DIY Face Toner Recipe with Essential Oils: Quick & Easy Steps for Glowing Skin
Are you looking for a natural and affordable way to up your skincare game? Look no further! Creating a DIY face toner with essential oils is an excellent way to help improve your skin’s appearance and overall health. Homemade toners offer a wide range of benefits, such as removing dirt, balancing your skin’s pH levels, and providing hydration. The best part is that you can customize your face toner based on your skin’s needs by choosing essential oils that work best for you.
By making a facial toner at home, you have complete control over the ingredients, ensuring that you are only using natural and safe products on your skin. Essential oils are a great addition to your homemade toner recipe, as they can help target specific skin concerns and also provide pleasant and calming scents. For example, tea tree oil works wonders for acne-prone skin, while lavender oil can soothe sensitive or irritated skin.
Now that you know the benefits of creating your own face toner with essential oils, it’s time to gather your ingredients and get started!
Remember, feel free to experiment with different essential oils to find the perfect blend for your unique skin type and concerns.
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Why Use a DIY Face Toner with Essential Oils
Creating your own DIY face toner with essential oils offers numerous benefits to your skincare routine. For starters, you have complete control over the ingredients used, ensuring that your toner is tailored to your specific skin needs and preferences. By choosing natural, high-quality components, you can avoid potentially harmful chemicals found in some commercial toners.
Essential oils make great additions to face toners due to their various skin-related properties. For example, lavender essential oil is known for its calming and soothing effects, while frankincense essential oil can help rejuvenate and tighten the skin. Additionally, essential oils often provide delightful fragrances that can make your skincare routine feel like a spa experience.
Besides the benefits from essential oils, incorporating other natural ingredients like witch hazel and aloe vera can simplify your toner recipe while amplifying its skin-nourishing effects. Witch hazel acts as a gentle astringent that helps tighten pores, while aloe vera works to soothe and hydrate the skin.
In your spray bottle, combine the witch hazel, rose water, essential oils, and vitamin E oil. Shake well to mix the ingredients. To apply, spritz the toner onto your face or use a cotton pad.
By making your own face toner with essential oils, you are not only personalizing your skincare routine but also avoiding potentially harmful ingredients found in some store-bought products. Embrace the opportunity to create a natural, skin-friendly toner that’s perfect for your needs.
Benefits of Homemade Face Toners
Homemade face toners offer several advantages for your skin. For one, they are alcohol-free, which makes them gentle and suitable for all skin types. By creating your own toner, you can ensure that it’s free of harsh chemicals and tailor it to your specific needs.
One popular natural toner ingredient is rose water. Not only does it carry a pleasant aroma, but it also provides soothing and anti-inflammatory properties.
Another excellent option is rice water, which has been used for centuries in Asian skincare routines. Packed with vitamins and minerals, rice water has various benefits for your skin, such as brightening, tightening, and reducing redness.
Incorporating essential oils into your homemade facial toner can provide extra benefits. For example, adding tea tree oil can give your face toner acne-fighting properties, while lavender oil calms and soothes the skin. Frankincense oil is another excellent essential oil for skincare, known for its anti-inflammatory properties and ability to improve skin elasticity.
To enhance your DIY face toner, consider adding vitamins like vitamin E and vitamin C. Vitamin E deeply nourishes and moisturizes, while vitamin C offers antioxidant and brightening properties. Including these vitamins in your homemade toner will help improve your skin’s overall health and appearance.
Vitamin E can also act as a natural preservative to help your toner last longer.
Choosing the Right Essential Oils for Your Skin Type
Selecting the right essential oils for your skin type is crucial when creating a DIY face toner. Knowing the properties of different essential oils can help you achieve desired results. Here are some essential oils that can be used according to your skin type:
Please note that you should never use fragrance oils in your facial care products. Fragrance oils are nothing more than perfume and can contain ingredients that can actually damage your skin.
Make sure you are using a 100% pure essential oil. I prefer doTERRA brand and have that brand available in my shop if you need to pick something up.
Dry Skin:
If you have dry skin, consider using these essential oils in your toner:
- Frankincense essential oil: Known for its soothing and healing properties, making it suitable for dry and aging skin.
- Lavender essential oil: A versatile oil that benefits all skin types, especially for its calming and hydrating effects.
