NATURAL BEAUTY

natural beauty

By Whitney Alexandra AD I f you are like most people, you keep a box of baking soda in your refrigerator to keep your food fresh and another in case you want to bake cookies. Rarely do we even think about this household staple much less remember to replace the little orange box in the refrigerator. But once you learn of the surprising benefits and unusual uses of sodium hydrogen carbonate or baking soda, you may just want to stock up.

First used as cleaning agent by the ancient Egyptians in 3500 BC, baking soda grew in popularity when used as a leavening agent for baking. But today, baking soda is much more than an ingredient in a cookie recipe or a cleaning agent – it is also a great natural alternative to beauty products and offers health remedies as well.

WHITEN YOUR

TEETH – Need to freshen up in between dentist visits? Baking soda is great for removing stains and the yellow tint from your teeth. First, mix the baking soda and water to form a paste. Then apply with your toothbrush and then let it sit for about a minute before rinsing.

SOAK AND EXFOLIATE YOUR

FEET –After a long day, add 3 tablespoons of baking soda to a tub of warm water and soak your feet. To exfoliate your feet, face or body, make a paste from three parts baking soda and one part water and gently scrub off the dead cells. Baking soda is a natural, inexpensive and gentle exfoliator that you can use daily.

DRY SHAMPOO

YOUR HAIR – Most hair stylists agree that washing your hair every day is not a good idea. So if you do decide to skip a day and find yourself with an oily, unflattering scalp, just use baking soda as you would a store-bought dry shampoo. After sprinkling some into your hand or directly onto your scalp, rub it into your roots, let it sit a few minutes and then brush it through.

REMOVE BLACKHEADS AND

FIGHT ACNE– When blackheads appear, don’t you want to find the quickest way

HERE ARE 6 NEW WAYS TO USE BAKING SODA:

to get rid of them? To loosen and remove dirt, cleanse your skin and apply baking soda with 1 teaspoon of water to the problem area. Repeat this three to four times a week until the area is clear. You can also prevent acne by mixing baking soda with coconut oil to create your own natural face wash.

REMOVE SPLINTERS

– Splinters can be painful and irritating. Next time you get one, add a tablespoon of baking soda to a glass of water, then soak the affected area twice a day. Most splinters will come out easily by the second day!

BRIGHTEN YOUR

SKIN – If you want your skin to glow? Try mixing baking soda, 1 tablespoon lemon juice and a few drops of olive oil to form a paste. Apply the paste to skin for 10- 12 minutes and then rinse. Baking Soda Baking Soda The Many Uses of