DIY Toner for Sensitive Skin

Ah! Skin. The mystery of the world. What does it like? What makes it happy? Chocolate? I think it must be. Everything likes chocolate.

Okay, okay! Seriously. I would not mind rubbing chocolate all over my face (except I would hesitate to eat it afterwards so what a waste), but chocolate doesn't do much for my sensitive skin. In fact, anything with sugar tends to make my face go insane! WAH!

But do you know what makes my skin happy? If you said Brad Pitt-- then you are right (I get a glow when I think of him. Rawr), but I actually meant toner. My skin glows and is so happy whenever I use toner and I really love it because of how effective, inexpensive, and easy it is to make me look awesome. Win. (And I'm totally humble)

Let's Talk Toners

First you have to answer the question. WHY? Toners help your skin to lock in moisture, be calmer, and happier. This is the perfect time to start using a toner because as the weather cools down-- our skin often gets drier!

Second question: Do you want to DIY or buy? I'm a DIY girl myself, but everyone should have options! However, in my opinion, you need one of two things.

1. Rose Water has natural oils which helps to moisturize and smooth skin and it acts as a gentle cleaner, removing dirt and debris from the pores. Rose water also can help keep skin healthy while in the sun and smooth out fine lines and wrinkles while also tightening the pores. It shouldn't be used as a replacement for SPF, but in conjunction with a natural sunscreen. And, we can't forget the obvious: It smells like heaven.

FYI: Rose Water and Rose Essential Oil are totally different, but they both harness that amazing power of Rose for skin. Feel free to add 1 drop of Rose Essential Oil to ANY of your DIY beauty products to get all of the amazing benefits. It's super concentrated so a little goes a long way!

2. Alcohol Free Witch Hazel acts as a gentle cleaner to remove excessive oil and control oil production while also helping to support a healthy complexion, tone and tighten pores, and soothe any irritation. It can reduce bags under the eyes, too and help to hydrate the skin, reducing dryness.

It has to be ALCOHOL FREE witch hazel!! Did you read that?! Read. It. Know. It. Embrace. It. If you use the alcoholic stuff, don't come whining to me about how you look like Sebastian from the Little Mermaid. I will have zero sympathy because you have been adequately warned in bold letters. You know that's serious.

Rose Water Toner

• 1 TBSP Vegetable Glycerin
• 2 TBSP Rose Water
• 1 TBSP Distilled Water
• 2-3 drops of Organic Argan Oil
• 1 drop of Rose Essential Oil
• Optional: 10 drops Frankincense

I actually have put this into a small misting spray bottle. I'll spray the mist directly onto my face as the rose water is so gentle. I use a clean cotton cloth to gently blot away the excess. But you can totally use an organic cotton pad if you wanted! Make it yours, girl! Do it your way!

Okay, make it yours except that you really want to use distilled water. It lacks the impurities of tap water so it can soften skin, prolong the life span of other products, and also aid the vegetable glycerin's awesomeness. Did you know that without a source of water, vegetable glycerin will actually remove moisture from your skin? The extra water allows it to work to soften your skin and perform optimally. Yay!

Witch Hazel Toner

One of my absolute favorite beauty products is non-alcoholic witch hazel. I had been told for years that I couldn't use witch hazel on my sensitive skin, but apparently no one happened to mention that it was the alcohol that was going to make my face go fire red crazy--- not the witch hazel! Witch Hazel actually does the opposite and calms and soothes my skin! 

I purchased Thayer's Witch Hazel Toner (unscented) and it is just wonderful. It really helps to keep my skin's complexion even and beauuuuutiful. 

Thayer's company also has other witch hazel versions which are scented, so you can browse and decide which would be best for you. I just caution you to examine where the scent comes from and to see if it's synthetically manufactured. You can purchase alcohol free witch hazel from a local store. If you buy the brand with alcohol it will dry out your skin!

• 1 oz non-alcoholic Witch Hazel
• 10 drops of Frankincense Essential Oils 
• Optional: 1 drop of Rose Essential Oil

Add them into a small glass bottle, gently mix it together and apply it to an organic cotton pad and wipe it across my face. Easy, right!?

Now go get that sexy glow by using one of these DIYs and thinking about Brad Pitt (or another Hottie McHotterson). You got this!