Baking soda is a natural exfoliant that is able to slough off dead skin cells on the surface of the skin. The exfoliating action is based on the salt’s ability to essentially scrape the epidermis, removing impurities. Baking soda for an exfoliator can be used on the face, back, and feet to remove rough skin. Always be sure to moisturize the skin with a lotion after using any sort of exfoliator.
To make an exfoliator for the face, the salt will have to be diluted with water to make a rich paste. The water will act as a carrier, delivering the exfoliating action to the skin. You can also simply wet your fingers and then dip them directly into the mixture and massage it onto the face. For a more comprehensive exfoliating action, allow the baking soda paste to sit on the face until it dries, and then wash off the residue while lightly scrubbing it into the face.
The skin on the back tends to be a bit thicker, usually reacting well to baking soda for an exfoliator. The back can be deeply exfoliated by saturating the end of a long-handled body brush with baking soda paste and then scrubbing it into the skin. Having a friend apply the paste and rub it into the back by hand can also be a viable option if you do not have a body brush nearby.
Baking soda can also be used to remove the rough skin on the foot, especially benefiting those who suffer from rough calluses. The tough skin can easily withstand the full power of baking soda for an exfoliator. Either use a baking soda paste to exfoliate the feet or you can use a small pumice stone or foot brush to really massage the area. This should effectively remove the top layer skin, which can be then washed away with water.
Another option for the feet is to prepare a baking soda foot bath. Pour some baking soda in a pail of warm water, making sure to mix it with a spoon. Allow the feet to sit in the solution for a few minutes, allowing the mixture to loosen up the dead skin. Mix some baking soda with water to create a thick paste, and rub this onto the damp calluses with a brush. Doing this a couple times a week will help remove the calluses.
While dry baking soda can be stored for an extended period of time, baking soda for an exfoliator will have water in it, cutting down the shelf life. It is best to use the baking soda mixture within a few hours. The exfoliating power of the baking soda will be weakened, so throw away any unused baking soda after use.