Bad for skin? or just a myth?

Jan 2, 2014

Shaundi P.

Hello beauties :) I've recently started using a diy baking soda and peroxide scrub on my face at night. I've heard peroxide is bad for your skin but my results using this scrub have been great. my acne is almost completely gone,I've had no new breakouts, and I'm not oily after I put foundation on anymore I don't even need my oil controlling primer now. so my question is: is peroxide really bad for skin?, will my face start to get worse after a while of using it?

Jan 2, 2014

Alyssa S.

I did it but only Witt baking soda and not often, just once in a while for a good cleanse to get the dry dead skin off too, not sure about peroxide :/

Jan 2, 2014

Traci L.

It can dry you out I would take the peroxide out and just do baking soda and water no more than 2 times a week and still use a moisturizer after

Jan 3, 2014

Kitty K.

Baking soda is far too abrasive for the skin, it's also too acidic ( BS is a 9, and your skins Ph should be between 4-5.5 )and will throw off your skins PH, I recommend you don't use baking soda. It basically scratches away at your skins protective layer, leaving an undeveloped layer of skin prone to bacteria. The reason so many have reported it to give them amazing skin is because it continues to scratch away at dirt and bacteria. It all sounds good right? Wrong, you're basically over exfoliating your skin with Baking Soda. You are actually putting your skin at risk by using baking soda, you will ruin your skin in the long run. Some have reported such bad effects from over exfoliation, like having a cyst that was too infected and big that they ended up having a surgery to remove it. You actually put yourself at a good risk for a chemical burn, by using Baking Soda.
Even if you don't get a cyst, other problems can occur too ( premature wrinkles, discolouration after continued use). Overall, a store bought exfoliator is a much better option that Baking Soda, St. Ives Apricot is another good example of a really bad exfoliator. Sometimes these kitchen products are not the best.

Jan 3, 2014

Caitlin M.

If you need a good scrub I'd recommend Burt's Bees citrus facial scrub. It's very gentle and natural. I could use it every day without any irritation. It's like a soft paste and you just scoop some out and add water in your hands. I really like it! Just for reference if you want to try something else :)

Jan 3, 2014

Traci L.

Actually kitty baking soda is a natural exfoliate and not to harsh as long as it's used in moderation its alkaline and for people who's ph is off it brings the ph back down to normal the grains are as fine as store bought good quality scrubs and when thinned out with water makes a perfectly fine facial scrub,and baking soda Crystals are sometimes used in professional microdermabrasion machines in dermatologist office so it's definitely not bad for your skin however over use can dry you out,leaving you flaky and to much exfoliating no matter what your using will do that

Jan 3, 2014

Kitty K.

@Traci, although you give good advice, Baking Soda is not meant for the skin use in general. Baking soda is far too acidic for the skin. You really should read this medical article; http://www.sebamedbikeday.de/fileadmin/user_upload/pdf/Studien/Saeuremantelkonzept/1.06.pdf
I actually discussed my skin care regime with Jacqueline as well, who also mentioned that BS was far too acidic for the skin. To put it in simpler terms, if baking soda is used as a clarifying shampoo, can you imagine what scrubbing it on your face can do? Granted, the lesson being: Just because something is natural ( baking soda is not in its natural form, it is processed significantly and actually comes in a rock form ) doesn't always necessarily mean that it is a better option. Restoring the skin to its natural PH cannot be done with Baking soda, as its far too acidic. And there are a plethora of safe ways to do so without the long term effects of using BS on the skin. 

Jan 3, 2014

Alyssa S.

@traci I just bought the st. Ives apricot that kitty mentioned, do you think it's as bad as she does? The Bottle does say 3_4x a week so prob not daily right

@kitty I just read your skin care blog earlier today lol, & you do have really nice skin girl, your gorgeous.

Jan 3, 2014

Kitty K.

@Alyssa, St Ives follows into the paragraph I mentioned above, I can't remember the name, but there was a guest speaker for cosmetology class I believe, I'm not sure what class, who was a victim of over exfoliation with st. ives. She was one of the ones who had to actually go into surgery to remove her cyst, leaving her with permanent scarring, because it was rather large. You can achieve the same results of exfoliation using a AHA or BHA acid, and if you really want a kitchen ingredient to exfoliate with - brown sugar, honey, and olive oil make an excellent exfoliant. Salt can be used as well, but salt is much more drying than sugar. I imagine that salt might be a better choice for oily skin, but then again... the more you take away the more oil your skin makes. Oil dissolves oil, and oil is an acclusive,so it won't be clogging your pores. 

Jan 3, 2014

Traci L.

Kitty there are a million articles that say its bad and a million more that will say its good I'm speakin as a skincare professional and 8 years as Esthetician not from Google ,now I'm not saying baking soda should be used because I'm not really into diy skincare ,however if used properly it can be a safe exfoliate ,and has been for hundreds of years now I'm sure some people can react badly to it and its not what I would recommend as my top choice but I have never came across anyone that had serious issues from it I respect your opinion however and your skin is beautiful I also read your skin care routine and think its great how you mix store bought with natural products ,I will read the article thou.

