Natural Face Toner
High quality sea salt isn't just good for accentuating flavor; it's also vital to our health. So it comes as no surprise that it's also good for our skin. Many years ago when I was in my early 20's, I was living in a humid climate and acquired a terrible rash. I went to a few doctors and dermatologists who gave me a bunch of lotions and potions. None of these helped. In fact, they made it worse. Instinctively one day, I put a solution of salt water on my rash. Guess what, the salt water worked a miracle that modern medicine couldn't touch. From that point on, I've been an advocate of using salt in skin care. Our skin has a delicate balance that relies on minerals, nutrients and bacteria - much like our gut. The acetic acid and bacteria in the apple cider vinegar used in this formula helps to balance the skin's pH, as well as encourage a healthy flora of bacteria. The salt helps to nourish, balance, hydrate and discourage bad bacteria. I often say, don't put anything on your skin that you wouldn't eat. Your body will absorb whatever you put on it. While you likely won't want to consume this toner, there's nothing in it that's harmful for your beautiful self.
Natural Face Toner
1 1/2 cups non-chlorinated warm water
1/2 tsp. sea salt
1 Tbsp. organic, raw apple cider vinegar
1. Mix together in a pint size jar.
2. Dip a cloth, cotton ball or pad into the solution.
3. Gently rub over your face and neck to cleanse.
4. Do not wash off.
5. If desired, use a healthy oil or fat, to moisturize your skin after it has dried.
NOTES
If you have oily skin you can reduce the amount of water and increase the amount of vinegar. If your skin is dry or sensitive, you can reduce the amount of vinegar. Start with the recipe above and increase the amount of apple cider vinegar as you determine how your skin reacts.
Interestingly, salt can be helpful in hydration, but too much can actually have the reverse effect. Because of that, you may need to adjust the salt according to your skin type. If your skin is still producing too much oil, go ahead and increase the amount of salt. If your skin feels too dry, you can reduce the amount of salt. Again, start with the solution above and use it 1-2 times a day, to get a sense for how to adjust it for your skin type.
Salt contains over 60 trace minerals that are important for skin health. Using salt in our skin care routine can help address acne issues, rashes and dry skin. It can also aid in closing pores, balancing oil production and fighting off harmful bacteria. The skin has a delicate microbiome. Many cleansers actually do more harm than good. Over cleansing our skin disrupts the delicate acid mantle that protects our skin. Then, we feel like we have to buy expensive lotions and potions to address the problem we actually caused with expensive cleanser. The best skin care is simple and inexpensive.
You can keep this solution in a spray bottle to spritz and freshen your skin during the day. For more refreshment, keep the spray bottle in the fridge.
If desired, add 3-4 drops of essential oil, making sure to shake the solution to redistribute oil before using.
I mentioned using an oil, or a fat for moisturizer. I like to use a mixture of whipped beef tallow and olive oil. I know a lot of people use coconut oil on their face, but it makes me break out. Some people like to use straight extra virgin olive oil; whatever you choose, I echo my advice above, try to avoid putting anything on your skin that you wouldn't eat. Your skin is very absorbent and it will end up inside of you!
Beef tallow is loaded with vitamins- notably D and E- and antioxidants. It contains CLA which is thought to have anti-cancer properties. It's a healthy fat, which is so critical for the health of our skin. I could go on and on, but basically, animal based fats are much closer to the genetic make-up of your skin than any list of chemicals and unnatural ingredients in most moisturizers. Beef tallow contains nourishing properties that plant based oils do not, so sorry to my vegetarian/vegan friends:( Uniquely, of all animal fats, beef tallow is the most structurally similar to our own human skin. In short, you need this! If you don't have access to beef tallow to make your own balm, or would rather purchase moisturizer, I highly suggest this tallow balm.
If you feel like you need more to clean off make-up, I suggest cleansing with oil, rather than a harsh cleanser. It sounds counter intuitive to clean skin with oil, especially if you're prone to oily skin, but it can actually help balance your skin's oil production. Experiment with different kinds. Again, I know some people use coconut oil, but it does not agree with my skin. As, I don't wear much make-up, I don't usually need anything more than this toner to cleanse my skin.
If you wear mascara, I suggest trying castor oil, coconut oil, or extra virgin olive oil to remove the mascara. As a bonus, all these oils have a reputation for helping to re-grow and thicken eyelashes. So whether you wear mascara, or not, you may want to give your eyelashes a quick application of one of these oils before bed.