Use one (or more!) of these facial toner recipes to optimize your skincare regimen.

Being the stickler I am about my skin, the toner concept always bugged me. Applying a facial toner has been the most neglected part of my skincare regimen to date. Doing so always seemed unnecessary – for me, cleansing and moisturizing did the trick. But was I missing out on something essential and perhaps, game changing?

I came to learn that I was indeed missing out on an important step in attaining and maintaining a healthy, youthful complexion. A facial toner successfully cleans and tightens pores and restores the skin’s natural pH levels. It also can soak up excess oil and remove dirt, makeup, and dead skin cells from the face. Considering the pollutants and stress I’m exposed to on a daily basis, a facial toner was set to make a huge difference for my skin. And, it did!

Even so, I wasn’t about to break the bank for a substance that is more or less flavored water or willing to put alcohol or toxic substances on my face when it is most vulnerable – post-cleansing. I decided to make my own facial toners, one for each of its shifting states throughout the year: oily, sensitive, and dry.

These facial toner recipes are my go-to concoctions. Try them out for yourself and see which works best for you. As a rule, apply a facial toner after cleansing and before moisturizing the skin. All of the following recipes suggest pouring the toners into a spray bottle, so you can apply the tonics as a mist, but you can very well use a cotton ball or pad to dab or lightly rub the toner onto your skin as well.

3 Facial Toner Recipes for 3 Skin Conditions

1. For Oily Skin

Makes ½ cup

Ingredients

• ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
• ¼ cup water
• 3-5 drops of lavender oil

Directions

Pour the apple cider vinegar and water into a spray bottle and shake. The mixture is stable enough and does not need to be stored in the refrigerator.

2. For Sensitive Skin

Makes ½ cup

Ingredients

• ½ cup dried rosebuds
• hot filtered water

Directions

Pour the water over the rosebuds in a small bowl and let sit for one to two hours. While steeping, the essence from the rosebuds will infuse into the water and the water will cool to room temperature. Once finished steeping, strain the mixture and pour the rose water into a spray bottle.

3. For Dry Skin

Makes 1/2 cup

Ingredients

• ½ cup dried rosebuds
• hot filtered water
• 1 drop chamomile oil
• 1 drop geranium oil

Directions

Follow the directions for the sensitive skin toner recipe above. Once finished steeping, strain the mixture and pour the rose water into a spray bottle. Add a drop of both chamomile and geranium oil. Shake to mix.

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Herbal ingredients image via Shutterstock

The post 3 DIY Facial Toners for Oily, Sensitive, and Dry Skin Types appeared first on EcoSalon.

How many of you moisturize and exfoliate your neck? I don’t, and apparently I am as foolish as this surfer who recently decided to stalk two great white sharks. (Yes, the neck is this dramatic.) The neck never lies. Because in this day of injecting ourselves with Botox and fillers and probably strawberry jam if it worked, the only sure-fire way to tell a person’s age is by his or her neck.

Think about it – how many times have you looked at the baby-smooth cheeks of a society Grande Dame, just to notice her neck matches her Hermes alligator bag? And I know that many of you would as soon as inject your eyeballs with glue than put Botox in your face. But that doesn’t mean we should continue to neglect our sassy necks or sexy upper bosoms.

Here’s why. As we age, our skin gets loser and fine lines make their appearance. The skin on the neck is thin and blood isn’t circulating around it as well as other places. The neck doesn’t have any fat to plump it up. It is often as exposed to the elements as much as your face – as can be your upper bosoms. You’ve invested in that Nixxi Fringe Collar Wrap Dress, so you’re going to want to bring on the sass with your cleavage.

Here’s how. First, it is important to keep our necks and chests moisturized and toned. Strawberry Hedgehog has a fantastic moisturizer. They also offer a detoxifying facial mask that is great for the neck and upper chest area as well. Want to tone? Here’s a list of some toners on the organic and natural market. (Though be sure to still read the labels, as some still contain chemical ingredients as well as organic ones.)

You can also eat your way to a healthy neck. Consider consuming foods high in omega-3s like flax seed and salmon. Spinach contains skin-strengthening vitamin A. Berries are high in antioxidants and vitamin C, which are both fantastic for your epidermis. Also think about giving your neck a massage with organic sunflower oils, which are high in nourishing vitamin F.

Next, think about your posture. Walk around with a book on your head. This will train your neck muscles to lift and elongate. (Suggests the person who spends most of her time hunched over a laptop looking like a turtle.)

You can also consider hot and cool compresses. Sitting in an armchair, wrap a warm, wet towel around your neck and clavicle for fifteen minutes. Then follow with a cool towel for the same amount of time. This will moisturize your skin and help you relax.

And finally, want a really great recipe for a homemade neck and décolletage wash? Try a Creamy Yolk Wash from Narine Nikogosian’s Return to Beauty.

