Did you know that baking soda, or a formula that very closely resembles it, traces back to Ancient Egypt? That it was used as a household cleanser, body odor cleanser and as a way to whiten teeth? Did you know that you can do these things and many more with baking soda to this day?

If you're a regular here, I'm sure you're saying 'YES, ABSOLUTELY, AAAAND?' But despite the fact that baking soda is a popular ingredient in DIY beauty masks online, it's very alkaline so the use of it directly on the skin without other balancing ingredients can be very damaging to your acid mantle. But why haven't more skincare companies taken this into consideration for a cleanser? Well, Biore seemed to ask the same thing.

Biore Cleansing Scrub

Upon first glance, this literally looks like baking soda in a plastic container BUT NO, it's a special powder formula that foams upon contact with water!A small dime-to-quarter sized ratio produces a reaaallly satisfying foaming action, with just enough exfoliants to get the job done.

At first I wasn't sure how this product, which appeared so simple, would offer valuable results, but this cleansing scrub does a great job of keeping my face fresh and clean, without any irritation. It also doesn't leave my skin too dry or squeaky clean either.

If you have sensitive skin, this Biore scrub may be just the thing because it offers a thorough scrub and the intensity can be adjusted by how much you use and how much water you use it with. I currently am using it 2-3x a week to help keep my skintone nice and even and it's working well on my combination skin. Definitely a good product for your arsenal. I recommend this and love to reach for it.

Baking Soda Pore Cleanser

I've used Biore face washes of varying types for over 10 years and while I think there are many good products in the line, the face washes always seem a bit basic for me. Often they are drying, or leave my skin too squeaky clean, or oddly, leave my skin feeling slightly oily.

The pore cleanser is a creamy cleanser, with exfoliants inside the wash that help clear the oil and dirt off your skin. I was worried that they were actually micro-beads so I took to the internet but it appears that this product passes the test (if I'm wrong, please let me know in the comments!)

But I think the problem is that this cleanser is formulated for people with very oily skin, so if you have dry patches or areas, it's just too dehydrating. It left the skin on my t-zone slightly dry. It's not a BAD cleanser, but I wouldn't buy it again and am probably passing it off to a friend.

Have you tried the Biore Baking Soda skincare yet? What's your favourite Biore product? Let me know in the comments!

I received these products for review from Influenster but the opinions in this review are my own. View my other Influenster reviews here.