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 skin drying effects. “SD” stands for “specially denatured” and is a combination of ethanol and other chemicals to make it undrinkable.
Acting as a 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 bloodstream 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 smoothing 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. Refrigerate for an approximate shelf life of 2 weeks.
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22 Responses
Edens Garden
Hi Liza! Yes, it is perfectly fine to replace water with hydrosol and use a preservative like Liquid Germall Plus. Just keep in mind that there is no way to be sure your preservative system works without running a series of tests. And if you’re using the proper amount of Polysorbate 20, you don’t need to add carrier oil. However, you could still use carrier oil if you wish. In which case, Polysorbate 80 is typically used to solubilize thicker oils like carrier oils in water.
Liza
Oh i see… if formula using essential oil, witch hazel and polysorbate 20, i dont need carrier oil again… what if the water i replace with hydrosol, is that fiine? and if i add preservatives like liquid germall plus (2-3ml) is that okay?
Edens Garden
Hi Liza! No carrier oil is needed because the Polysorbate combines the essential oil and water, therefore the essential oil is diluted in the water and witch hazel. If there were no Polysorbate, you would risk getting undiluted oil drops on you skin, but that is not the case here.
Liza
I am new in essential oil.. just wondering… A general guideline is to dilute to 2% for all over the body use, and less with sensitive skin and hot oils. This equals about 10-12 drops of essential oil per 1 ounce or 30 mL of an oil soluble carrier liquid. Undiluted use of essential oils can cause unpleasant skin or mucus membrane irritations or sensitizations. Why this formula didnt use carrier oil ?
Edens Garden
Hi Rosie! It’s typically recommended to use equal amounts of Polysorbate 20 and essential oils. You can purchase this ingredient from cosmetic supply websites or Amazon. We typically purchase from Brambleberry, Lotioncrafter or Making Cosmetics. We suggest confirming with the supplier how much Polysorbate they recommend using, as this can vary from supplier to supplier.
Rosie Barboza
What is the recommended amount of polysorbate 20 and where do you purchase it.?
Edens Garden
Hi Marsha! We used a 1:1 ratio of polysorbate 20 to essential oils, but we’d recommend you ask the polysorbate 20 manufacturer as this can differ.
Marsha
What I am not seeing is how much poly sorbate 20, as there is nothing on the bottle as a recommended amount. Please advise.
Edens Garden
Hi Suzi! You can replace Polysorbate 20 with a different solubilizer but aloe vera is not a solubilizer. Aloe vera is also water soluble and thus would not mix with the oils.
Edens Garden
Hi Cherie! We purchase ours on Amazon
Edens Garden
Hi Deb! That’s true, oils and water do not mix. In this recipe, we use Polysorbate 20 which solubilizes the oil in water, evenly dispersing it throughout the product and making it safe to use.
Suzi
Could you sub the poly-20 for aloe juice, blending the oils into the juice fully, and then making the above toner recipe? My skin is too dry to use alcohol. Thanks!
Cherie
Where do you get polysorbate 20?
Deb
I was told by a professional that essential oils are really not the oils we usually think of. Eo’s and carrier oils do mix. But eo’s and water do not.
Edens Garden
Becky, this sounds like a nice recipe, although these ingredients will still not disperse the essential oils and neither will shaking it, leaving you with undiluted oils on your skin.
Becky
Melinda and Dana, I have made a very similar toner to this one using the oils mentioned above in a 1/2 distilled water, 1/3 witch hazel, 1/6 apple cider vinegar mixture. I’d forget the polysorbate 20 all together and just give your bottle a good shake before every use. It works great for me and then my chemical conscience is clear. Sarah, the distilled water will give the toner a much longer shelf life.
Edens Garden
Hi Melinda! You can use carrier oil to dilute the essential oils in this recipe, however oil and water don’t mix, rendering this recipe useless. A solubilizer such as Polysorbate 20 or grain alcohol are necessary for this recipe.
Melinda Seymour
So, what should we use in place of Polysorbate 20, since it is a carcinogen? Maybe one of your carrier oils that are not too oily on the skin, and absorbs the oils immediately? Very interested since I would like to make this recipe.
Edens Garden
Hi Dana! Used in low doses, such as in the recipe above, Polysorbate 20 is not harmful. A solbilizer is needed in this recipe to properly mix essential oils in water. Without a solubilizer, the essential oils will not be properly diluted, and thus dangerous to use on the face. Another option for solubilizing essential oils in water is using grain alcohol, however this is very drying to the skin
Dana
I am new to essential oils and your oils interested me. I do have a question regarding your face toner recipe. I am concerned about the polysorbate 20 ingredient. I looked up what is was and it says it is a carcinogen. Another website said if you find that ingredient in your cosmetic products you should look for something else. Are you should this is a healthy ingredient?
Sarah
What is the shelf life of this toner (since it has water, I assume short…)
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Liza
June 16, 2020
Noted… thank you so much….