Baking Soda Face Masks: What They Can Do — and Why You Should Be Careful

# Baking Soda Face Masks: What They Can Do — and Why You Should Be Careful

 Baking soda is often promoted online as an inexpensive way to exfoliate the skin, brighten the complexion, clean pores, and smooth rough texture. Some homemade masks combine it with honey, yogurt, oils, or rose water.

While  baking soda can remove some surface buildup because of its abrasive texture, using it directly on facial skin is not ideal for everyone. Its high alkalinity can disturb the skin’s natural protective barrier and may cause dryness, stinging, redness, or irritation.

So before trying a baking soda face mask, it is important to understand both the possible short-term cosmetic effects and the risks.

## Why  Baking Soda Is Used in DIY Skincare

Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, is