Take one teaspoon of sour cream, one egg yolk, and one teaspoon of lemon juice. In a small bowl, mix the sour cream, and egg yolk together, then add lemon juice. Wash your neck and then rinse with cold water.

Image: teresawer

The post The Neck and Décolletage – A Tale of Sexy appeared first on EcoSalon.

The upside to humidity? It can help keep your skin moisturized. The downside? It sends your carefully-applied makeup running south faster than a former Alaskan governor in search of fame and fortune. The heat is on, and summer is not going to let us leave the house sweat-free for quite a few more weeks. So what are some easy, quick tips on how to keep your makeup from melting – and other best beauty bits for surviving the warmth?

Use a primer. Primers are considered the basis of your makeup and should be applied under it all. It will help your foundation wear all day, fill in lines and pores, and generally make for a smooth canvas. Some can also absorb oil. Expert call primers the “essential.” I call them “neat-o” – especially Tarte’s ReCreate Primer. This product gives your skin a dry, tight feeling good for summer, though probably not best for dehydrated skin. Tarte’s product is free of parabens, silicone, phthalates, and petrolatum.

Skip the moisturizer for a hydrating toner. Sometimes, just sometimes, it is simply too hot and sticky to think about putting anything other than ice on your face. On those wettest of days, consider substituting your daily moisturizer with a hydrating toner. This can keep your skin feeling balanced, but it won’t necessarily add to the oil you’re already combating. The best toner in the entire universe? Check out our review of Thayer’s Rose Petal Alcohol-Free Witch Hazel.

Use a mattifying sunscreen. Yes, your sunscreen can make your skin feel oilier. So be sure to pick one that’s going to keep things feeling dry. Check out our review of Coola’s Mineral Matte Face Finish SPF 30. To quote myself, “Due to the matte finish, it offers up an almost powdery application that leaves your skin feeling like you just dusted with cover up, not slicked with sunscreen.” You have to love a sunscreen that makes your face feel drier upon application.

Wear a slip. Okay, I know Mad Men is days away from premiering its next season and a lot of us have our Joan Holloway hats ready. But a slip really can cut down on chafing when your skirts literally stick to you. Plus with the high noon rays of summer bearing down on us, it isn’t the worst thing not to be able to see through your skirts. Joan Holloway would agree on such lady-like modesty!

Keep a clean handkerchief. I know, we’re still in Mad Men territory. But when you’re pouring sweat, sometimes a tissue just ain’t gonna cut it. Consider stashing an organic cotton handkerchief in your purse for those moments when you need some extra absorption. They’re cute, utterly recyclable in the wash, and will make the act of dabbing your hairline seem much more vintage.

FTC Compliance

Image: emily higginson

The post Quick, Your Makeup Is Melting! 5 Best Beauty Tips on How to Survive Summer appeared first on EcoSalon.

So you’re green. You care about trees. Yet you care about your complexion. I get it! I’ll pick through my trash sorting plastic from tin from things drenched in rancid goo – but I’m not going to go to bed without washing my face. Maybe it’s residual trauma from too many teenaged breakouts – skim through old issues of Seventeen Magazine and I am sure you will directly connect disfiguring acne to that time you skipped washing your face because you were too tired from screaming your head off at the Depeche Mode concert. Or not.

Kaia Naturals is offering up an H20-free solution. Recently, I checked out their Bamboo Facial Cleansing Cloths, which are designed to cleanse, tone and remove makeup without water. They are made from 100 percent soft, sustainable bamboo that feels like cashmere. (They call it cashmere soft – and yes, folks, it is.)

The unbleached bamboo fiber cloth is biodegradable and the ingredients are dermatologist tested and non-irritating. It contains no alcohol, synthetic fragrances, parabens, or sulfates. It is not organic, but it is cruelty free. Here is a complete list of ingredients.

How do these sustainable cloths work? Well, you really have to scrub to get heavy makeover off – but it does take off a lot of layers. It has a nice, fruity smell and leaves your face tingly and clean-feeling. You are left feeling nicely hydrated and yes, like you washed your face with water. Also, I have extremely sensitive skin and even the most organic products can sometimes leave my face red. This did not.

Would I forgo a nightly water rinse for the rest of my life? Probably not – it leaves your face with a little bit of a slick that does make you want to wash with water. But for around $12 for 30 cloths, I could spare 40 cents a pop here and there for a three-in-one water-free facial.

Want to see for yourself? Check out this video from Kaia.

The post Wash Your Face Without Water appeared first on EcoSalon.

During my travels throughout the world of eco-beauty, I often get asked some interesting questions. Sometimes they are simple like “Can I eat my natural makeup?” (…No) Sometimes they are more complex like “Is this product native energy, fair trade, organic certified by USDA or just Ecocert or just the neighborhood postal carrier who claims it doesn’t make her skin red?” (“¦Let me get back to you on that.)