Jan 3, 2014

Traci L.

And yes I do agree with her about st ives the grains are made of shells and cause micro tears in the skin you want to exfoliate with round beads that role over the skin gently

Jan 3, 2014

Traci L.

And kitty baking soda is alkaline not acidic you can look that up.

Jan 3, 2014

Kitty K.

@Traci Skin care estheticians are actually not too familiar with the medicinal side of skin care. That was not just any article from google, it was a medical article. I am so sorry if it offends you, but I have spoken to dermatologist about baking soda, and my skincare and quite frankly, I do value a professionals opinion. However, to my knowledge, and the dermatologist I spoke to as well, aesthetics schools don't actually teach the true science of skincare. Unless they ( the students) have a separate interest in science or even medicine, and themselves do separate research/reading about dermatology, if you ask them say, about the the acid mantle, they'll have no idea what that is or if it exists. I have visited Estheticians before, and quite frankly, the several I've spoken to are not too familiar with the 'problem' I have on my face.

Jan 3, 2014

Kitty K.

@Traci Your skin is roughly a pH of 4.5-5, blood is 7, an effective AHA or BHA is 3.5-4, baking soda is a 9. pH is so very important in skincare -- too alkaline and the skin barrier is disrupted or damaged, too acidic and you risk burns.

Jan 3, 2014

Traci L.

Hun I work in a medical spa with dermatologist and of course we know about the acid mantel of the skin and I'm not offend at all but you should get your info right baking soda is alkaline not acidic

Jan 3, 2014

Traci L.

As I said I respect your opinion and this thread isn't a debate about baking soda lol so thank you for your input hun.

Jan 3, 2014

Natalie T.

I know little to nothing about skin care, but I do know a bit about chemistry... you are both right-baking soda has around a pH of 9, BUT that means it is basic (alkaline), not acidic. 7 is neutral, any pH below 7 is acidic, anything above 7 is basic/alkaline... I think Kitty was just had the pH scale turned around?

Jan 3, 2014

Kitty K.

Right... I think I will stick to the professional I personally see. I just think its funny that as a skincare professional that you think baking soda is good for the skin, to my surprise there are actually youtube videos of skin care professionals who even advise to not use baking soda on the skin. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lrZqiqoZGA
This is what confuses me, you claim to be a professional but yet claim that baking soda is safe for the skin?
And this is not an argument, I'm just trying to understand WHY you would consider it as something safe for the skin.

Jan 3, 2014

Traci L.

You seem very hostile towards me for some unknown reason your whole little speech was about how baking soda is to acidic and burns your skin when clearly its not acidic its alkaline and I am giving my opinion you gave yours thats how this works and noone asked you not to stick with the person you see,I was giving my opinion on someone else's question so with that being said I don't see what the back and forth is about you clearly feel you have something to prove however I don't so thank for all you little articles and you tube links but I'm licenced to work on clients so I will stick to what I no and no hard feelings hun its not that serious to keep up with the back n fourth so enjoy your night.

Jan 3, 2014

Shaundi P.

Whoa sorry girls didnt mean to start a hostile debate. to answer some of your concerns let me say this: I do NOT use the scrub everyday, nor do I have sensitive skin and I always moisturize my skin afterwards. I've tried the st ives scrub before and for some reason it just didnt feel like it was exfoliating enough and I didnt get the results I was looking for while using it.

Jan 3, 2014

Traci L.

Hun the debate is over sorry for taking up your thread lol.

Jan 3, 2014

Natalie N.

Honestly, you should do whatever works and adjust along the way if anything goes wrong. Be sure to use a strong moisturizer though, always remember that you need to equally scrub and moisturize your skin to keep a healthy oil balance! Hope this helps! 😉💕

Jan 3, 2014

Shelley W.

I made my husband read this thread to give his take on the debate. He agrees with fully with Traci in regards to baking soda being ok to use. Its not meant to be used everyday and its not tolerated by every skintype/condition. And in his line of work he has seen it ALL. Enzyme peels that are in powder form and activated using water...is actually derived from baking soda idea as an exfoliant. Both contain zero harsh granulars and do a decent job at removing surface dead skin. He did mention that there are definitely two camps, one against its use in skincare and the other for it. Bottom line its all about what an individuals skin can handle.

Jan 3, 2014

Shelley W.

Kitty...you can't always take what professionals say as truth. They are known to make mistakes and its often revealed in competing counter studies. Or researcher bias. My husband can attest to that himself. And in defense of Traci..she is in the front line when it comes to skincare as most people can afford to see her versus a dermo even with insurance. So in so many words you insulted her profession and that is just plain wrong. :(

Jan 3, 2014

Traci L.

Thankk you so much Shelley I was just going by my own knowledge but your husband being a cosmetic chemist and and one who formulates skin care would know best I appreciate you confirming this