Apple Cider Vinegar for Skin + DIY Toner Recipe
People have been spouting the benefits of apple cider vinegar (ACV) for years now, but it was only recently that I decided to incorporate it into my skin care. After having a baby, my hormones were all out of whack, and blemishes were popping up left, right, and centre. Along with a few other changes to my skin care routine (which I’ll talk about in an upcoming post), I started pouring ACV into my homemade toner recipe. The results from that alone were fantastic - my blemishes cleared up, my old spots faded, pores became smaller, and my skin overall looked brighter!
Now, I have dehydrated-oily skin with a predisposition to larger pores and blemishes. If you have my skin type, then great - apple cider vinegar MAY work wonders for you too! If you don’t, I have no idea how things will go down should you try it in your toner. But you can make one that’s extremely diluted with water, and start from there. The scent is overpowering, so starting with small amounts is probably for the best.
In a quick nutshell, using apple cider vinegar works because its slightly acidic pH level is very similar to our skin's naturally acidic pH level. This slight acidity is often disrupted by the too-alkaline cleansers we use, so including ACV in your after-cleanse routine helps to rebalance your skin’s pH. It also just happens to kill bacteria, remove excess oil and dirt, and helps to dissolve dead skin cells - and who doesn’t want that in their skincare routine?
To make a simple toner with apple cider vinegar (for oily/acne-prone skin), here’s a quick diagram I drew up:
Basically, you want to put (at most) 1 part ACV to 2 parts distilled water. You can substitute or add rose water, or alcohol-free witch hazel for the distilled water, as well as a few drops of essential oils, if you like. I've been playing around with mine for a while now, and for those of you who'd rather just purchase an all natural toner, I'll be unveiling them for my line, AIKI SKIN, in a few months time, once my recipes are perfected. I should also point out though, that if you are making your own, these homemade recipes don't include preservatives, which are needed for water-added products in order to protect them from mold, fungi, and other bacteria, so make small batches that you replace every month or so (most essential oils offer some bacteria-fighting properties, which can offer protection during this limited time frame).
To use your toner, spray or put some on a cotton pad and gently massage it in circular motions on your skin after you've cleansed it. This will act as a gentle exfoliator as well, helping to get rid of any leftover dirt/oil/makeup and dead skin cells, while prepping it for your next step - moisturizer (like AIKI SKIN's Face Oil)!
Anyway, hope you enjoyed this post! For more like it or to learn more about apple cider vinegar for skin or its other benefits, check out the links below:
- https://intothegloss.com/2015/06/ph-balance-of-skin/
- http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-13304/how-i-cured-my-acne-with-apple-cider-vinegar.html
- https://authoritynutrition.com/6-proven-health-benefits-of-apple-cider-vinegar/
- http://mamavation.com/2015/01/25-ways-apple-cider-vinegar-will-change-life.html
- Teenna