DIY Toner and scrubs
I scrubbed out my old toner bottle, rinsing it thoroughly. Then I used a 2:1 ratio of distilled water to vinegar. I only ever use Bragg Organic Raw Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar in my toner. Other kinds might work, but I found something that I like, and I’m sticking to it!
At first I stuck strictly to the 2:1 water to vinegar ratio, but now I play with it a bit. In the summer, when my skin is a little more oily, I use a bit more vinegar; in the winter, when my skin is drier, I use a bit less. Because I’m making it myself, it’s very easy to customize. Plus much cheaper than any of the numerous toners I’ve purchased over the years.
Make Your Own Sugar Scrub
I’ve also tried making my own scrubs – I have a sugar scrub at Whole Foods that I love, so I attempted to duplicate it at home. I used 1 cup of sugar, 3/4 cup of grapeseed oil, and one teaspoon of vanilla extract to make it smell yummy. I mixed the 3 ingredients together and put them in a jar. I love keeping a jar of this in the shower. When I actually have time to shower, it makes me feel like I’m in a spa. A spa I need to be out of in 4 minutes, but a spa nonetheless!
I sometimes add in a couple of drops of eucalyptus oil, if I’m feeling particularly stressed, or sore, or have a cold. But be careful with eucalyptus oil because you don’t want to use too much- it shouldn’t be applied directly to your skin, and it can be poisonous for children. This is also a nice hand scrub to keep near the sink, to do a massage/scrub on aching joints after a long day of typing (especially when, as a young lawyer, I would have to type up notes on hundreds of pages of depositions).
I haven’t quite worked up my courage to attempt making anything else, but if you have a DIY skin care suggestion, I would love to hear about it in the comments!