5 Reasons why you shouldn't use Baking soda on your skin.
1. It is not recommended by Healthcare Professionals
Baking soda, bicarb soda or Sodium Bicarbonate is one in the same and is the #1 cause of skin irritation in natural deodorants today, and it is in no way dermatologist-recommended.
2. It upsets the pH balance of the skin
Baking soda has a very alkaline (or basic) pH of 8- 9. When you apply baking soda to your skin, it messes with your healthy acid mantle. Our skin maintains optimum pH levels of 4.5-6.5 (on a scale of 0-14). 7 is a neutral pH, while anything above that’s a base [alkaline], and anything below is an acid. Basically our skin is acidic and Baking Soda is alkaline, so they do not live in harmony.
3. It removes the skins protective oil barrier.
As soon as your skin’s pH goes over 6.5, your acid mantle is thrown off, and your skin is left exposed to damage and infection. Applying baking soda just once is enough to remove and damage the protective oil barrier leaving you with dry skin. When the barrier is damaged, it can take a little over two weeks to heal. The longer it’s used, the greater the damage it can cause over time.
4. It disrupts the natural bacteria of the skin
Baking Soda disrupts enzyme activity on the surface along with “good” bacteria that love acidity. The result? The “good” bacteria’s is less likely to fend off viruses, “bad” bacteria, and breakouts.
5. It over exfoliates the skin
Baking soda is a physical abrasive and if you have used natural deodorants with baking soda you will notice it is like rubbing fine sandpaper on your pits, Using an abrasive ingredient such as Baking Soda daily on your skin, can lead to irritation, dilated blood vessels and hyperpigmentation, not to mention it just feels uncomfortable.
If your unfamiliar with why Deodorants use Baking Soda (sodium bicarbonate) in their formulations, its to absorb B.O. or Bacteria Odour as we like to call it.
At Frank + Bare our deodorant was formulated for the health of our skin and works like this, AHA's [Alpha Hydroxy Acids = fruit acids] zero in on odour causing bacteria and actually prevent the bacteria from munching on the sweat and releasing their odour in the first place, by working with the acid pH in the armpit. This creates an environment where the bacteria cannot survive or thrive, but is still gentle on the skin. Frank + Bare Deo has also been tested on armpits with B.O. and has proven to successfully neutralise the B.O. leaving the armpit smelling only of aromatic essential oils.
Frank + Bare’s AHA deodorant was designed to stop odour and protect your skin’s protective acid mantle and microflora. Applying it won’t feel like you’re scraping waxy sandpaper on your pits. Instead it is a soft luxurious butter like texture which will glide on and keep your precious pits protected and odour free all day. You can view our range here
However we acknowledge that our skin types and reactions can be all different and some people find a natural deodorant with baking soda is a good option for them.
