of your towels in a previous post. But the one thing I didn't think about until recently is how hard water doesn't just affect your towels, but can also build up on my skin and hair!  So today I'm going to share with you my recipe for a DIY micro-dermabrasian style exfoliating facial, using just two ingredients that you already have in your pantry. Gotta love that!

I've noticed for a while now that my skin, especially my face, has recently been feeling oily and I've been fighting off clogged pores. I've been seeing this and similar diy exfoliating masks floating around the internet for a while, and I decided that now would be the time to come up with my own version and test it out. Here it is!




Baking Soda Exfoliating Facial:

1/4 cup baking soda
1 1/2 Tbsp water

a small bowl and spoon...instructions below!

1. Put about 1/4 cup baking soda in a small bowl.
2. Add about 1 1/2 Tbsp water.
3. Mix really well.
4. The baking soda should slowly dissolve and you will have a smooth(ish) paste consistency.

So easy, right? At this point you can put it on your face. Take about a tsp at a time and massage it into your face, being careful not to scrub too hard. WARNING: Do not get in your eyes! It will sting (a lot). This is the voice of experience speaking!

You can also use this on other parts of your body that have gotten a little dry or scaly. I use it on my hands, shoulders, legs...pretty much anywhere where dead skin and product can accumulate. Just like with avoiding the eyes, you do want to make sure that you avoid open cuts, because that can sting a bit. It won't actually hurt your cuts, but man does it sting. I used it today on my hands and feet, and all the dead and dry cuticle skin and callouses are much softer!

I am super impressed with how easy and effective this is, and I'll be making this a bi-weekly part of my monthly beauty routine. If you try this, let us know how it worked for you!

~Jessica