One of the most common questions I get about skincare is if you can swap out rose water with raw apple cider vinegar as a toner. My answer? Yes! You most certainly can! As much as I adore using rose water in my skincare routine for its astringent and pH balancing properties, not to mention how good it smells, raw apple cider vinegar has its own unique benefits for the skin.
A Bit More About Raw Apple Cider Vinegar
The most beneficial and healthiest version of apple cider vinegar comes from the fresh pressed juice of organic apples that have been through a double fermentation process.
During fermentation, the natural enzymes, probiotics, and nutrients of the apples are enhanced and preserved making the final product a therapeutic powerhouse both internally and externally.
Raw apple cider vinegar can:
- Aides detoxification
- Alleviate acid reflux
- Boost gut health
- Enhance weight loss
- Help keep teeth and bones strong and healthy
- Help regulate blood pressure
- Help the body fight off viruses, bacteria, and fungus
- Helps the body maintain a healthy alkaline state
- Improve skin health
- Normalize the body’s pH
- Prevent hair loss
- Reduce bad cholesterol
- Regulates blood sugar
- Relieve cold symptoms
- Sooth sunburn
- Supply the body with Vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, C, and E
- Treat a runny nose and seasonal allergies
Taking just 1-2 TB of raw apple cider vinegar daily in a glass of water has been shown to supply the body with these benefits.
However, raw apple cider vinegar isn’t just amazing for the inside of our bodies, it’s also incredibly good for the skin!
Does “Raw” Matter?
YES. It absolutely matters that you use RAW apple cider vinegar that contains the “mother”. Other apple cider vinegar that is not raw will not contain the vital nutrients, enzyme, or probiotics that help transform the skin.
I like Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar.
Skin Softening & Acne Reducing Apple Cider Vinegar Toner
While you can use pure raw apple cider vinegar for treating certain skin conditions like skin tags, warts, fungus, etc. it isn’t a good idea to use it undiluted on large areas of the skin.
It’s pretty powerful stuff and can cause a burning sensation if you don’t dilute it properly.
Having said that, when you DO use it properly (50% water and 50% apple cider vinegar), it has an amazing smoothing effect on the skin as the enzymes and probiotics within the vinegar get to work on dissolving blackheads and dead skin cells.
I’ve been using apple cider vinegar for acne for years and it’s been incredible for softening the skin, reducing breakouts, and brightening hyperpigmentation.
The result is an immediate brightness and smooth to the touch feel that you don’t get when using just rose water as a toner.
What else can raw apple cider vinegar do for the skin?
- Balances the skin
When you use raw apple cider vinegar as a toner, it will help cleanse away excess oil and impurities while also balancing its pH and controlling sebum production.
- Fight acne, clogged pores, and blemishes
The acidic compounds, enzymes, and probiotics found in “live” raw apple cider vinegar literally eat away blackheads and dead skin cells which helps keep the pores clean and prevents new acne blemishes from forming. Its astringent qualities also help regulate sebum production which helps keep the skin balanced.
As mentioned above, raw apple cider vinegar also contains many acidic compounds like malic acid, acetic acid, lactic acid, succinic acid, and citric acid which are known to help kill acne-causing bacteria (Propionibacterium acnes).
This combination of keeping the skin free of impurities and killing of the bacteria responsible for causing acne breakouts is what makes raw apple cider vinegar an excellent skincare ally.
- Helps the skin detox
Since raw apple cider vinegar helps sweep away dead skin cells and impurities from the pores, it helps keep the skin’s elimination pathways clear. This gives your skin a brightening effect that even your skin tone and gives you a nice glow.
Taking raw apple cider vinegar internally will also help the body detox and eliminate wastes.
- Reduce age spots and hyperpigmentation
The acidic compounds with raw apple cider vinegar like lactic acid help lighten and reduce the appearance of age spots and hyperpigmentation.
For small areas where the skin is fully healed, you can use a cotton swab to apply a tiny amount of pure raw apple cider vinegar to particularly dark areas where stronger treatment is needed.
Otherwise, using a toner of 50/50 water and vinegar will work wonderfully when used 1-2 times daily.
Convinced? Read on!
Raw Apple Cider Vinegar for Acne Recipe
- Equal parts filtered water and raw apple cider vinegar
- 1-2 drops of tea tree essential oil for every 1oz of toner made
- A dropper bottle (I use a 1 oz size)
Loving Preparation – Raw Apple Cider Vinegar Toner
- Fill the dropper halfway with raw apple cider vinegar
- Add 1-2 drops of tea tree essential oil (tea tree oil for acne is a must-have! If you don’t have the essential oil, I highly recommend picking it up)
- Next, fill the dropper bottle to the shoulder with purified water
- Shake well before use
I usually make this toner in small batches since the inclusion of water encourages bacteria to grow after several days. This toner will stay fresh for 3 days before you should make a new batch. You can keep it refrigerated to extend to shelf life to 5 days.
If for any reason the strength of the toner is too strong, simply add more water and less vinegar to make it a bit more diluted.
To Use
Use as you would a regular toner on freshly cleansed skin and before applying serums and moisturizers.
I like to add 2-3 dropperfuls of toner to a cotton pad and gently swipe it over the face both morning and night to give my skin a fresh and smooth feel.
Have you ever made a raw apple cider vinegar toner? Please share your experience in the comments below!
You may also enjoy reading:
The Benefits of Raw Apple Cider Vinegar
Why the Apple Acne Cleanse Works
The Topical Benefits of Green Tea – DIY Green Tea Toner
The Benefits of Rose Water & A Rose Water Recipe
Essential Oil Quick Usage Guide – Acne
