I've been using baking soda as a cleanser in the a.m and p.m. for
about a week now. It is NOT that gentle at all. It stings my face. I
am not using very much, only a little more than a pinch, with water,
and I am NOT scrubbing. Just ever so slightly rubbing in soft circular
motions, barely applying any pressure with my hands.

Sorry, I may have to NEGATIVE to the baking soda as a cleanser, even
though someone on this list was insisting it was great (and gentle).

It is a mild exfoliating agent when used in conjunction with your favorite
soap. For an exfoliating agent, it is quite mild. I have very sensitive
skin with acne and I use baking soda everyday. It has done wonders for my
face, but it is not, nor are any other topical agents, a cure for acne. It
works for some and not for others...like anything else. My mom can't even
go near it because it will sting her skin a bit and makes her feel terrible.
But for me, it is WONDERFUL. Weird, I know, but that's how the body is, I'm
afraid.

EVERYTHING in this world works for some people and not for others.

It's being able to say (as the OP did) that "This product/medicine did
not work for ME" that is so important instead of screaming "Don't use
X, it NEVER works" and scarring people who may have benefited.

I have used the Clean & Clear cleanser with round blue beads in it
(blue tube, I believe) and it works great without the pain. Maybe you
should try that. Baking soda was WAY to harsh for me also.

On 11 Jul 2004 21:01:47 -0700, artvandelay123@earthlink.net
(artvandelay) wrote:

I am trying out baking soda by mixing a pinch of the soda
into a washing basin and using this mixture on my face
cloth with regular soap. So far so good and find it even
gentle on the face. I must be tough or something.

The principle to keep in mind is that what may work
wonders for one may not be effective for another.
So don't give up, you must keep on trying to find what
it is that works best for you.

I suspect that what we eat has a lot to do with our skin problem,
avoid the sun. Stressful situations will definitely aggravate
matter.


--------------------------------------------
Remove the R in my address to reply directly.

Skin pH is usually mildly acidic 5-6.5 range. Baking soda buffers to
about 8.1 . When I use baking soda as an AHA neutralizer for my peels
(which are around pH of 3), it really stings my face as it neutralizes..

SO, I think maybe your skin is more acidic than most, and the baking
soda neutralizes that to 8.1 and in the process stings a bit.??

I've found it to scratch a bit, unless it's mixed with cleanser. But I
far prefer Skinclean daily scrub to baking soda, it really doesn't
scratch the skin even if used without liquid cleanser..

artvandelay wrote:
--
"Success is the *progressive* realization of a worthwhile predetermined
goal." Earl Nightingale

"I've found it to scratch a bit, unless it's mixed with cleanser. But I
far prefer Skinclean daily scrub to baking soda, it really doesn't
scratch the skin even if used without liquid cleanser.."


Who makes it and where can you buy it cheaply?

www.skinclean.com has more info, but buy it on ebay (not the website),
it's $5 cheaper.

You get a year or so supply of the stuff, and it does come with a 60 day
money back guarantee, but the customer service sucks and the refunds are
slow (from what I've heard). I don't like the company, but I do like the
product, as far as it being a scrub I can add to any cleanser, and the
weekly scrub is nice, too..

If you want, I can mail you a sample of both to try, I have plenty of it.

Chicago Dave wrote:
--
"Success is the *progressive* realization of a worthwhile predetermined
goal." Earl Nightingale

I use RUBBING ALCOHOL! lol So don't tell me about how "un-mild" baking soda
is! hehe


"artvandelay" <artvandelay123@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:5e83cd22.0407112001.6b1d2aae@posting.google.c om...

I use a sanding orbital!!

(Uhhh, no.. just kidding)

Pain Devine wrote:
--
"Success is the *progressive* realization of a worthwhile predetermined
goal." Earl Nightingale