All-Natural DIY Face Toner

I first learned about face toner when I was a teenager struggling to clear up my acne. The friendly lady at the beauty counter told me that it would help remove impurities…and I was sold! But a face toner is more than a method to improve your skin.

The magical effects of a face toner

I was amazed at how well that toner cleared up my blemishes. But I was also in awe of how it shrunk my pores and removed extra gunk that my washcloth and soap didn’t pick up. 

Abra-cadabra. Check out the magical benefits of using a face toner:

• Toners improve the blemishes from acne-prone or oily skin.
• Using a toner removes extra impurities from heavy makeup, sunscreen or sweat that are not fully cleansed with a makeup remover, washcloth, or face cleanser. It even gets rid of chlorine or minerals present in tap water that get trapped in your pores!
• It removes oils and contaminants from skin which minimizes pores.
• A toner restores your skin’s natural pH balance. Skin is naturally acidic, but soap is typically alkaline. After washing your face, your skin works on overtime to regain normal pH levels; a toner speeds up that process.
• It works as a skin cleanser when you’re on the go. Can’t wash your face when you’re outside and sweaty? A quick swipe of a toner will revitalize your skin for the moment.

The major downfall with face toners

Am I convincing you yet that you should add a toner to your beauty regime? But this magical stuff has a major downfall…

After using my beloved toner for years, I learned that it contained numerous harsh chemicals – nooooo! The alcohol was clearing up my acne while creating other problems. I simply couldn’t live without my face toner so I was desperate to find a solution.

That’s when I decided to make a DIY face toner.

Key ingredients in an all-natural DIY face toner

I spent a few hours researching the best, all-natural ingredients to include in a toner or skincare regime. I easily discovered my key ingredients:

• Apple cider vinegar: A liquid made of fermented and crushed apples, popularly known as a detoxifying agent. 
• Witch hazel: A natural medicine made from the branches and leaves of a witch hazel plant. It contains tannins which help repair damaged skin, fight against bacteria, and reduce inflammation.
• Tea tree essential oil: Extract from an Australian plant. Used externally as an antiseptic. Highly effective in treating acne. Note: Not for internal consumption!
• Lavender essential oil: The oil from lavender plants. Commonly used as a soothing agent.
• Lemon essential oil: The extract from lemons. Often used to rejuvenate skin, fight bacteria, or clean toxins out of the body. 

How to make an all-natural DIY face toner!

I was spending more than $25 on a bottle of facial toner. Talk about a budget buster! I was relieved to realize that a homemade bottle of the same volume was significantly cheaper!

Here’s the breakdown of my expenses:

• Organic apple cider vinegar – $2.99 for 16.9 oz.
• Witch hazel –  $10.95 for 12 oz.
• Tea tree essential oil: $14.49 for 15mL
• Lavender essential oil: $22 for 15mL
• Lemon essential oil: $22 for 15mL

Total cost for all ingredients: $72.43

Total cost per batch: $9

Whoa! You’re probably thinking, “$73…That’s actually really expensive!” You’re right. The ingredients are expensive. However, do you know how many batches of toner those ingredients will make? More than 8!

That equals roughly $9 per batch. Ummm yeah, I couldn’t find an all-natural face toner for that price in the store!

You’ll get 8 batches out of the bottle of witch hazel! But you can make 11 out of the apple cider vinegar, and dozens out of the essential oils. I call that a win!

This is cheaper than the name brands, more friendly to your skin and quick to make!

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz apple cider vinegar (splurge for the organic)
• 1.5 oz witch hazel (the lavender scent is my favorite!)
• 6 drops of tea tree essential oil
• 3 drops of lavender essential oil
• 3 drops of lemon essential oil

Note: you can adjust the number of drops of essential oils based on how sensitive your skin is.

For a more potent toner, add 2 more drops of tea tree oil.

For a lighter toner, add 0.5 oz of witch hazel. Adjust your recipe for the next batch by only using 4 drops of tea tree oil and 4 drops of lavender oil.

Instructions:

1. Combine the apple cider vinegar and witch hazel into a bottle or jar.
2. Add in the drops of essential oils.
3. Close the bottle or jar and gently shake for 5 seconds to combine.

How to use you all-natural DIY face toner:

Recommended to use the toner twice daily (morning and night) after you wash your face with warm water and a cleanser. Then apply the toner to a cotton ball and swipe all over your face (be gentle to avoid your eyes). Apply a moisturizer after the toner dries.