A versatile and economical addition to your beauty routine

Many of us know bicarbonate of soda as an ingredient in bath bombs and bath fizzies, or the great benefits it brings as a household cleaning product.  Did you know it is a fabulous product to replace many expensive beauty products we are currently using every day?

1. Dry shampoo: Sprinkle a little bicarb into the roots of the hair and tousle gently
2. Volumising shampoo: add a teaspoon of bicarb to your regular shampoo and wash as normal.
3. Acne treatment: Mix bicarb & honey and apply to face  Leave mask on for 15 minutes before rinsing.
4. Cleansing facial scrub: Mix a tablespoon of bicarb with your usual cleanser to form a paste.  Massage in small circles to exfoliate and soften skin.
5. Foot care: Soak feet in warm water with 3 tablespoons of bicarb and a few drops of your favourite essential oil for about 20 minutes.  Use a paste of bicarb and water to exfoliate rough spots before rinsing.
6. To brighten dull skin:  Mix bicarb with a tablespoon of lemon juice and a few drops of olive oil and apply to clean skin.  Leave paste on for 10 minutes before rinsing clean.
7. Cleaning product:  Mix bicarbonate of soda with vinegar to make a paste that is great for scrubbing and brightening when applied with a soft cloth and wiped clean.

Who would have thought such an innocuous ingredient could have such diversity!  While the skin applications above are fabulous, we can't overlook a recipe for the traditional bath bomb, so have included one here for you.

           Bath Bomb Recipe

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups bi-Carbonate of Soda
½ cup citric acid
Cocoa butter
Powder colour (optional)
Fragrance
Flowers if desired
Water in spray bottle
Bath bomb mould

Directions:

Mix bi-carbonate of soda and citric acid together in a large bowl. Break up any lumps that may be present.

Add colour and fragrance to bowl and mix well. Take ½ cup of mixture and place in a smaller bowl.

Using a vegetable peeler, scrape a little cocoa butter into the bowl and mix well. If desired, place a small quantity of flowers into the mould. Spray mix with water and combine all ingredients quickly to reduce fizzing. Mix needs to be the consistency of damp sand.

Pack half the mould with the mix and press down firmly. Fill the remainder of mould, compress and level off the top evenly. Continue until all mix has been used.  

If using a spherical bath bomb mould loosly fill both halves of your mould and mound the mix on top.  Press the two halves together so the extra is aiding with the compressing process.  Unmould very carefully and move to the next bath bomb.