# 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
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
People use it in homemade skincare because it can:
* physically remove some dead surface skin
* absorb some oil
* leave the skin temporarily
