Skip to content

Baking Soda for Acne and Oily Skin

last updated on 3 November 2011
by Samantha

Baking soda is cheap, plentiful, and best of all extremely effective against acne. If you have oily skin, it also makes a good cleanser and facial scrub.

What it does: Good exfoliant for oily skin and helps reduce acne. Use it only once or twice a week as it can be very drying.

How to do it:

1) Mix a small amount of baking soda in your palm with a few drops of water. It will resemble a paste. Massage on your face for one to two minutes. Use as a mild cleansing scrub. Rinse off with water.

2) If you have acne elsewhere on your body – like on your back or chest, keep a box of baking soda in the shower. This way you can grab a small amount in your palm and add this to your shower regimen.

Why it helps: Baking soda is a type of salt which aids in killing bacteria.

  1. allana permalink
    February 18, 2010

    This definitely works. I’ve been suffering from acne since I entered puberty, quite a few years ago I found similar info like this online, I tried the BS paste and it worked. A friend of mine stopped me and asked what I was using on my face for my acne I told him about the BS paste, he immediately went and told his girlfriend about it. It works, honest. Up to this very day, I am enjoying acne free skin, thanks to BS paste. I use the paste about 4-7 times a week.

    I’ve tried proactiv, neutrogena, u name it, but the acne came back once I stopped usiing these products. And unlike proactiv, BS paste won’t lighten ur complexion.

    • jasmine permalink
      September 13, 2012

      that sucks i have blemishes(acne scars) it sucks plus i have oily skin and open pores

  2. July 3, 2010

    Thanks for sharing this great tip. I have oily skin and I tried baking soda the past few weeks because I didn’t have time to buy my usual mask. So it works great and moreover it saves me some money :)

  3. maria permalink
    July 19, 2010

    Sure, baking soda is great. I have melasma and tried everything…but nothing happened..i just read that BS its a good exfoilator and thought why not give it a try..Believe me my melasma is lighter and I just do not want to stop using BS, I massage my face with BS, olive oil and water (a very little quantity of each)every day. have been doing it just for last four days. No doubt it does not cure melasma but it surely becomes lighter..great feeling…Try it!

  4. Helen permalink
    April 6, 2011

    It could be your PILLOW giving you pimples!

    I used to get bad acne on the right side of my face and on my shoulders. Turned out it was caused by my synthetic pillow. My skin couldn’t breathe for 8 hours as I slept with my face and shoulders sweating into this polyester pillow. I changed to a breathable feather pillow and had no more acne. I wish I had found out sooner, and saved myself years of pimples :)

    • ali permalink
      June 16, 2012

      Dear Helen,

      would you please send me an email to this address: ali.a.dariush@gmail.com

      I have a few questions with regards to your experiences in getting rid of acne.

      Thanks,

  5. sugandha permalink
    April 30, 2011

    Dear all…

    well yeah baking soda does do wonders……i have a terribly sensitive acne prone oily skin and another of my skin concerns is skin pigmentation since i am photo sensitive as well…………. i have used it only once but i can vouch for it……i read about this wonder tip on this site itself and thought of giving try……..nd i could feel the differnce…..
    pros : soft clear skin, fairer complexion, acne subdued a lil, healthy on pocket and can i think i wil be able to save on expensive facials, nd requires less then 2 mins
    cons: i couldnt find any….
    guys try it nd u will be happy with the results…
    nd thanx for sharing this tip which i am sure is benifiting many people like me…..cheers

  6. Shin permalink
    June 29, 2011

    Hi I’ve been using baking soda for about 3 months now maybe longer problem is I’m not sure if I’m using it too often or too much yeah I use 1tbs and 1 cup of water and mix it for both body and shampoo but now adays I’m very itchy and get red spots on my skin I was hoping someone could help me with that I have very sensitive skin and scalp. I’ve washed my hair everyday till recently with bs I was wondering if that’s too much and should just wash with water for a while.

    • Samantha permalink*
      June 29, 2011

      Hi, washing daily with baking soda (on skin or hair) is a bit too often. Baking soda is very drying. And dry skin can lead to itchiness. This will also be made worse if you use hot water. Try cutting it back to once every 3-4 days and use room temperature water, or cool water if you can take it.

  7. Anonymous permalink
    October 4, 2011

    hi….samantha, today i steam my face.and apply refined castor oil on my face.after 2 hours i wash my face by baking soda.i feel very soft and supple while touching my face.but i don’t know that regular applying castor oil will help my skin clear

  8. anne permalink
    October 4, 2011

    hi….samantha, today i steam my face.and apply refined castor oil on my face.after 2 hours i wash my face by baking soda.i feel very soft and supple while touching my face.but i don’t know that regular applying castor oil will help my skin clear

  9. azeem permalink
    January 9, 2012

    thanks 4 sharing best of luck to every one with baking soda :)

  10. deepak permalink
    August 15, 2012

    should i try bs for my oily skin. as i am having problem with blacks heads .. and it feels soooo imbrasing in social gathrings ….. can any 1 suggest me it worthy or nt??????

  11. Debby permalink
    January 29, 2013

    Is it normal for bs to leave ur face dry? I only used it once and it left my face dry…

    • Samantha permalink*
      January 29, 2013

      Yes, it can be very drying and is best for oily skin.


Trackbacks and Pingbacks


  1. Baking Soda to Sooth Itchy, Irritated Skin | Skinverse

Leave a Reply

Note: You can use basic XHTML in your comments. Your email address will never be published.

Subscribe to this comment feed via RSS