January 9, 2013

homemade lavender toner

 i want to share with you one of my favorite skin care recipes- lavender toner. i have issues with my skin & breakouts are a regular occurrence. i followed my dermatologist’s orders for several years, but my skin would continue to breakout with only a few days of clear skin. 
i finally decided to shed myself of those old routines & fully immerse myself into affordable, natural skin care products. i visited with my friend, emma- a farmer & natural skin care extraordinaire – & with a barter of photography for skin care products, i began my new, all-natural regimen. 
my skin has never been happier. i wake up with an even skin tone & breakout only a few days a month, which i credit to stress & lack of water intake.
of course, interested in this topic & all things homemade, i began to experiment with my own recipes & ingredients. i have yet to master the wonderful foamy-ness of emma’s face wash & i will continue to support her no matter the recipes i create, but i made a comparable lavender toner that i would like to share with you today!
lavender skin toner
perfect for oily & normal skin types

ingredients:
– 1 heaping tablespoon lavender buds
– 1 cup witch hazel
– 8 drops lavender essential oil
supplies: 
– mason jar with lid
– bottle with cap, preferably dark for longer storage life
– funnel 
– cheesecloth

combine ingredients in a mason jar & screw on lid tightly. label jar with contents & date along with ready date (two weeks from the day you made the recipe). store in a dark, cool place for two weeks to steep.

each day, shake your toner vigorously. it should look like the photo above with tiny bubbles & foam.

after two weeks have passed, strain your lavender toner. wrap your cheesecloth around the funnel & place securely on top of the bottle. empty the toner into the bottle, allowing the liquid to pour into the bottle & your lavender buds to stay in the cheesecloth.
label your creation & store in your bathroom for daily use. no refrigeration is required & toner will last for up to six months.

to apply: after washing your face with a gentle face wash, apply the toner (approximately 1/2 teaspoon or so) using a cotton ball on your entire face, chin area & neck.
  
enjoy!

love,
natalie