Homemade Baking Soda Face Scrub
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If your skin is in need of a good exfoliation, look no further than this easy baking soda facial scrub. With just two ingredients, you’ll be saying goodbye to dead skin cells and hello to smoother skin.
Baking soda is not just for leavening baked goods, did you know? It also can also be added to diy skin care products like this natural baking soda deodorant and homemade bath salts.
But my absolute favorite way to use baking soda (that doesn’t involve baking treats like sourdough banana bread or cinnamon rolls) is in this simple homemade baking soda facial scrub.
I’m in love with my sugar scrubs, especially this simple peppermint sugar scrub, and just like I have a regular haircare routine, I also have a regular exfoliating routine to make sure my skin is soft and free of dead skin cells.
But because sugar scrubs (or oatmeal scrubs or coffee scrubs) have larger grains, they aren’t as good on your face as they are the rest of your body. That’s why this baking soda face scrub is so perfect.
Baking Soda Face Scrub Benefits:
Baking soda has a fine grit, and when mixed with coconut oil and massaged in to your facial skin, you get just the right amount of exfoliation and hydration. After using it your face will feel so soft that you’ll keep brushing your cheeks in awe of their smoothness.
If you wanted to take this scrub up a notch, instead of using just coconut oil, use this whipped body butter. It’s extra moisturizing.
Add this baking soda face scrub to your skincare routine once or twice a week. You wont want to do it more often than that because of baking soda’s alkalinity. A couple of times a week is enough.
Recipe highlights:
Gentle and effective. Your skin will feel silky soft after using.
No harsh chemicals or commercial exfoliant. Just pure, natural goodness here. Yay!
There are only two simple ingredients in this recipe, and you likely already have them in your pantry.
Ingredients
Baking soda: aka sodium bicarbonate, has a natural abrasive nature, which makes it perfect for using as an exfoliant to remove dead skin cells. Did you know it can also be used to help lighten dark spots on your face? Yep, it’s a pretty versatile natural product, and as it’s a kitchen staple, you likely already have this in your pantry.
Organic coconut oil: Rich in fatty acids that help hydrate and protect. It also has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, which can help with things like acne, irritation, and minor wounds.
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Essential oils (optional) We recommend frankincense, which is great for aging skin and can help tighten skin, or lavender, which is anti-inflammatory. But you can use whatever you like!
What Essential Oils Are Good For Your Face?
- Frankincense – great for aging skin and can help tighten skin
- Lavender – anti-inflammatory
- Geranium – can help balance oily skin and decrease wrinkles.
- Ylang Ylang – helps balance oily skin and increase cell turnover.
- Chamomile – anti-inflammatory and great for dry, sensitive skin.
- Clary Sage – can help reduce puffiness
Tools you may need:
Measuring Spoon
Small bowl
How to Make Baking Soda Face Scrub:
Step 1: Add your baking soda, coconut oil, and optional essential oils to a small bowl. Mix together until fully incorporated. If it seems like you have excess oil, and a bit more baking soda.
How To Use:
- With warm water (plain water is fine) and a soft washcloth, wet your face. You could even go so far as to wash your face with this simple homemade face wash.
- Put a small amount of scrub on your fingers and begin applying it to your face in gentle circular motions, avoiding your eye area. For the love of your face, do not be too rough.
- Add more, a little bit at a time, until you have massaged your whole face.
- Let the scrub sit on you face for a couple of minutes, then rinse and dry your face with a clean towel.
- Follow up with your regular moisturizer or face toner.
Tips
- Because our skin has a higher pH than alkaline baking soda, this scrub is suitable for just 1-2 times per week, not everyday. Over exfoliation of the delicate skin on your face is not good. Too much can cause redness, irritation, and inflammation.
- For more benefits, you could add a drop or two of vitamin e oil to this scrub. Vitamin E helps fight damage caused by free radicals, and helps keep your skin looking healthy.
- Don’t massage your face too hard. You might think, “I need to press hard to work this into my skin” but that’s not the case at all. Your facial skin is delicate and does not need to be exfoliated hard.
- Follow up your scrub with this DIY face toner or apply some diluted apple cider vinegar (one part water, one part AVC) to a cotton swab and wipe that gently around your face to help balance your skin’s pH levels.
Storage
If you don’t end up using all of it, you can store this baking soda scrub in a small glass jar somewhere out of direct sunlight. It should stay good for a long time, but it would be best to try and use it up later in the week.
FAQs
Oh yes. Do you have dry skin? Coconut oil is moisturizing. Do you have oily skin? Both coconut oil and baking soda can help with that. Do you have sensitive skin? This scrub contains no harsh chemicals.
Sure, but for an all over scrub you might also enjoy this brown sugar scrub instead. Your face, trunk and arms don’t likely need this fine of an exfoliant, which is why sugar or coffee is often used on the whole body.
Yes. This exfoliating scrub can help with breakouts by removing excess oil from the skin. And the antibacterial properties of baking soda help reduce breakouts altogether.
You should only exfoliate 1-2 times a week. Over exfoliation is not good for your skin, and can cause redness, irritation, and inflammation. It can also cause you to get a rash and infection (source). So definitely don’t over exfoliate. It’s not good for anyone.
Want More Natural Skincare Recipes? Check these out!
- Check out my Ultimate Guide To Sugar Scrubs
- Homemade Coffee Scrub is another amazing face scrub. Caffeine is wonderful for the skin.
- My favorite facial moisturizer is this Aloe and Shea Butter Face Cream.
- You will be shocked by the ingredients in this Homemade Makeup Remover. It’s only 1-2 ingredients!
- Green Tea Face Mask is a great anti-inflammatory face mask.
Baking Soda Face Scrub
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Equipment
- Measuring spoon
- Bowl
Ingredients
- 1 tsp baking soda you may adjust the amount to your liking
- 1/2-1 tbs coconut oil or I prefer to use whipped coconut body butter (super moisturizing)
- 3-4 drops essential oils (optional) frankincense, lavender, geranium etc.
Instructions
- Mix all the ingredients together.
To Use:
- Wet your face with warm water. Gently take the scrub in your hands and rub in small circles all over your face. Rinse the scrub off with warm water, dry, and feel your amazingly soft skin.
Notes
- If you don’t have coconut oil or it doesn’t react well with your skin, you can choose a different oil. It just may not make a paste.
- Only use this 1-2 times per week to prevent over-exfoliation. See below on why.
- Warm your face with warm water first before applying this face scrub to help open your pores.
- If you want more information on essential oils and which ones are great for your skin, check out my Essential Oils Beginners Guide
I was wondering if you are supposed to use toner and other moisturizer over your clean dried skin, or if you are not supposed to do anything else after you have dried off your face? I am also curious about using eye cream also.
Thanks
Thanks for the tip!!!!i use twice a week baking soda with honey for the acne works great
How often do you use this face scrub?
A few times a week. You don’t want to use it too much
Wow i just tried!! Its the BEST!! So moistrizing and even brightens my face.. no moistrizer necessary afterwards! Yay
Yay so glad you love it Sunny!
Could you follow this up with Witch Hazel as an astringent and what would you use for a moisturizer after that?
Can I use a different oil other than coconut oil? I’ve tried coconut oil straight as a moisturizer and it did nothing for my skin. I was dry and flaky within minutes. I’ve found that avocado oil works much better for me. Thanks!
I don’t see why not. The consistency will be a little bit different, but the outcome should still be the same. Nice smooth skin!