Natural Skin Toner

Disclaimer: This information is in no way intended to be a substitute for modern medical care. Do not self-treat any medical complaint without the guidance of a licensed health care provider.

      Anyone with dry, sensitive skin knows that a thorough cleansing is best followed by the application of a cream or lotion to help trap moisture in the skin. For an even more effective moisture treatment, include a toner in your daily facial routine as well. Toners can neutralize any remaining traces of a cleansing lotion, help stimulate the skin after cleansing and help maintain a protective acidic coating on the skin, which is a natural combatant to germs such as bacteria. Because drying can cause cracking and other skin damage, using a toner is an especially important skin-care step for people with dry skin. As a bonus, customizing your toner with botanical extracts and oils is simple.
      Compresses of chilled toner help soothe swollen, reddened eyes: Dampen 2 cotton pads well with toner, lie down with your head slightly elevated and place pads on your closed eyes for about 10 minutes.

Cooling Care for the Skin
      Cool compresses made from botanical toners may help to ease skin reddening caused by heat, chapping or sunburn. Perhaps more importantly, a toner will restore the skin's elasticity and suppleness when it's exposed to wind, UV rays or high temperatures.

Application
      Use toner regularly each morning and again in the evening after cleansing, but before moisturizing. Dampen a cotton pad with toner and use it to moisten your face, neck and upper chest. If necessary, you can apply toner several times each day; it's especially good if you've been perspiring heavily.

Rose Water for Delicate Skin
      Produced when extracting the essential oil of rose, rose water is a good base for a toner. It is added to many skin-care products because of its tightening, invigorating effect. Used alone, rose water nourishes the skin and helps make it stay soft and silky.

Orange-blossom Water for Gentle Refreshing
      Like rose water, orange-blossom water is a by-product of the essential oil extraction process. Made when producing neroli oil, it is mildly astringent and helps restore suppleness and vitality, which are often lacking in mature skin.

Preserving Toner
      Homemade toners will keep for about six months. During the summer, it is advisable to store them in the refrigerator to preserve their freshness. Manufacturers add alcohol to their recipes to extend the shelf-life of commercial toners and astringents. When making a toner at home, it is best to avoid using alcohol in your blends. Alcohol is particularly irritating to sensitive and dry skin because it removes the oils that protect the skin. For a natural preservative, try using vinegar - especially mild cider vinegar - in your homemade toners instead. Just add a few drops of vinegar to your toner mix; be sure to shake well before using.

Rose Toner

Pour all ingredients into a dark glass bottle and shake well before each use. The everlasting oil protects against damage from irritation and inflammation and supports the natural functions of your skin. Lavender essential oil prevents cracking and heals minor inflammations. It also helps relieve itching and is very good for cases of eczema.

Elderflower Toner

      This toner is especially good for thirsty, dehydrated skin.       Dissolve the honey in the elderflower glycerite and pour into a 4-oz. dark glass bottle; add the rose and orange-blossom waters.
      Shake the blend well before each use. Components in the elderflowers, when combined with honey, act as a humectant, which means that they help draw moisture from the air to the skin. This makes them particularly well-suited for sensitive skin. Honey also helps alleviate parched, flaky skin.

Patchouli Toner

      For mature, sensitive or environmentally damaged complexions, blend patchouli essential oil in lemon-balm glycerite.
      Top it off with rose water and pour it into a 4-oz. dark glass bottle.
      Shake before each use. This blend is ideal for chapped skin.

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Sources:
      All information provided in this article is the result of research using (but not limited to) the following books and guides: Herbs for Health and Healing, Rodale; Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs, Scott Cunningham; Magical Herbalism, Scott Cunningham; The Complete Guide to Natural Healing, International Masters Publishers; Earthway, Mary Summer Rain; Teach Yourself Herbs, Susie White; Natural Beauty from the Garden, Janice Cox; Nature's Prescriptions, Editors of FC&A Medical Publishing, and The People's Pharmacy Guide to Home and Herbal Remedies, Joe Graedon and Theresa Graedon, Ph.D