anybody make toner???

[awi]

I was going to try and make a toner for normal/combination skin and was wondering if there are any specific rules or recommendations to follow. Can the same preservative system be used as you use in lotions? I would like to incorporate some aloe vera juice because I have a bunch of it that I would like to use for something. also what eo's are recommended. Can peppermint be used for a cooling effect or would it burn? Can someone steer me in the right direction?

 

[Hazel]

Do you make soap? I use aloe in place of distilled water.

After saying this, I've seen a recipe that called for 1 1/4 (or might have been 1 1/2) cups of rose water combined with 1/4 witch hazel.Then add a few drops of glycerin. I assumed the glycerin would help it adhere to the face and be a humectant.

I think this is probably something you'd have to experiment with by making a taking a small amount of aloe and adding in a little witch hazel. Try it on your face and see how you like it.

Once you find the proportions that you like then start include additives. Have you seen this botanical blend?

http://www.theherbarie.com/AHA-PhytoFru ... r-263.html

I think adding in a botanical blend would make for a wonderful toner. Lavender EO would also make a great additive. I think peppermint would be too strong and it could irritate your skin but this is just my opinion. Perhaps chamomile would be better.

I think you'd have to check the pH and make sure you use a preservative which is effective for the pH range. Optiphen Plus might be good for a toner.

 

[krissy]

this is so weird. i was going to ask about toner today too.

i love the Burt's Bees Rose Water and Glycerine Toner. i want to make something like that.


Ingredients: rosa damascena (rose) flower water, alcohol denat., glycerin, centaurea cyanus (cornflower) flower extract, aloe barbadensis leaf extract, hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel) leaf extract, yucca schidigera leaf extract

 

[Sunny]

You could use peppermint in very small amounts, it does produce a tingly/cooling effect but I'd be very careful to keep it away from the eyes. I have a peppermint/lavender facial spray that I love.

You can mix any hydrosols (or make your own version of it, like rose water) with witch hazel and aloe and eo's of your choice. Consider that a lot of people use witch hazel alone as a toner, you may want to make it your base ingredient?

I make my own toners but don't use a recipe, I just mix a tiny bit up as I go and use it quickly (within a week) so I don't use a preservative, but if I was making a larger amount, I would use the same preservatives as normal (for lotion etc).

 

[Hazel]

this is so weird. i was going to ask about toner today too.

i love the Burt's Bees Rose Water and Glycerine Toner. i want to make something like that.


Ingredients: rosa damascena (rose) flower water, alcohol denat., glycerin, centaurea cyanus (cornflower) flower extract, aloe barbadensis leaf extract, hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel) leaf extract, yucca schidigera leaf extract

I guess the recipe I saw wasn't too far off. There's rose water, glycerin and witch hazel in the Burt's Bees. I had to look up the extracts. Cornflower extract is stated to be an astringent and conditioning for the skin. Yucca is stated to be antibacterial may help clear up acne. The aloe (of course) helps to condition the skin.

Hmm...I need to go look at the ingredients in the toner I use. I really like it and I'm getting low.

 

[awi]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I think I will just throw together some of the suggested items and see how i like it. Can apple cider vinegar be used? I have heard it is good for the skin. Should it be used in equal parts with lets say aloe vera juice and witch hazel? I am thinking of making those my base and adding some essential oils to that. I think lavender would be nice and maybe a drop of peppermint for a cooling effect. Can neroli be used also? Or would that be irritating to the face? It smells nice with lavender and it just so happens that I have some on hand.

Hazel, yes I do make soap

Krissy, I too like the Burts Bees toner. I have used it in the past and it is really nice.

 

[Lindy]

If you are making it for yourself then you could try a drop or two of Peppermint EO but it is a known skin irritant. Lavender, Rose, & Sandalwood are all known as being fabulous for the face. Also you need to stay away from any of the citrus EO's as they will make your skin very photosensitive and you need to stay out of the sun if you are using them on exposed skin.

 

[awi]

I have been looking through recipes online and came across one that looks simple...it is 1 cup witch hazel, 1/4 cup white vinegar and 1/4 tsp mint extract. Would the mint be a better alternative to using peppermint? I am afraid it will be irritating to the skin like some of you have suggested.

 

[krissy]

can i infuse rose petals in witch hazel? i was thinking of infusing the flowers that i like in the witch hazel then adding some glycerin to it...

 

[awi]

can i infuse rose petals in witch hazel? i was thinking of infusing the flowers that i like in the witch hazel then adding some glycerin to it...

I think you can do that....i saw a recipe the other night where someone had done rose petals and another one did calendula petals.....

 

[Hazel]

Here's a link that gives a simple recipe for rose toner. But what I thought was really interesting was the watermelon toner.

http://www.rose-works.com/Rose-Water.html

I never thought of using watermelon for anything but it does make sense since it has such a high water content.