A Year of Natural Health & Beauty Tip #25: Use Apple Cider Vinegar as a Skin Toner

You can use ANY apple cider vinegar as a toner, not just Bragg’s!

To view all tips so far, click here or simply scroll to the top of the screen and click on 52 Tips.

If you find yourself suffering from unbalanced, oily, blemished skin, it can be frustrating to find natural or homemade cures. Tea tree oil is one excellent solution for clearing up pimples. However, another solution that you might already have in your kitchen is apple cider vinegar.

As I’ve talked about before, using a toner after cleansing your face can help to control excess oil and breakouts while keeping your skin super-clean and fresh. But you don’t need to spend a lot of money on store-bought toners or those with extra ingredients. In fact, one ingredient is usually all you need!

Apple cider vinegar helps to maintain your skin’s pH balance, which can help it to stay even, clear, and blemish-free even during sweaty summer months. It also exfoliates and purifies your skin, making it the perfect revitalizing skin toner.

As always, it’s best to use organic and raw apple cider vinegar, such as Bragg’s, which can be found in almost any natural food store.

Stuff to Know:

• If your skin is also sensitive, dilute the apple cider vinegar with water.
• Spot test any products or ingredients before using any homemade products on your face, head, or body, especially if you have sensitive skin or are prone to irritation and/or allergies.

Apple Cider Vinegar Toner for Oily or Blemished Skin

Ingredients:

• 1 Tbsp. organic, raw apple cider vinegar

To Use:

1. Remove all makeup first.
2. Apply a small amount of apple cider vinegar to a cotton pad.
3. Using  small, circular movements, apply the apple cider vinegar to your forehead, nose, cheeks, and chin. Avoid the eye area.
4. Allow the toner to dry on your face.
5. Apply moisturizer or face cream afterward, as needed.

Have you ever used apple cider vinegar in your beauty routine?

Do you use apple cider vinegar in your cooking or baking?

A Year of Natural Health & Beauty Tip #16: Use Green Tea as a Skin Toner

By Kanko from Nagasaki via Wikimedia Commons

To view all tips so far, click here or simply scroll to the top of the screen and click on 52 Tips.

As summertime sneaks around the bend here in the Northern Hemisphere and temperatures rise, you might be stepping up your skin care routine to include toner. Using a toner after cleansing can help to ensure a makeup- and residue-free face, and it can also help to control excess oil brought on by warmer weather. Many store-bought toners contain alcohol, which can over-dry your skin, causing it to freak out and produce even more oil. But alcohol-free toners are generally gentle enough for most skin types.

However, you don’t need to buy any kind of specialty toner, especially if you have green tea in the cupboard! Steeped and cooled green tea is an excellent cleansing, revitalizing, and gentle skin toner, suitable for all skin types. It contains antioxidants that your skin will drink up, and it helps to restore your skin’s vital pH balance.

Any type of green tea will work: sencha, bancha, kukicha… your personal flavor preference will be just as good as any other, when it comes to green tea toner!

An added bonus: you can use the pouch of a green tea bag to apply the toner, eliminating the need for a cotton pad while providing extra exfoliation powers.

Stuff to Know:

• If your skin is highly sensitive, use very diluted green tea.
• Spot test any products or ingredients before using any homemade products on your face, head, or body, especially if you have sensitive skin or are prone to irritation and/or allergies.
• Use the tea toner on the day you make it. Do not store unused, soaked green tea.

By Shizuha (投稿者自身が撮影) via Wikimedia Commons

Green Tea Toner for All Skin Types

Ingredients:

• 1 bag of green tea OR 1 bag equivalent loose tea
• 1 cup of fresh, purified water

Steps to Make:

1. Bring the water nearly to a boil.
2. To increase the amount of tea toner you’re making, simply keep the ratios the same.
3. Steep your tea bag (or loose tea in a tea holder) for 3-7 minutes. The longer you steep it, the stronger your tea toner will be.
4. Remove the tea bag or loose tea and allow to cool completely. If using the tea bag as a scrubber, allow the pouch to cool completely, as well. For extra cooling effects, store in the refrigerator until chilled.

To Use:

1. Remove all makeup first.
2. Apply a small amount of tea to a cotton pad. Or dip the tea bag into the cooled tea, and use that instead of a cotton pad.
3. Using  small, circular movements, apply the tea to your forehead, nose, cheeks, and chin. Avoid the eye area.
4. Allow the tea toner to dry on your face.
5. Apply moisturizer or face oil afterward, as needed.

Have you ever used green tea in your beauty routine?

Do you drink green tea on a daily basis?