Today’s DIY recipe is a total revelation to me. It comes courtesy of Melissa Colgan, the Style Editor at Mpls.St. Paul magazine. She was kind enough to take before/after glamour shots of her soon-to-be-famous baking soda and orange juice mask.
MC says that this combo gets rid blackheads like nobody’s business and is great for treating hormonal breakouts. The baking soda exfoliates and fights acne while the acid in the orange juice tightens pores and the vitamin C brightens. Here are her instructions:
- Mix 1 tbsp real orange juice with 1 tbsp baking soda (I like to use a shot glass – ha!)
- Spread a thin layer on face. (There should be enough for two applications, or one if you put it on your neck and décolletage, too, which I do.)
- Leave on for 20 minutes
- Dampen finger tips and scrub mask in circular motions for extra exfoliation
- Rinse
The mask will tingle and itch a little so it’s good too have a distraction—paint your nails, watch TV, but whatever you do, don’t talk. As the paste dries, any facial movements will cause it to flake off. Your skin will be pink afterwards (see photo), like as you just peeled off a few layers. When I am done I use a really gentle toner and then slather on some lotion.
Tip: If you don’t have the time for a full mask, mix a little bit of baking soda into your cleanser for a light exfoliating treatment.
Filed Under: acne treatment, at-home spa recipe, exfoliation, facial peel, how to get rid of blackheads, mask, melissa colgan, scrub


















Do you use real orange juice by squeezing the juice out or do you buy 100% orange juice at the store?? I can’t wait to try this!
Hi Olivia! Any real OJ will do – fresh squeeze or pre-packaged! Have fun . . .
I just tried this and it’s super runny. Is that how it’s supposed to be or should I add more baking soda?