What is baking soda in skincare?
Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate, a fine alkaline powder used in cooking, cleaning and antacids. Its skincare appeal comes from two properties: it is mildly abrasive, and it neutralises acid.
The second is the problem. Baking soda has a pH around 9, while healthy skin sits at roughly pH 4.7 to 5.75. That acidity is not incidental – it keeps barrier-repair enzymes working, holds the microbiome in balance and keeps pathogens out.
What skin concerns does baking soda treat?
It is used in home remedies as a scrub, a spot treatment and an exfoliant, and it does physically slough off surface cells while temporarily absorbing oil.
The cost outweighs it. Applying an alkaline powder strips the acid mantle, and research on cleansing consistently shows alkaline products impair barrier function and slow its recovery. The usual outcome is tightness, redness, rebound oil and more breakouts – the opposite of what it was used for.
What ingredients are best paired with baking soda?
Nothing, on the face. Its one defensible skincare use is neutralising an overly acidic DIY mixture before it touches skin, and even that is a reason to buy a properly formulated product instead.
For gentle exfoliation use lactic acid or a PHA; for oil and congestion use salicylic acid or clay; for blemishes use benzoyl peroxide or azelaic acid. All work with the skin’s pH rather than against it. Take our Skin Quiz.
What is adult acne?
Adult acne is acne that persists past the teenage years or appears for the first time in your twenties, thirties or later. It affects a substantial share of adults, and disproportionately women.
It tends to look different from teenage acne: fewer widespread blackheads, more deep tender lesions along the jawline, chin and neck, often on skin that is simultaneously dry, sensitive or already showing early signs of ageing.
What causes adult acne?
Hormonal fluctuation is the leading driver – menstrual cycles, coming off or starting contraception, pregnancy, perimenopause and conditions such as PCOS all shift androgen activity and sebum output.
Stress and cortisol, sleep debt, high-glycaemic diets, comedogenic makeup and skincare, friction, and certain medications compound it. Adult skin also heals more slowly, so marks linger longer than they did at nineteen.
What ingredients are best for adult acne?
The challenge is treating acne without wrecking a barrier that is also ageing. Retinoids do double duty here, clearing follicles and stimulating collagen at the same time.
Azelaic acid is excellent for adult skin because it handles lesions, redness and post-acne marks together. Add salicylic acid used sparingly, niacinamide to regulate oil and calm inflammation, and ceramides plus hyaluronic acid to keep hydration up. Skip harsh benzoyl peroxide concentrations and scrubs. Take our Skin Quiz.