But recently, someone posed the question – “Is toner really necessary?” And my answer is – yes, yes, a thousand times yes! Strictly defined, toner is cleanser or lotion designed to clean skin and shrink pores. It can restore your skin’s natural pH levels, which is important to protect your skin against sun, stress, and pollutants.

Some industry professionals think toners are unnecessary while others swear by them. It very much depends on your type of skin and what kind of toner you use. Some are more like tonics that moisturize the skin while others are more astringent and can contain higher levels of alcohol. These clean the skin of oils – but that can lead to problems as your skin can go into hyper drive to replace lost oil.

Why am I so big on toner? I spend most of my beauty regime on retaining and maintaining my skin tone. And I find a good organic toner to be the best way to do this. Maybe they work because they tighten pores and maintain pH levels, or maybe they work because fairies sprinkle eco-dust on your face after an application. I just find that, yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus, and ask him to bring you some toner.

The Eco-Toner to Buy: Thayer’s Rose Petal Alcohol-Free Witch Hazel

Now imagine me repeating this three times and clicking my red sequined heels together. This project seems almost magical. Thayer’s contains tannins extracted from the bark of witch hazel, or Hamamelis Virginiana. The tannins are made into big tea bags, soak in purified waters, and then placed into the toner. And just what do tannins do? In my case, I saw my skin tone return to something it resembled ten years ago. Containing some organic ingredients, it’s moisturizing, clean, and survives my sensitive skin. I cannot recommend this product more highly.

How to Make Your Own Eco-Toner:

Want to make your own? Check out this recipe for a hydrating, homemade skin toner containing calming chamomile.

• 1 organic chamomile tea bag
• ½ teaspoon organic vodka
• In a small saucepan, brew tea bag in two cups of water for ten minutes. Remove the ea bag and cool. Add vodka when cooled and apply to skin using a clean cotton swap.

And if you want to know more, check out our review of several organic toners!

Image: Perfecto Insecto

The post Toner: Why Do We Use It? appeared first on EcoSalon.

When I was a girl, toners were part of the Great Unknown. The Great Unknown also included things like sunscreens, antioxidants and men who may or may not be just that into you.

Then I moved to Hollywood and discovered what it meant to live in sunlight 360 days of the year. I was sucked into a vortex of skin care obsession, the levels of which were only recently matched by the Great Cupcake Debates of ’07.  (Sprinkles vs. Magnolia – has there ever been such an important issue at hand?)

Back to toners – what are they and why should we use them?

Aesthetician Kjerstin Nomad of Orange County, Calif., informs me that toners are used to restore your skin’s natural pH  levels. And it is your pH levels that protect your skin against harmful influences like sun, pollution and stress.  Toners are to be used right after cleansing and just before moisturizing.  They also tighten the skin’s pores and remove cosmetic residue.

For a product designed to restore your skin’s natural balance, organic is important. Here’s a list of our favorite green skin toners.

Organic Lavender Toner by Kimberly Sayer

Designed for sensitive skin, this gentle toner contains only purified water and organic Lavender Flowers harvested in Northern California. This product will reduce redness and irritation. If you have problems like rosacea, they even suggest applying toner-soaked pads to your face. It has a fantastic, light lavender scent, and it left my face feeling tight but fresh. If you are new to toners, this is a great product to start with.

Balance Facial Toner by Leaf People Naturals

Best for combination skin, this is a clean, light product that is about as natural as they come. Balance Facial Toner is made with aloe vera gel, witch hazel, green tea and other organic ingredients. It also leaves you with a subtle green tea scent that lasts. Leaf People is a great little company that puts an emphasis on product, not packaging. They support organic and biodynamic farming, ethical wild harvesting and fair trade.

Kiss My Face Balancing Act Toner

Great for normal skin, this low-priced product provides some bang for your buck. It has a fruity scent – grapefruit is the dominating sensory experience here – so don’t be surprised if you start attracting bees after application. It contains certified organic grapefruit, orange, ginger and lemon balm essential oils and extracts, as well as antioxidants like Ester C to help fight aging. Cruelty-free, Kiss My Face contains no animal ingredients, artificial colors or unnecessary chemicals.

SpaRitual Eloquent Toner

This is formulated for dry skin. It is made with Australian tea tree oil, which gives it a refreshing scent. The product leaves your skin feeling tight and hydrated. SpaRitual comes outfitted with a cool spray nozzle that lets you mist yourself and complete the mini-spa experience. Made from natural botanicals, it is 100% vegan and paraben-free.

The post Skincare Review: Best Organic Skin Toners appeared first on EcoSalon.