How to Make Your Own Apple Cider Vinegar Facial Toner:
I am sure many of you keep apple cider vinegar in your kitchen pantry for a variety of different dishes, vinaigrettes, pickled whatevers and so on. But did you know it is also a great item for keeping in the bathroom medicine cabinet as an amazing all-natural beauty product, too?
For the past two months I have been using a mixture of apple cider vinegar and water as an all natural toner, every single morning and every single evening after I wash my face. I saw a noticeable change and improvement in my skin in just a weeks time. No joke.
This simple concoction can help improve your overall complexion by balancing and restoring your skin’s natural pH. Our skin is naturally acidic but when our levels are in balance our skin will live at the perfect level between oily and dry. When you pH levels are out of balance, that is when you break out, when your pores get clogged, you are too oily or too dry, your skin can be itchy or irritated, and the list goes on and on.
ACV has a pH of 3 and when diluted, the acidity from the toner helps bring your skin’s pH back to its normal levels. By restoring your skin’s balance, this apple cider vinegar toner helps your skin function optimally, warding off bacteria and shedding dead skin cells at the proper rate so your pores do not get clogged and your skin remains healthy.
I have noticed my skin tone has evened out significantly, my skin is softer and I have less dry and itchy red patches, plus less oiliness in my trouble spots. I no longer can see the tiny pores on my nose that seemed to always be there. I have also definitely noticed less everyday “regular” breakouts and a significant decrease in the amount and severity of my hormonal breakouts each month. I have observed that many of my previous breakouts were seemingly due to clogged pores and no matter how much I washed my face, I would still have that problem, this toner has seriously been the answer I was looking for.
Additional benefits to Apple Cider Vinegar Toner:
Rich in natural alpha hydroxy acids
Lightens sun and age spots
Dissolves dead skin cells
Balances the skin’s PH
Improves acne and acne scars
Helps minimize appearance of pores
Be sure to get the good stuff. You will want to use an organic raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar, preferably with the ‘mother’. The mother of vinegar is the naturally occurring strand-like enzymes that are only found in raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar. You will get the most therapeutic benefits with vinegar that contains the ‘mother’. Bragg’s ACV is likely the easiest to find and that is what I buy.
How to Make Your Own Apple Cider Vinegar Toner:
There are many different ACV to water ratios online, some say 1:1, others prefer 1:3 or I have seen the ratio even as much as 1:8, etc. I personally think you need to go with what works for you. Start with a small mixture of something like 1 part apple cider vinegar to 4 parts water, if it is too strong for your skin, add more water. If it doesn’t seem strong enough and you aren’t noticing any of the benefits, add more apple cider vinegar. Below is my mixture and what I have found works for me.
Apple Cider Vinegar Toner Directions:
2) Add 2 parts distilled or filtered water.
3) Shake the bottle to combine the mixture.
4) Apply the toner to your freshly cleansed skin using a cotton ball or pad, avoiding the eye area.
5) Apply your usual, daily moisturizer after the apple cider vinegar toner has dried.
6) Shake well before each use. Store in a cool, dry, dark place (No need to refrigerate). I make a new batch monthly.
Notes:
Experiment with the ratios of ACV to water and see what your skin likes and responds to the most. You will know when you find it. I tend to use a bit less than a 1:2 ratio these days.
You can customize your toner by adding witch hazel, green tea, essential oils such as tea tree oil or lavender, etc.
Try infusing the water in the mixture with fresh herbs, for added nutrients and wonderful aromas. Just chop up your favorite fresh herb, bring the water to a boil, add the herbs and simmer over a low heat for 30 minutes. Strain the mixture and let the herb infused water cool before adding it in place of regular water to your toner mixture.
Yes, apple cider vinegar does smell a little bit like feet. Once the toner dries on your face, the smell almost completely dissipates, in my opinion. Some people seems to be more sensitive to the smell then others. It doesn’t bother me, personally. I use a daily moisturizer that contains wild rose oil and I find that really helps with any residual odors. I do have to say, the thing that smells the worst, is the garbage can under the sink in my bathroom, where all the used cotton balls go. I should probably keep them in a closed bag or something. Hubby always complains that my garbage can ‘smells like a foot’.
If the smell does bother you too much, instead of letting the mixture dry on your face and stay on there, try letting it dry a bit, then rinsing your face quick with a splash or two of water, before applying your moisturizer.
This will sting on any open sores, scratches, pimples, etc.
I recently started using this face wash
ALBA ACNEdote Deep Pore Wash
. It is still too early to give you my review on it, but I assumed many people would ask what my cleanser of choice was currently. Previously I was using a tea tree oil wash from Dessert Essence and I really liked it, but I found it to be too drying and I think my skin responds best to a small amount of salicylic acid given that I am prone to hormonal breakouts. I will report back after I have used this for a while to let you know what I think.
EDIT – 09/13 – I am now on a newer all-natural handmade skin care regimen with
Peacock Apothecary, so I am using a different face wash than mentioned above. I am still using this toner twice a day and I still love it. Read about my full skin care routine
here, including the products I use, plus another homemade recipe for a simple face scrub.
Other Beauty Uses for Apple Cider Vinegar:
Use in a 1:1 ratio with water for a hair rinse in place of conditioner.
For all-over softness, add a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to your next bath.
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