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Astringent, Toners, and Skin FreshenersToners, astringent, skin fresheners and clransers are important to healthy skin because they keep the surface clean and free of dirt, oils, and dead skin cells. The cleaner the surface of your skin, the more efficient it is at absorbing and retaining moisture.I like to use an astringent on my face after I wash it with soap and water to remove all traces of the residue from my skin. Toners and skin fresheners are also great to use throughout the day, especially if you have oily skin, so I keep a spritzer bottle of a water-based skin freshener with me. For those of you with dry skin applying jojoba cleansing oil to your face will not only leave it clean and refreshed, but also give it that extra boost of moisture it needs. One of my favorite free skin fresheners is pure, cold water. Splash your face with cold water twenty times and count each splash. If you have very dry skin, you should limit the use of products with high alcohol content and use those that contain more water.  The recipes in this section are really easy to prepare. They should be applied to the skin with clean cotton balls or pads; they can also be sprayed or splashed onto the skin. Because many of these products contain alcohol, they have a long shelf life (the alcohol helps kill germs and bacteria). The products in this section require storage guidelines(click here)!!! Basic Astringent This is an excellent astringent for your everyday needs. You can use it after washing your face with soap or cream to remove all traces of cleanser, or throughout the day to keep your skin fresh, especially after exercising. This recipe has a light floral scent; you may substitute distilled water for the rose water if you prefer an unscented product. What you need:
How to make: Dissolve the borax in the water, stirring well. Add the rose water and vodka. Stir well. Bottle in a container with a lid so the alcohol will not evaporate. Apply this astringent to your skin using a clean cotton ball. Makes 3 ½ ounces Orange-Mint
Toner
When I was younger, I used to stick peppermint sticks in fresh oranges and drink the cool, sweet tart juice. This recipe reminds me of that childhood treat. The mint and orange combine to give the skin a fresh, cool feeling. Mint leaves are rich in iron and the menthol helps tighten skin pores. This toner will whisk away surface dirt, oil, and dead skin cells from your skin. What you need:
How to make: Place mint leaves in a heat resistant bowl and pour 1 cup of the boiling water over them. Let sit until completely cooled. Place the orange peel in another heat resistant bowl and pour the remaining boiling water over it. Let sit until completely cooled. Combine the mint water, orange water, and alcohol in the following proportions: ¼ cup mint water/ ¼ cup orange water/ 1 tablespoon vodka or witch hazel. Bottle your toner in an airtight container. apply to your skin using a clean cotton ball. Makes 4 ½ ounces Citrus Freshener
This is a light skin freshener to use throughout the day when your skin and hair could use a pick me up! I especially like to use this freshener when traveling by plane. I keep a small spritzer bottle with me to re-hydrate my skin and hair. The clean citrus scent also gives me a boost What you need:
How to make: Dissolve the vitamin c tablet in the boiling water. Place the lemon peel in a ceramic or glass bowl and pour the water-vitamin C mixture over it. Let sit for several hours or even overnight. Remove the peel with a slotted spoon, or pour the water through a funnel lined with a coffee filter to remove any solids from the liquid. Pour this water into a clean spritzer bottle and enjoy! Double take: this recipe works equally well with any citrus peel, tangerine, grapefruit, orange, or a combination. Makes 16 ounces.
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