The Best Exfoliator Costs Less Than $2

When it comes to the best exfoliator for your skin… why spend a ton when you can spend a little and get amazing results? We’re huge fans of using what you have to make something awesome (which is why we have a crazy long list of amazing DIY face masks), and one of our fave hacks for exfoliation is possibly our easiest DIY to date. The secret is baking soda – yes, simple baking soda that you probably already have in your kitchen cupboard, which costs less than $2.

Why Baking Soda is Awesome

The slightly abrasive texture of baking soda makes it excellent for removing surface dead skin cells, while the alkaline pH has antifungal, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. If you have sensitive skin, do a test patch first, but this usually works wonders for acne-prone and dry skin. Baking Soda is actually a key ingredient in the famous Lancer The Method Polish exfoliator, $75, so if that isn’t enough to convince you of how effective it is, we don’t know what will!

The Exfoliating DIY

It couldn’t be simpler, take your usual face wash in the palm of your hand and add a pinch of baking soda (a teaspoon or less). Gently rub the mix together in your palms and then apply to your face, rubbing very gently in circular motions for about 40 seconds. Rinse thoroughly – try not to be distracted by the silky soft feeling of your face, because if it doesn’t completely come off, you may find white patches on your face later. Finish with your moisturizer and admire your glowing complexion. You can use this in the same way you would use your normal exfoliator (about once or twice a week).

What to know!

Your skin naturally has a pH of 5.5, which is slightly acidic, but don’t worry about the alkaline pH of baking soda throwing your skin off balance. When baking soda is used as a quick scrub (remember to apply it very gently in circular motions), it’s not on the skin long enough to alter the pH in this way. That’s why one of the world’s most revered dermatologists, Dr. Lancer, uses it in his cult classic polishing exfoliator.

We hope you guys love this amazingly easy and effective DIY face scrub as much as we do. Let us know if you’ve tried it in the comments below.