Homemade Toners & Astringents

Since I've already given you some fantastic homemade face washes ~ both for oily & dry skin-types ~ I'd better give you some recipes for for homemade astringents for oily skin & toners for drier skin.

With my oily skin (even though I'm in my 50's), I love anything with tea tree essential oil in it. These astringents fill that bill ~

The basics of the 1st one actually came from the Aura Cacia site & then I tweaked it '-) . . .

Tea Tree/Lavender/Rosemary Astringent

You will need:
~1 TB rubbing alcohol
~1-1/2 ts vegetable glycerin
~10 drops tea tree essential oil
~10 drops lavender essential oil
~5 drops rosemary essential oil

Directions:
1) mix all ingredients, store in air-tight bottle
2) dampen a cotton ball & gently swipe across face in up-ward motions; avoid eyes & lips
3) This recipe lasts about 1 week

Chamomile/Mint Astringent

You will need:
~4 c. water
~2 heaping TB Chamomile
~2 heaping TB Mint

Directions:
1) put everything in a sauce pan & bring to a boil; boil for 20 minutes
2) let cool for 5 minutes
3) strain mixture through cheese cloth & into a jar or bottle w/a good lid
4) apply w/a cotton ball
5) this will last about 4-5 weeks; store in refrigerator

Now for the drier skins . . .

This recipe is also good for sunburned & chapped skin.

Lavender/Lemon balm/Milk

You will need:
~2/3 c milk
~1 TB dried lavender
~1 TB dried lemon balm

Directions:
1) Bring milk JUST to a boil
2) remove from heat & add herbs
3) cover, let cool
4) strain through cheese cloth into a bottle or jar w/a good lid
5) apply w/a cotton ball
6) store in refrigerator for up to a week

Luxurious White Wine/Rosemary/Thyme/Mint

You will need:
1) 1 c. white wine (any cheapy brand is fine ~ just like when making a tincture, the alcohol cooks away)
2) 1 ts dried rosemary
3) 1 ts dried thyme
4) 1 ts. dried mint

Directions:
~put all ingredients into a sauce pan & bring JUST to a boil;
~reduce heat a simmer for 10 minutes
~remove from heat; let herbs steep & cool down for 1 full hour
~strain through cheese cloth into a jar or bottle w/a good lid
~apply w/a cotton ball
~keeps indefinitely

When you try one, let me know how you LOVE it.

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><