- Geranium essential oil: Helps to balance the skin’s natural oils and can reduce inflammation.
Oily Skin:
For oily skin, these essential oils can help balance and purify:
- Tea tree essential oil: Possesses powerful antibacterial properties, perfect for oily and acne-prone skin.
- Cypress essential oil: Helps to tighten and tone the skin, reducing the appearance of pores.
Normal Skin:
If you have normal skin, the following essential oils can maintain balance and overall skin health:
- Lavender essential oil: A universal oil, with calming and soothing benefits, suits all skin types.
- Cypress essential oil: Provides a rejuvenating effect and helps to tone the skin.
Acne-prone Skin:
For acne-prone skin, consider these essential oils to help clear the complexion:
- Tea tree essential oil: Its antibacterial properties make it a popular choice for reducing acne.
- Geranium essential oil: Has anti-inflammatory properties and can help soothe irritated skin.
- Lavender essential oil: Its calming and healing effects work well on acne-prone skin too.
Experimenting with different combinations of these essential oils can lead you to a personalized DIY face toner that best suits your skin type. Just remember to dilute essential oils with a carrier oil or witch hazel before applying them to the skin, and you’ll be on your way to healthier, more radiant skin.
Base Ingredients for DIY Face Toners
I provide a base recipe below that uses Witch Hazel as the base ingredient. You can use that recipe as is, or feel free to experiment with that and use some of these other ingredients. Choose what your skin will respond best to.
When creating your own DIY face toner with essential oils, there are a few base ingredients that you should consider incorporating to achieve a customized and effective skincare product.
First, let’s talk about witch hazel. This natural astringent is beneficial for removing excess oil and impurities, which helps to minimize the appearance of pores and keep your skin feeling fresh. You can easily add witch hazel to your toner by including it as one of the main liquid components. This is the one I use in my toner:
- 100% All Natural Witch Hazel Since 1854
Aloe vera is another popular base component, is known for its soothing and healing properties. It works wonders for calming irritated skin, reducing redness, and hydrating your face. To create a toner with aloe vera, simply combine fresh aloe gel with your choice of essential oils.
Be sure to use an aloe vera that has minimal ingredients. Many popular brands at the big box stores have lots of stuff in them that isn’t aloe.
I love this one. It costs a bit more but it’s worth it to not have all those other ingredients that can’t be pronounced.
- Highest Quality – to ensure freshness our Aloe is proudly grown here in Southern Texas. NSF Organic & IASC Certified.
Green tea, rich in antioxidants, can help protect your skin from environmental stressors and prevent premature aging. You can create a green tea toner by brewing a strong cup of green tea and allowing it to cool before adding your selected essential oils. Use organic if possible so your skin isn’t absorbing unwanted toxins.
Apple cider vinegar is another beneficial ingredient, especially for those with acne-prone skin. Its antibacterial properties can help keep your skin clear and balanced. Be cautious when using apple cider vinegar; too much can be harsh on your skin. Start with a small amount and adjust as needed.
Finally, consider incorporating a hydrosol into your toner. A hydrosol is a water-based solution that contains the therapeutic properties of a plant or essential oil. Popular hydrosols include rose water and lavender water. Adding a hydrosol gives your toner an extra boost of skin benefits and a pleasant scent.
I LOVE adding Rose Hydrosol! (aka Rose water) This is the one I use:
- THERAPEUTIC BENEFITS: Used topically, Rose Hydrosol can help quench thirsty skin, supporting the look of revitalize skin and promote a radiant appearance. The gentle rose aroma is also great to spray on linens and pillowcases so you can experience feelings of relaxation and peace.
If you prefer Lavender Hydrosol, I recommend the same brand as the Rose. I’ve linked it here for you:
- THERAPEUTIC BENEFITS: A great go-to for a good night’s rest, Lavender Hydrosol can help promote mind and body relaxation when used before going to bed. Great to support healthy skin, it can also help soothe discomfort from occasional redness, irritation, bug bites, sunburns, and more.
I encourage you to choose base ingredients that best suit your skin needs and personal preferences. you can create an effective and custom DIY face toner with essential oils that will help keep your skin looking radiant and healthy.
