Natural Skin Care ~ ACV Toner

I have been using a wonderful Natural Toner these days! I really love the way my skin feels after using it. This is a wonderful follow up to The Oil Cleansing Method.  I am happy to say that I make this myself so not only do I know EXACTLY whats in it, but its virtually free compared to the prices of many commercial facial toners.  All of the ingredients in this recipe serve a specific purpose for my own skin & demographics.  I encourage you to play around with it to develop your own concoction.  It is achievable.

Natural Skin Toner

2 oz Apple Cider Vinegar
6 oz Water
6 drops Tea Tree Oil
4 drops of Peppermint Oil

Apply with a cotton ball after cleansing daily and allow it to dry before applying a moisturizer. (I use it following Oil Cleansing) Can also be used in between cleansings.

Apple Cider Vinegar helps to soften my hard water by lowering the PH level which balances it for my skin. It also appears to assist with tightening the pores and with fading blemishes.
Tea Tree Oil is an astringent, antibacterial it cleanses the skin, soothes inflammation
Peppermint Oil makes my skin feel cool & tingly.  I have also read that it helps to control oil by decreasing its production. 

Read more about The Oil Cleansing Method
http://thesistahcafe.blogspot.com/2010/10/natural-skin-care-oil-cleansing-method.html
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Natural Skin Care - Oil Cleansing Method

I have been trying for a while to come up with a working alternative to my normal skin care routine. Just to give you a little background on my skin woes. I have been battling adult acne since my daughter was born. I am guessing that I had some sort of hormonal change after giving birth to her and it screwed up my skin. I have tried everything there is to control my outbreaks. I have been a Proactiv user for years but "Going Natural" with my hair has eventually led me to look for natural alternatives for my skin. Proactive worked for me in the beginning, but the more knowledgeable I have become about ingredients the more I wanted to try something new. For the past 8 weeks I have been using the Oil Cleansing Method. I can't remember where i first saw this method being discussed but it sounded like a great idea and I have nothing to lose so i did a little research. I found a great website http://www.theoilcleansingmethod.com/ among others that explained exactly what the method is and how it works. The jist of it is this. Instead of stripping all of the natural oils from your face like you do when using any of the popular commercial skin care regimens, why not try gently removing the impurities from your skin by massaging it with nutrient filled oils that are similar to the natural oils that your skin carries. This massage followed by a good steam to open the pores, leaves your skin feeling naturally soft, smooth & healthy. The website mentioned earlier will give more details behind why this method can work, so I'll let you go over there to read about it. I will go on to tell you what oils I chose for my concoction and why.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil ~ This is a thick and nutrient filled oil that is supposed to work well by adding vitamins A & E (antioxidants) to your skin. (5 parts)

Castor Oil ~ Is the actual cleansing part of this method its good for removing impurities. The oil is thick and carries the other oils. If you use too much of this, you could actually end up drying out your skin. (3 parts)

Jojoba Oil ~ This oil is light and is said to be the oil that matches our skins natural sebum most closely. It is very absorbant, so using it by itself would probably make your skin oily since it absorbs so fast. When you use it with the others though it becomes restorative (2 parts)

Tea Tree Oil ~ is an anti inflammatory as well as an antiseptic. Adding this soothes the skin and calms any outbreaks that you may have and it also helps to preserve the blend. (6 drops)

I blend all of this together and keep it in an air tight container and use it 2x a day as follows:

I pour a dime sized amount of the blended oils into the palm of my hand. I rub my hands together to emulsify the oils. This gets them nice and warm for my face. I then slowly massage my face.

I soak a wash cloth in hot water (careful! not too hot) and lay it on my face until it cools and then gently wipe. I do this 3x or until i feel the oil is wiped away sufficiently. I follow with a cool water rinse (to close the pours) as well as a homemade toner (recipe to come!)

This combination works perfectly for my oily skin. I have been using it for about 8 weeks and these are the things that i have noticed

~Increased elasticity in my skin (40+'ers will understand)

~Decreased amount of outbreaks

~Rapidly fading darkspots

~Skin "appears" blemish free

I believe that if I continue using this method that I may be able to restore my skin back to its former pre~baby lovelyness...and if not, I will certainly come back with updates! If you have used this method before, share your oil recipes!

Thanks for reading

Peace :-)