DIY Toner With Essential Oils for Your Skin Type

A DIY face toner gives you clean skin without the harsh chemicals often found on store-bought toners.

But, even more so, a natural facial toner can be made to match your unique skin needs perfectly, something that no store-bought toner can do for you.

And then there’s the deep satisfaction of knowing that you can create your own high-quality skin care products at a fraction of what you’d pay in a store. There’s something so empowering about that!

As a Certified Aromatherapist, I have developed DIY toner recipes with essential oils that you can take and use anytime you’d like. I’ll cover these in this article, along with what ingredients you’ll need, how to make them, and how to use and store your homemade facial toner.

What Essential Oils Are Good for Face Toner and Why?

When making your own DIY toner, selecting the right essential oils is going to be key to customizing your skin care routine. 

The essential oils I’m including in this list come packed with benefits that can transform your skin.

Geranium Oil

Geranium oil is celebrated for its ability to balance skin tone and improve skin elasticity. Its astringent properties make it ideal for tightening the skin and minimizing the appearance of pores. 

This oil is particularly beneficial for those with oily or combination skin as it helps regulate sebum production.

Chamomile Oil

Chamomile oil, with its powerful anti-inflammatory properties, is excellent for calming and soothing the skin, making it a perfect choice for those with irritated or very sensitive skin. 

It helps reduce skin redness and discomfort, promoting a healthy, even skin tone.

Sandalwood Oil

Sandalwood oil is rich in soothing components and is particularly beneficial for dry and aging skin. It helps hydrate and nourish the skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. 

Its calming aroma also adds a therapeutic dimension to your skincare routine.

Frankincense Oil

Frankincense oil is well-known for its rejuvenating properties that can help revitalize aging skin. It helps to improve skin tone, elasticity, and defense mechanisms against blemishes or scars. 

Frankincense oil promotes a smoother, more radiant complexion by helping to accelerate the regeneration of healthy skin cells.

By carefully selecting and blending these essential oils, you can create a highly effective and personalized DIY toner that not only refreshes your skin but also addresses specific skincare concerns. 

Each oil brings unique benefits, making your homemade toner a key part of your daily skincare regimen.

Base Ingredients for DIY Toner With Essential Oils

Creating a homemade toner involves selecting simple ingredients that are effective and gentle on the skin.

Distilled Water

Distilled water is the ideal base for any homemade face toner. 

It’s free from impurities and minerals that could potentially irritate the skin. 

Using distilled water makes sure that your toner is clean and pure, making it safe for all skin types.

Witch Hazel

Witch Hazel is a powerful natural astringent that helps to minimize the appearance of pores and refine the skin’s texture. 

It’s particularly effective for those with oily skin as it helps to regulate oil production and keep the skin looking fresh and matte.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple Cider Vinegar adjusts the skin’s pH levels to a slightly acidic range, which can help to ward off pathogens and maintain a healthy skin barrier. 

This ingredient is beneficial for skin types that struggle with oiliness and acne, as it helps to clarify and refresh the skin without stripping it of its natural oils.

By incorporating these essential oils and ingredients into your own DIY toner, you create a powerful, natural skincare product that can help to improve the condition and appearance of your skin. 

Each component works in harmony to deliver a toner that is not only refreshing but also tailored to meet the specific needs of your skin type.

Customizing Your DIY Toner for Your Skin Type

Creating your  DIY toner is a great way to make sure you’re using natural products that are free from harmful chemicals. 

These recipes are tailored to meet the specific needs of different skin types, using high-quality, natural ingredients that you can often find in your kitchen or local grocery stores.

Oily Skin Toner Recipe

For those with oily skin types (and those with acne-prone skin) controlling oil production without drying out the skin is key. 

This facial toner recipe uses witch hazel, tea tree oil, and lemon juice—all known for their astringent properties and ability to manage acne.

• Witch Hazel: Acts as a natural toner, helping to tighten skin and reduce the appearance of pores. It’s effective in removing excess oil and can be found in both beauty products and natural face toner formulations.
• Tea Tree Oil: A powerful ingredient due to its antibacterial properties, making it an ideal choice for reducing acne and keeping the skin clean.
• Lemon Juice: Rich in Vitamin C, helps to brighten the skin and fade dark spots. Always use a small amount and perform a patch test to ensure it doesn’t irritate your skin.

Method:

1. In a glass spray bottle, combine 1/4 cup of witch hazel, 5 drops of essential oil (tea tree), and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice.
2. Fill the rest of the bottle with distilled water to dilute the mixture.
3. Shake well before each use.
4. Apply the toner with a cotton pad, gently wiping over the face, avoiding the eye area.
5. Use morning and night after cleansing for best results.

Dry Skin Toner Recipe

Dry skin requires hydration and soothing, which can be achieved through a homemade facial toner made with rose water, geranium oil, and chamomile oil.