Adding Extra Benefits to Your Toner
Enhancing your DIY face toner with essential oils not only adds pleasant scents but also provides a variety of skincare benefits. By choosing the right essential oils and other natural ingredients, you can improve your skin’s appearance and health.
One way to boost the effectiveness of your toner is to incorporate anti-inflammatory properties. Essential oils like lavender and chamomile can help soothe sensitive skin and reduce redness. By mixing these oils with witch hazel or rose water, you can create a toner that reduces irritation and evens out skin tone.
Antioxidants are crucial for protecting your skin against free radicals and environmental stressors that cause premature aging. Some essential oils, such as rose, have antioxidant properties that can be added to your toner. A few drops of vitamin E oil can also help enhance your toner’s antioxidant content and improve your skin’s overall health.
For a moisturizing and hydrating effect, consider adding vegetable glycerin or hyaluronic acid to your toner. These ingredients can help lock in moisture and keep your skin feeling soft and supple.
Anti-aging benefits can be achieved with essential oils like frankincense and rosehip, which promote cell regeneration, reduce wrinkles, and even out age spots. You can add a few drops of these oils to your toner for a rejuvenating effect.
To help reduce redness, try using essential oils like tea tree or lavender in your toner. They can help calm inflamed skin and promote a more even complexion.
Finally, to create a toner that helps alleviate stress, incorporate calming essential oils like lavender or ylang-ylang. These scents help soothe the senses and promote relaxation.
Remember, always do a patch test first before trying a new essential oil on your skin. Customize your DIY face toner with essential oils and other natural ingredients to suit your specific skincare needs. Happy toning!
Creating Your DIY Face Toner Recipe
Creating your own DIY face toner can be a fun and cost-effective way to take care of your skin. With just a few ingredients and a bit of experimentation, you can formulate a toner that’s perfect for your skin type. In this section, we’ll go over the basics of making a face toner with essential oils and provide some guidance on choosing the right ingredients.
First, you’ll need to gather your ingredients. Common ingredients for a DIY toner include:
- Essential oils (such as lavender, frankincense, or tea tree oil) note: no fragrance oils
- Alcohol-free witch hazel
- Aloe Vera – make sure to use one with minimal ingredients
- Vitamin E oil
- Hydrosols (floral waters)
- Distilled water
- Glass spray bottle – Never use plastic when using essential oils.
I use these 4 oz glass spray bottles for my face toner:
- ★DESIGN FEATURES – Solid amber small glass spray bottle, Empty, Refillable, Leak proof, UV Protection
Once you’ve chosen your ingredients, it’s time to formulate your toner.
Start by adding a few drops of your chosen essential oils to a glass spray bottle. The number of drops will depend on your personal preference and the strength of the particular essential oil you’re using.
Experiment with different combinations until you find a scent and strength that works best for your skin. I recommend starting with about 15 drops of essential oil.
Next, add your witch hazel, or aloe base to your essential oils. If you want to include a hydrosol or vitamin E oil in your toner, add them at this stage as well. Shake the bottle well to mix the ingredients.
When filling your glass bottle with toner, leave a small amount of space at the top to prevent any spillage or overflowing when you close the lid. Remember to seal the bottle tightly after each use to avoid contamination from external factors like bacteria, dust or air exposure.
To store and use your DIY toner, keep it in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight. Your bathroom medicine cabinet is perfect! Shake the bottle before each use to ensure the essential oils are distributed evenly.
To apply the toner, spray it onto a cotton pad or clean hands, then gently swipe it across your face.
Keep in mind that essential oils could cause irritation for sensitive skin. Always patch test the toner on a small area of your skin and wait at least 24 hours to ensure there are no adverse reactions. If you experience any irritation or discomfort, discontinue use and consider adjusting your recipe or consulting with a healthcare professional.
Ingredients
- 4 oz glass spray bottle
- 15 drops essential oil (ex: lavender, frankincense, geranium, tea tree) combine oils for a total of 15 drops
- 1 oz witch hazel approx 2 tablespoons
- 1 tsp vitamin e oil (optional)
- 2 tbsp rose water
- 3 oz distilled water
Instructions
- Add essential oils to your glass spray bottle
- Add the witch hazel, optional rose water and vitamin e oil to your glass spray bottle.
- Top off the spray bottle with the distilled water. Be sure to leave space at the top to allow for the dropper so you don't overflow and waster your essential oils.
