Essential Oil Alternatives: Face Toner DIY
Restoring the skin’s natural balance doesn’t have to come at the cost of stripping your skin of vital nutrients. Too many over-the-counter facial products are laced with perfumes, alcohol or synthetics that actually lead to more serious skin issues.
Chemicals of concern
Many store-bought toners include SD alcohol 40 (or denatured alcohol) and acetone, both of which can have toxic effects. “SD” stands for “specially denatured” and is a combination of ethanol and other chemicals to make it undrinkable.
Acting as an cosmetic astringent and antimicrobial agent, SD alcohol has been broadly listed as a toxic agent according to the EWG. Other health concerns associated with SD alcohol include organ system toxicity, enhanced skin absorption and developmental toxicity. Through skin penetration, SD alcohol may even transport to the blood stream onto more susceptible organs, making it a possible carcinogen.
Acetone is typically added to over-the-counter facial toners as a solvent. Not only can acetone irritate the skin, eyes and lungs, it can also lead to neurotoxicity and organ toxicity. In the European Union, acetone is classified as an irritant. Exposure to high volumes of acetone can cause headaches, nausea and vomiting while also negatively affecting the kidneys and liver according to the New Jersey Department of Health.
The natural way
Adding drops of our Age Defy Synergy Blend to your beauty routine can yield wondrous results. From a cellular level, Age Defy reduces inflammation while it sustains smoother, more radiant skin.
In place of the harshness of alcohol-based toners, witch hazel helps remove dead skin and eliminate toxins. It also naturally fights wrinkles and acne while helping to calm puffiness and irritation. Lavender and Frankincense are packed with anti-aging properties and antioxidants which support healthy skin.
EG's Essential Oil Face Toner DIY
Enliven your skin with our essential oil face toner. Use our step-by-step guide or customize your own natural toner with your favorite essential oils.
What you need:
Filtered water
Non-alcoholic witch hazel
Polysorbate 20 (emulsifies EOs in water)
Lavender essential oil (optional)
Frankincense essential oil (optional)
2 oz. Bottle
How to
- Fill ⅔ of the 2 oz. glass bottle with filtered water and the manufacturer's recommended amount of Polysorbate 20.
- Fill the remaining ⅓ of the bottle with witch hazel. Leave a little space at the top for the essential oil.
- Add 6-12 drops of Age Defy Synergy Blend.
- (Optional) Add 2-3 drops of Lavender essential oil and 2-3 drops of Frankincense essential oil.
- During your morning and night beauty routine, use toner after washing your face. Let your skin air dry and apply moisturizer.
Note: If you have especially oily skin or acne, add more witch hazel and less water to your mixture.
COMMENTS
Edens Garden says...
Hi Lee! Vitamin E oil would prevent the oil from going rancid longer, as it is an antioxidant, but it would not preserve the product longer than a week or so
On June 19, 2017
Edens Garden says...
Hi Lisa! You could add glycerin to this product to extend the shelf life, but not to emulsify EOs in water
On June 19, 2017
Lee Fogarty says...
Quick question… What about adding a little Vitamin E Oil to this recipe as a preservative?
(Especially since it would also benefit the skin.)
On June 19, 2017
Lisa says...
Would it be possible to use vegetable glycerin in placed of the Polysorbate 20 in this toner? I’ve heard the glycerin is also an emulsifier for oil and water. I realize that this would shorten the shelf life since it wouldn’t have a preservative, but if you were planning on using it quickly would this work?
On June 18, 2017
Edens Garden says...
Hi Elena! We purchased ours from Amazon. Polysorbate 20 is necessary for the oil and water to mix. You can replace witch hazel with rose water in this recipe
On June 16, 2017