• Rose Water: Great for hydration and helps to calm dry skin. It also has antioxidant properties that protect skin from environmental damage.
• Geranium Oil: Helps to balance the skin’s natural oils and improves skin elasticity.
• Chamomile Oil: Known for its calming effects and is particularly good for sensitive skin.

Method:

1. In a glass bottle, combine 1/2 cup of rose water, 5 drops of geranium oil, and 5 drops of chamomile oil.
2. Shake well to mix the oils thoroughly with the rose water.
3. Use a spray top for easy application.
4. Spritz the toner onto your face or apply it with a cotton ball after cleansing.
5. Use twice daily to keep your skin hydrated and soothed.

Combination Skin Toner Recipe

Combination skin can benefit from a toner that balances oil and moisture levels.

A face toner recipe using green tea, lavender essential oil, and sweet orange oil can be the perfect solution.

• Green Tea: Provides a gentle astringent effect, reducing oiliness in the T-zone without drying out the cheeks.
• Lavender Essential Oil: Soothes the skin and reduces any redness or irritation.
• Sweet Orange Oil: Adds a gentle fragrance and helps to brighten the complexion.

Method:

1. Steep 1 green tea bag in 1 cup of boiling water for 10 minutes, then let it cool.
2. Add 5 drops of essential oil from both lavender and orange to the cooled tea.
3. Pour the mixture into a glass spray bottle.
4. Spritz onto the face morning and evening after cleansing, or apply with a cotton ball.

Aging Skin Toner Recipe

For aging skin, it’s important to focus on ingredients that offer moisturizing and anti-aging benefits like rose water, frankincense oil, and sandalwood oil.

• Rose Water: Helps to hydrate the skin, maintaining its elasticity and reducing the appearance of wrinkles.
• Frankincense Oil: Known for its ability to rejuvenate aging skin and improve its tone and texture.
• Sandalwood Oil: Helps to soothe the skin and fade dark spots, enhancing the overall complexion.

Method:

1. In a glass bottle, mix 1/2 cup of rose water, 5 drops of frankincense oil, and 5 drops of sandalwood oil.
2. Add a few drops of carrier oil like coconut oil or aloe vera for extra moisturizing properties.
3. Store the toner in a dark place to preserve the quality of essential oils.
4. Apply the toner with a cotton ball, focusing on areas prone to wrinkles and dry skin.
5. Use daily as part of your skincare routine for the best anti-aging effects.

By using these DIY toner recipes, you create effective and natural skin care products that are tailored to your skin type and concerns, making them a great addition to your daily beauty routine.

How to Store Your DIY Toner With Essential Oils

Storing your own homemade toner correctly is crucial to maintain its high quality and effectiveness. 

The best way to preserve the freshness and efficacy of your DIY toner is by using dark glass bottles. 

These bottles help protect the toner from direct sunlight, which can degrade the essential oils and other natural ingredients used in your formula. 

Direct sunlight can also cause citrus oils, if used, to oxidize more quickly, which might irritate your skin.

Additionally, it’s important to store your toner in a cool, dry place away from any heat sources, which helps prevent the breakdown of vitamin E and other sensitive components that can be affected by high temperatures.

The best part about making your own toner is that you can avoid the harsh chemicals found in many store-bought products. 

However, without synthetic preservatives, your homemade toner recipe might have a shorter shelf life. 

Adding natural preservatives such as vitamin E can help extend this lifespan slightly. Vitamin E not only acts as a preservative but also combats free radicals, helping to maintain the skin’s health and pH balance.

How Often to Use Your DIY Toner With Essential Oils

The frequency with which you should use your own facial toner can vary based on your skin type. 

For those with oily skin or using tea tree oil toners, it might be beneficial to apply the toner twice daily as part of your skincare routine to help manage oil levels and clear away dead skin cells. 

For those with dry skin or normal skin, using the toner once a day, typically in the evening, might be sufficient.

When you start using new homemade face toners, it’s a good idea to do a patch test first to see how your skin reacts, especially if you’re using own essential oils or floral waters that are new to you. 

After the patch test, begin by using the toner once a day to observe how your skin responds. If your skin reacts well, you might increase the usage.

Signs to watch for include any new irritation or dryness, which might suggest that your own skincare products need to be adjusted—either in terms of how often you use them or in the ingredients themselves. 

For example, if you notice that your skin feels overly tight or becomes flaky, you may need to reduce the frequency of application or tweak the formula to include more hydrating components like aloe vera or rice water.

By paying attention to these details, you can ensure that your DIY toner remains a great toner and the right toner for your skin, supporting a healthy, glowing complexion without the use of harsh chemicals.

Continue with: DIY Clay Mask Recipes with Essential Oils for a Spa Experience