Health & Beauty: 7 Uses for Baking Soda

Hello there my friends,
I love finding multiple uses for products found right there in my pantry. And today I want to showcase none other than... wait or it...
 
 

 
 
Baking soda, I got baking soda... lol
 
But seriously, baking soda is one of those products that is a household's best friend. Also known as Sodium bicarbonate, it's a white solid that is crystalline but often appears as a fine powder. It has a slightly salty, alkaline taste and we can use it for anything from whitening laundry to extinguishing fires. This being a hair (and a bit of beauty :-)) blog, we'll stick to personal care uses.
 

 



 

 Hair: 

1. Cleanser - Sprinkle a small amount of baking soda into your palm along with your favorite shampoo. Shampoo as usual and rinse thoroughly. Baking soda helps remove the residue that styling products leave behind so your hair is cleaner and more manageable.
2. Also, remove natural oil build-up and hair product residue by soaking combs and brushes in a solution of 1 teaspoon of baking soda in a small basin of warm water.

 

 

 

 

Beauty:

1. Teeth whitener - Combine a bit of baking soda with lemon or hydrogen peroxide for a super teeth-whitening formula. Use this one to two times per week for a whiter, brighter smile.
2. Facial exfoliant - the aforementioned combination is also excellent in the scrub department. The fine particles of the powder-like substance is great for a facial scrub as it is able to get rid of dead skin cells without being too harsh. Use as often as the skin on your face can tolerate.
3. Pore opener - need to remove black and white heads on and around your nose? Use egg or tissue paper + non-toxic glue to do so. But before you go in with any adhesive, open up the pores with baking soda to make for easy removal.

 

Health:

1. Reliever of colds - When taken internally, baking soda can help maintain the pH balance in your bloodstream. This is likely the basic premise behind its recommended uses against both colds and influenza symptoms. It can also be used as an antacid.
2. Bath bomb - I love a good soak. Bath time is truly a joy-evoking experience for me. Some of my favorite tub ingredients are Epsom salt, oils, and essential oils, and baking soda is right up there on the list. Add 1/2 cup of baking soda to your bath to neutralize acids on the skin and help wash away oil and perspiration, it also makes your skin feel very soft and smooth.
    

Have you been using baking soda in your beauty regimen? How?

 

 

Fitness Friday - The Effect of Sweat on your Healthy Hair Journey

As you may know by now, I'm pretty big on fitness and I workout 5-6 days a week (sometimes more than that). And these sessions are pretty intense. Now, that's a lot of sweat. I found myself washing (rinsing, co-washing, shampooing etc) my hair every other day and sometimes every day, for fear of my hair producing an unpleasant odor. But do I have an even bigger problem on my hands than dread smelling locks? Perhaps...

Fitness Friday Frolic - That Juice-y Juice-y

I am linking up with the lovely KLP, Britt and Ebony to do yet another fitness Friday post 'cuz I been juicing, I been juicing (Yonce's voice lol).

Girrrrll let me tell you.... I had been saying to my mom how much I was needing a juicer since I got to Ja. Then last week when I had that lovely beetroot, carrot and cucumber juice after yoga, I was straight fiending. Then one day I looked under the cupboard and what did a find? A motherfreaking juicer!!! I was like why oh why didn't you tell me?! She claims she forgot it was there. That was earlier this week and mayynn! I been juicing ever since.

Fitness Friday Frolic - Switching Things Up

I'm linking up once again with the lovely ladies of SavingourStrands, One&20, and Longing4Length, to share my current fitness routine.

(Fitness) Friday Frolic - Look Good, Feel Great

It's Valentine's Day and fitness is in the air...wait, no love is in the air. Well, I'm not big on Valentine's Day and I am in love with fitness, so let's go with fitness instead.

After today's workout

Quickie - Health y Hair (get it?)

You've heard it time and time again. You've got to eat your way to a healthy body and lengthy hair. Below are some images to help guide you.

eat less of the foods as you ascend

Going All the Way - Holistic Approach to Beauty

As the hair and nails are the last to receive nutrients from the body, if we want healthy hair, we must step up our game when it comes to our overall health. As a matter of fact, regardless if there is a desire for healthy luscious hair or not, one should not neglect health and wellness.

Personally, I take a holistic approach to beauty. All things seem to tie in with each other, be it gorgeous hair, long, strong nails, glowing skin or a small waist. It starts with the premise that what you put in is what you will get out, both literally and figuratively.

Here are a few of the things I incorporate in my beauty regimen/ lifestyle:

• Clean eating - While there are days when I have a "happy meal" (not from McDonalds!!), typically, I try to have about 5 small balanced meals each day, which consist of food in it's natural form or as close as possible (limiting processed foods). Some of my preferred ingredients include rolled oats, whole wheat bread, eggs, chicken, fish, sweet potatoes, vegetables (especially leafy greens), and fruits.  I also enjoy various kinds of shakes.