Toners are an essential part of a skincare regimen. They help to remove traces of makeup and dirt that may be left on your skin after washing and they prepare your skin for the next step in your regimen. Also they could be soothing, moisturizing or exfoliating, depending on the formulation.
Store bought toners are great but you can get a lot of benefits from natural ones as well. Here are three recipes for home-made toners for beautiful skin that you can make using very simple ingredients. They are very easy to make too.
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Rice Water Toner (best for normal to oily skin)
This is an ancient Chinese recipe for clear skin. Rice water is good for tightening the pores and for fighting acne. It also has antioxidant properties that work to reduce the signs of ageing. With consistent use, you’ll find that your skin is clearer and smoother.
How to make: Put some rice (any long grain rice) into a bowl, rinse properly to remove all traces of dirt and particles. Soak the rice in clean water for two hours, swirl it around every few minutes to really get the nutrients out. After two hours, the water should look cloudy. Drain the water into a clean bottle and refrigerate.
To use: soak a piece of cotton wool with the rice water and apply on freshly washed face twice a day. Make a fresh batch weekly.
(Photo: Helloglow.co)
2. Aloe Vera & Green Tea Toner (suitable for all skin types)
This is our favourite of the home-made toners for beautiful skin. This simple toner made up of just Aloe vera, green tea and water has amazing benefits for your skin. Aloe vera has great moisturizing properties, and it soothes sunburnt skin. It also fights acne and lightens blemishes. Green tea is rich in anti-oxidants and vitamin C. It minimizes large pores, and brightens the skin. It could also help with preventing ageing.
How to make: Steep one or two green teabags in a cup of hot water for ten minutes. Once the tea cools, remove the teabags. Add one tablespoon of aloe vera gel into the tea and stir thoroughly. Pour the mixture into a bottle and refrigerate.
To use: soak a piece of cotton wool with the mixture and apply to freshly washed face twice a day. You should make a fresh batch weekly.
(Photo: naturallivingideas.com)
3. Cucumber And Lemon Toner (for nomal to oily skin)
Cucumbers are rich in vitamin C which brightens the skin and caffeic acid which soothes irritated skin. Lemon is high in citric acid which exfoliates the skin and lightens dark spots. Lemon also clears the pores and can be really great for fighting acne. A combination of both will give you clear glowing skin.
How to make: Get 1/3 of a medium sized cucumber and grate into a bowl. Squeeze half of a lemon into the same bowl and mix properly. Next, using a cheesecloth, sieve the mixture into a different bowl. You’ll have to press to extract all the juice, and afterwards transfer the liquid into a bottle. Keep refrigerated and use only at night on freshly washed face.
(Photo: Glowpink.com)
Before using any of these recipes, please do a patch test first. And remember to make a fresh batch every week. Did you know that you can use lemons to grow your hair? Find out here.