- Gently shake to mix.
- Spray on face after cleansing and before serums and moisturizer. Be sure to gently shake before using to make sure all ingredients are combined.
By experimenting with different DIY toner ingredients and formulations, you can create a customized face toner that meets your skincare needs, while enjoying the process of personalizing your skincare routine. Happy crafting!
How to Use Your Homemade Facial Toner
Before applying your DIY facial toner with essential oils, make sure you’ve cleansed your face thoroughly. You can use your favorite cleanser to remove excess dirt and makeup. Gently wash your skin with warm water and the cleanser, using your hands or a washcloth.
Once your face is clean, it’s time to apply the homemade toner. Shake the liquid well to ensure the essential oils and other ingredients are mixed evenly. You have a few options for application, depending on your preferences:
- Spritz method: Transfer the toner to a spray bottle and spritz it onto your face, neck, and chest. This works great for those looking for a quick and easy application.
- Cotton pad method: Pour a small amount of the toner onto a cotton pad. Gently wipe your face, neck, and chest with the cotton pad. This method is useful if you want to have more control over the application and ensure proper coverage.
After applying the toner, give it about a minute to sink into your skin. This allows your skin to absorb the beneficial properties of the essential oils and other ingredients.
Once the toner has been absorbed, you can continue with your regular skin care routine.
I use THIS DIY SERUM recipe which I cannot go without.
After the serum, apply a moisturizer to lock in hydration and keep your skin looking its best. I use this hydrating cream and am in love it it.
Remember, the key to a successful skin care routine is consistency. Aim to use your homemade facial toner with essential oils daily, ideally in the morning and evening.
With regular use, you’ll start to notice improvements in your skin’s overall appearance and feel.
Enjoy your newly refreshed and revitalized complexion!
How to Store and Preserve Your Toner
Storing and preserving your DIY face toner properly is essential for maintaining its effectiveness and quality. Here are some simple steps to follow in order to keep your toner fresh and ready to use.
First, always use a glass bottle to store your toner, as it prevents any harmful chemicals from leaching into the toner, unlike some plastic bottles. It also prolongs the shelf life and maintains the potency of the essential oils. Make sure to choose a dark-colored glass bottle, such as amber or cobalt blue, to protect your toner from sunlight, which can cause the essential oils to degrade more quickly.
To further extend your toner’s shelf life, consider adding a preservative to the mixture. While not always necessary, a natural preservative like vitamin E helps protect the toner and keep it fresh for a longer period of time.
Be sure to label your toner bottle, including the ingredients you used, the date it was made, and any usage instructions. This information can be useful if you have several DIY skincare products, need to share it with someone else, or just want to keep track of your homemade creations.
Lastly, store your toner in a cool, dark place, away from direct sunlight or heat sources. This not only helps to protect the essential oils from degradation but also ensures that the toner remains effective throughout its shelf life.
By following these simple storage and preservation tips, you can ensure that your DIY face toner with essential oils stays fresh, potent, and effective for your skincare routine.
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Dawn Goehring
Dawn Goehring is the founder of Desert Naturals where she writes educational articles on essential oils, DIY’s on natural beauty products, homemade cleaners, and provides related essential oil accessories like planners, trackers, tshirts, and custom designed essential oil storage. She has been featured in articles on Porch.com, Redfin.com, MommyOnPurpose and more.
Dawn has earned an aromatherapist degree and has earned a doTERRA essential oil specialist certification which is a fancy way of saying she has learned a lot about the chemistry of essential oils and how they work in the body.
Hello. Looking forward to trying this! What is the approximate shelf life?
Hi Tanessa, great question! Any time you add water to a homemade product, there is a chance for microbial growth. However, the vitamin E and Essential Oils acts as a natural preservative. Without those, I recommend keeping it in the refrigerator and it will last around 1 – 2 weeks possible longer. With the Essential Oils and/or Vitamin E, it should last anywhere from 3 – 6 months stored out of direct sunlight in a cool, dry place. You could also use all rose water and skip the water and it should last several months. If you notice it changing texture, color or scent, discontinue using it and throw it out.
Thank you for the information you share on this website. It’s helpful for me and a loved one as we’re looking for useful information that can guide us in our skincare needs.