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 actually use this combo as a homemade toothpaste and I love it. Maybe I’ll try it as a facial cleanser too.
Tried this today and love it! Can’t wait to tell my daughter and daughter-in-law about this.
This post made me smile. I told a good friend about something similar that I do and she laughed at me (in a nice way). I keep my homemade deodorant in the shower to keep it soft in the winter, and I also use it on my face to exfoliate. I thought I was the only one!
Hah that’t funny! I used my homemade deodorant as a makeup remover before!
How simple! I used to buy all the expensive face scrubs, creams, lotions etc. but haven`t in a very long time. This is such a wonderfully natural way to scrub all the dry skin away. Can`t wait to try it! Thanks for the tip!
This sounds super easy. I can’t wait to try it out. Thanks so much for sharing! Have a wonderful day!
Thanks for coming by Brooke! Hope you stop by again!
Amy, I am gonna try all ur diy recipes…
I love reading ur blog.
Pinned! Thanks for posting this, I can’t wait to try it!
I found you via the link up at craft-o-maniac.
Ooooh, I am totally trying this! Aside from making my face feel amazing, the smell will make me feel amazing too!
Hi! Love your website and all the fantastic recipes!
Was wondering if you can make up a bigger batch of the face scrub, and keep it on hand for a bit?
Thank you Lynda! I haven’t tried it but I bet you can! My deodorant is a very similar recipe and I can feel the baking soda in it. Don’t worry I don’t rub that on my face haha 🙂
This is so great! I cannot wait to try! I’ve been looking for a good face scrub anyway. Happy New Year!
xo Sam
DIY Huntress
Thanks Sam hope it works great for you!
Wow! So simple going to try this tonight..thank you for sharing. And so much the better because I just bought a huge tub (78oz.)of Nutiva coconut oil at Costco for $20!!
How perfect! That a really good price I wish we had a costco!
Going to give this a try! Have been using Selma Hyak’s walnut scrub and love it. If this compares, I think I will save myself some $! Thanks for posting this!
Thanks for sharing this facial scrub recipe, I am going to give it a try. Happy New Year. ;o)
What a great idea!
This sounds interesting. I’m going to give it a try since I have both in my kitchen!
So simple! I love coconut oil. I use it for everything.
I pinned this 🙂
Thank you!
Sounds pretty easy to me! Where did you hear about this combo? Also, if you are using coconut oil, how do you suggest to get the oil liquified enough to mix it with the baking soda?
I use this for my face every morning. You don’t have to liquefy it. When you put a small amount of coconut oil in your hand, sprinkle the baking soda over it and work into a paste. Voila! Do not over rub or you will deposit excess oil. If that is the case, just use baking soda and water to make a paste that will pull the excess oil out at bedtime. The baking soda also tightens your skin and brightens it.
This is the 3rd time this week I have heard about this combo. I’m for sure going to have to try it!!
So simple and inexpensive! I’m going to have to try this 🙂
Yep my two favorite things! Simple and cheap! Good luck
Hi Amy, we dont have baking soda in South Africa what do u recommend? Bicarbonate of soda?thx.
Hey Thandi! I think those are the same thing. Baking soda is sodium Bicarbonate. If not you could always mix a little sugar with coconut oil to use as a face scrub.
It’s the same thing as baking soda ,!