Home
Remember that everyone's skin is different, and what worked for me will not work for everyone. That being said, I believe that this is one of the safer skincare routines available. Always use common sense whenever trying something new, and when in doubt discontinue use.
A little about my skin: extremely oily, mild to moderate acne, tends to get very dry and flaky in the winter time, a few scars from sports as well as acne, generally a dull complexion. I break out from most moisturizers, and certain shaving creams do the same. I would describe my skin as sensitive, as many products that are designed for oily skin tend to cause redness and over dry. I had very bad acne when I was younger, so it's quite possible I damaged my skin using strong BP products and prescription creams.
ACV Toner for a 16oz container (scale up or down as necessary)
- a little less than 4oz of Apple Cider Vinegar
- a little less than 12oz of water
- about .25 oz of Mint Extract
This is simply a 1:3 ACV to Water solution with a dash of Mint extract to knock back that offensive vinegar smell. I have used both raw, unfiltered, with the "Mother" ACV as well as the clear, filtered, and pasteurized ACV. Contrary to popular opinion, I found that for me the clear ACV worked better.
The kind I used most was (generic Target brand) Market Pantry Apple Cider Vinegar (clear, filtered, pasteurized one).
The mint extract I used was simply McCormick's Mint Extract.
Use
- Apply to a clean and dry face/neck with a cotton ball, allow to air-dry. Do not wash, wipe, or blot your face for at least 30 min to allow it to sink in. I repeat, DO NOT wash off after applying
- Apply twice a day, I use it before I go to bed at night and after shaving in the morning
What it did for me
- evened skin tone
- added a healthy glow
- moisturized without breaking out or greasiness
- after the initial breakout (more on this later), helps with acne
- slightly reduced oil production due to its astringent properties
- significantly reduced the appearance of oily skin due to overall healthier looking skin
Tips and other Info
- I experienced a breakout between during the second week of regular use. I attribute it to purging and your skin adapting to the toner. It was moderate at its worst, and was cleared up about 8 days later.
- The key to this toner is the ratio of ACV to water. Light flushing and redness may occur when applying, but if you face is red more than 15 minutes after applying then I strongly recommend reducing to a 1:4 ratio.
- There is not a linear relationship between the strength of the solution and its effectiveness. So stronger is not necessarily better. As stated before, your face should not remain red after it dries.
- This toner is great for balancing out problem skin, but it is not good at actually cleaning dirty skin. I recommend a gentle face wash or cleanser, I use Cetaphil Gentle Facial Cleanser when I shower, to clean sweat and dirt off your face and better combat acne.
Edited by CBIOT13, 06 January 2013 - 01:39 PM.
