How To Make Toner In Your Kitchen For Under $1

Apple cider vinegar is the perfect ingredient to use in your DIY homemade toner–it’s cheap and great for your skin.

To be honest, I didn’t even know what toner was until about six months ago–I’m a pretty low-maintenance girl when it comes to my skincare. But as part of my resolutions to take better care of myself, I’ve started paying more attention to my skin, which is a body part that has only ever treated me well. There are tons and tons of toners available to buy, but I switched over from an overpriced brand to a homemade version using apple cider vinegar three months ago and I haven’t looked back. It now costs me pennies to make my own, and I’ve noticed a marked difference in my skin.

Toner helps to balance out the pH levels of your skin, and if you run oily or dry, it will keep both issues in check. It’s easy to work into your skin routine–simply wash your face, apply your toner, moisturize, and go. The benefits have been overwhelming–my skin is prone to dry patches which have all but disappeared. I also occasionally get single, annoying blemishes that I cake with concealer, and those have calmed down significantly. I’d say they’ve decreased by at least 80%, and when I do break out, the pimples disappear much more quickly than in my pre-toner days.

Here’s the simple, two-ingredient toner I’ve been making at home:

• 1 part raw organic Apple Cider Vinegar
• 3 parts water

Put them into a little jar, shake it up, and call it a day. I usually go through a batch every two weeks, but since it takes approximately seven seconds to make a new batch, it’s something I almost never have to think about.

One thing to note is that the balance of 25% ACV works great for me, but you might want to experiment a bit with the strength of your solution. Use this recipe as a jumping-off point, and you can increase the ACV as needed.

I can’t help but sing the amazing praises of apple cider vinegar, which I use for a number of health and beauty-related purposes. In addition to its myriad health benefits, ACV can be used in your hair, as a way to get rid of bad breath, a bath soak, mixed into a facial mask, to help with sunburns, and treat acne. And at around $5 for a bottle of ACV that will get me about 20 batches, you’re looking at spending less than a dollar on toner every month.

I’ve heard people say they’re too nervous about the smell of ACV to try it, but I can assure you that it’s a non-issue. Yes, pure ACV does come with a vinegar-y scent, but once it’s diluted and on your skin (and not to mention, covered with moisturizer), you can’t smell a thing. I even made my boyfriend come up to my face and see if he could smell the ACV. He looked at me really weirdly but promised me he couldn’t detect anything.

This toner is cheap, easy, and has changed my skin more noticeably than I could have anticipated. I won’t be going back to store-bought toners any time soon–what I can make in my own kitchen for pennies is far better than anything I can buy in a store.

Photo: Avesun/Shutterstock