Wednesday, August 5, 2009

TONER RECIPE FOR OILY SKIN TYPES

Here’s a recipe for an easy, inexpensive, and effective toner for oily, acne skin types you can make in your kitchen for less than a dollar. You may have to spend another dollar for a spray bottle with a cap but, of course, you can reuse the bottle many times. A cap is important to keep your sprayer sanitary between uses.

Remember, this homemade toner meets the acidic requirement for an effective toner and also provides an antioxidant bonus. I am a firm believer in using as many antioxidants and vitamins as possible in skincare products, in addition to taking them internally. There are plenty of people who argue that topical antioxidants and vitamins are a waste of time. I’ve found them to be very helpful. As proof of my theory I offer a close look at myself. I’m currently 62 years old have no lines or crows’ feet as you can see in my picture. (Knock on wood!) I truly believe that topical and internal supplements are a key element in our skin’s appearance.


Anyway, here goes:

NATURAL TONER FOR OILY, ACNE SKIN TYPES
Mix 8 ounces of distilled or filtered water with 1-2 teaspoons of unsweetened cranberry juice. Place mixture in a spray bottle and apply to face immediately after your second cleansing. A few drops of tea tree oil maybe added for antibacterial action on acne skin. Chilling your toner will be extra refreshing during the summer months.

Unsweetened cranberry juice is available from health stores or online. Using grocery store juice is not recommended.

Since you won’t be able to test acid levels of commercial toner before purchasing, I’ve included a list of ingredients to avoid when shopping for toner. Read labels carefully before purchasing any cosmetic product.

Alcohol
Artificial fragrance
Bergamot
Cedarwood oil
Cinnamon
Clove oil
Colors or dyes
Eucalyptus oil
Hydrogen peroxide
Lemon/lime oil
Lanolin
Menthol
Orange/Tangerine oil
Peppermint oil
Spearmint

Ingredients that are recommended in skincare products include:

Almond oil
Avocado oil
Chamomile
Grapeseed oil
Lavender
Olive oil
Salicyclic acid
Seaweed
Soy extracts
Vitamins
Vitamin E oil

Give it a try...what have you got to lose except paying for the packaging, marketing and hype of manufacturers.

In a future posts, I’ll include a recipe for a natural moisturizer for normal, dry skin types as well as product recommendations for OTC products.

Hugs,

Carolyn