Baking Soda Face Mask for Acne

Because of my strong desire to have a clear smooth skin, I dedicated some of my time finding out and trying some possible home remedies for acne. I am curious by nature and I am usually willing to try anything once. So when I read about using baking soda as a face mask as a treatment for acne, I quickly checked the cupboards to see if there was something I can use to make the mask. I found a jar of it and mixed about a teaspoon of it with the same amount of water and applied the mixture on my face as a regular mask. I left it for too long I think so when I rinsed it, my skin was so pink. It scared the hell out of me because some reviews said that it alleviated the redness for them. Seeing the opposite on my skin made my heart sank.

After a few minutes, the pinkness subsided and my skin became matte and quite soft to touch. When I looked in the mirror closely, the scars where lighter and my skin texture was finer. I decided to use the mask regularly and while it helped me with my breakouts, I stopped it after a while.

What I like about the mask:

• It is easy to make.
• It is cheap.
• It decreases oiliness.
• It's natural.
• It makes the skin finer.
• It makes the scars less obvious.
• It dries zits fast.

What I don't like about it:

• It dries the skin, making it look like parchment after regular use so I suggest using a moisturizer afterwards.

• It is best when used with mild, non anti acne products. I made the mistake of using this while I was trying other home remedies and the combination irritated my skin. Just stick to one treatment, whatever that is.

• Conflicting reviews online, some saying that the mixture is too alkaline and may disrupt acid balance. 

• It can be quite messy as the mixture tends to clump up as it starts to dry. 

I abandoned baking soda completely and never used it again until recently, this time as a scrub. I have had more success with this method than with the mask.