Homemade Facial Toner

Skincare companies love to tell us their over-priced toner is a necessary part of a proper skincare regimen. One more thing to buy, right? I personally don't think it is a must-have skincare item, but a lot of people love the clean, tight feeling a toner can give. Unfortunately that clean, tight feeling means your skin is dry. All the natural protective oils are wiped away, which I'm not sure is a good thing. Those toners usually consist mostly of alcohol, which is way too harsh and drying. If you are a toner enthusiast, check out these natural ingredients you can use to make homemade toner that is less expensive, better for your skin, and customized to your skin type.

Natural Ingredients

• Rose Water
  For all skin types, especially dry. Gentle, moisturizing antiseptic. You can find rose water at health food stores, Amazon, and Mountain Rose Herbs. Make homemade rose water with rose essential oil or with rose petals using this tutorial.
• Milk
  For all skin types, especially dry. Add to harsher ingredients (ACV, lemon juice, witch hazel) to make them more moisturizing.
• Chamomile Tea
  For all skin types, especially dry. Anti-inflammatory. Soothes irritated, dry skin.
• Cold Water
  For all skin types. The cold temperature closes pores.
• Green Tea**
  For all skin types. Loaded with antioxidants.
• Apple Cider Vinegar
  For all skin types, especially acne-prone skin. Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. Strong smell. Needs to be diluted. I use Bragg's ACV and lavender essential oil when my face breaks out. Zits are noticeably smaller by morning.
• Lemon Juice
  For all skin types, especially acne-prone skin. Exfoliates. Antibacterial. Reduces oiliness. Needs to be diluted.
• Witch Hazel
  For all skin types, especially oily or acne-prone skin. An astringent made from the leaves and bark of a shrub. Contains alcohol, so it might be drying. You can find witch hazel at pharmacies, health food stores, Amazon, and Mountain Rose Herbs.

**If you are sensitive to caffeine, there are decaffeinated versions of green tea available. Make sure you get decaffeinated tea made by a natural process of “effervescence” using only water and carbon dioxide, as it retains 95 per cent of the antioxidants. The solvent method of decaffeination, using ethyl acetate, retains only 30 per cent of them. (Source: Beauty Benefits of Green Tea)

Customize with Essential Oils

You can make your homemade toner even more luxurious and customized to your individual skin type by adding essential oils. Essential oils are natural compounds extracted from parts of plants, flowers, and trees. They have been used throughout history for their medicinal and therapeutic benefits. They are extremely concentrated so you only need to add a drop to your cotton ball. Never use undiluted essential oils on your skin, except lavender or tea tree oil. Click here for more essential oil safety. You can find essential oils at your local health food store, Amazon, or Mountain Rose Herbs.

• Mature Skin/Wrinkles: frankincense, helichrysum, geranium, lavender, myrrh, sandalwood, carrot seed
• Dry Skin: rose, lavender, geranium, sandalwood, rosewood, ylang-ylang, chamomile
• Oily Skin: lemon, cedarwood, cypress, juniper, lavender, lemongrass, grapefruit
• Acne-Prone Skin: tea tree, lemongrass, lavender, geranium, peppermint, rosemary, sandalwood

Toner Recipes

Use one ingredient or mix and match to create the perfect formula for your skin. If you dilute with water or use ingredients that spoil (tea, milk, lemon juice, fresh rose water made with petals), I suggest keeping it in the fridge or making fresh toner daily. It's not as hard as it sounds. Pour a little apple cider vinegar on a cotton ball and then put it under running water to dilute. Or make a cup of chamomile tea to drink before bed and save a little to use on your face. Here are some more ways to use homemade toner based on your skin type.

Dry/Mature Skin

• Add rose water, chamomile tea, or green tea to a cotton ball and apply to face.

Normal Skin

• Add green tea to a cotton ball and apply to face.
• Or add a little apple cider vinegar or lemon juice to a cotton ball. Dilute with water, rose water, milk, or tea. (Start with a ratio of 1:10 and adjust as needed.) Apply to face.
• Or splash cold water on your face.

Oily or Acne-Prone Skin

• Add some apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, or witch hazel to a cotton ball. Dilute with water, rose water, milk, or tea. (Start with a ratio of 1:5 and adjust as needed) Apply to face.

Saves Money

By switching to homemade toner, I save money AND stop worrying about all the chemicals in commercial toner.

$1.94/oz. Clinique Clarifying Lotion Toner ($13/6.7 oz.)
$0.76/oz. Bragg's Raw ACV ($3/16 oz) & Lavender Essential Oil ($9.50/.5 oz.)
$0.31/oz. Mountain Rose Herbs Witch Hazel Extract ($5/16 oz.)

How do you feel about toner? What natural ingredients do you use?

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