Toner vs. Astringent
If you’ve heard of the terms “toner” or “astringent” you may be wondering, What is the difference?
Toners are typically lotions or washes that are designed to further cleanse the (facial) skin and reduce the appearance of pores.
Astringents are stronger than toners, and are typically alcohol-based. For this reason, they are suggested for use on oily skin to fully cleanse away the oils.
My recommendation, however, is to always avoid astringents – even if you have oily skin!
Why?
The more we harshly strip away our skin’s natural oils(sebum) with alcohol, the more our skin will want to compensate and in turn actually produce more oil! It’s a never ending cycle!
Alcohol-free toners are our better option, but the best option would be to make it yourself! That way, we know exactly what it is made with and can also customize it to our exact skin needs!
Better yet, you may(I hope) already have these three ingredients right there in your kitchen and/or bathroom!
Using Apple Cider Vinegar(ACV) with the Mother in its organic, raw, unfiltered, and un-distilled state as the base for our facial toner will give us many amazing benefits. Make sure you are always diluting ACV with water when using on the skin or taking internally because of its potency!
ACV:
- Fights pimples, acne, and blemishes with its malic acid that creates a potent antibacterial, anti-fungal and antiviral shield to keep bacteria at bay
- Balances your skin’s PH, cleansing and keeping skin from getting too oily or too dry
- Draws out toxins when used regularly, and helps maintain a youthful glow
- Helps reduce age spots with its alpha hydroxy acids that remove dead skin cells and reveal vibrant new skin
- Reduces fine lines and wrinkles
DIY Facial Toner
1.5 oz Organic Apple Cider Vinegar with Mother (raw, unfiltered, un-distilled)
1.5 oz Reverse Osmosis or Purified Water
6 drops Tea Tree Essential Oil (Melaleuca Alternifolia, 100% pure, therapeutic-grade)
Optional to calm sensitive skin: 3 drops Lavender Essential Oil (Lavandula Angustifolia, 100% pure, therapeutic-grade)
- Combine all ingredients in a clean, spray top bottle.
- Mist on clean fingers or cloth and dab on face and neck. Alternatively, you can directly mist the face and neck from 8+” if you keep eyes, mouth, etc closed.
- Finish with a moisturizer.
- For spot treatment, hold on concentrated area for a few seconds and skip the moisturizer on those areas.
- That’s it!
Tip: I re-used an old 4oz toner bottle I already had, and generally use my fingers or mist my whole face and pat. Try to skip the one-time-use cotton items to be free of waste!
Sustain the Mane 