Toning Your Skin Naturally

After all the low down on cleansing you skin naturally, lets come to our second part of the CTM routine. Always make it a point to follow your cleansing routine by toning. Toning removes greasiness that remains after cleansing, closes pores, refines the skin and makes the skin’s texture smooth. It also stimulates the blood supply. One should tone the skin in order for it to look fresher.

Make sure you avoid using very strong toners available in the market these days as the harsh action of alcohol in these toners toughens and makes coarse ones skin, preventing it from functioning normally.

One should always use toner with a piece of cotton wool, but in case your skin is looking listless then pat it on with brisk slapping movements.

Skin tonics are generally composed of herbs, flowers, vinegar (ideal skin tonic) and rosewater (the oldest skin freshener). So, here are a few natural toners that one can use and make at home.

1. Herb Tonic. Mix 2 tablespoon of dried herbs or flowers in a pint of water. Bring the mixture to a boil in a covered pan. Let it cool, while covered for 12 hours and then strain and keep in a bottle as your toner.
2. Cucumber Tonic. Wash and liquidize 2 small cucumbers. Put the juice in a saucepan bring to a boil. On low flame add cinnamon and cloves to this mixture for two minutes. Cool. After cooling add a small cup of rose water. Stir well. Strain in a bottle and use.
3. Vinegar Tonic. Take ½ cup vinegar, ½ teaspoon cloves, 1 tablespoon lavender essence or dried lavender, 1 tablespoon fresh rose petals and 1 tablespoon rosemary and ½ cup rosewater mix them in a covered pan and bring to a boil. Then cool for 12 hours and strain in a bottle. It makes an excellent toner.
4. Lemon Tonic. Take ½ a lemon, two tablespoons of castor sugar, 2 slices of an orange and put into a pan with half cup milk. Bring the mixture to a boil. When it cools it is ready to be used. Store it in the fridge though.
5. Mint Tonic. Take 1 cup of water, add fresh mint leaves, parsley and neem leaves to it. Bring it to a boil. After cooling strain in a bottle to use. This tonic is great for acne prone skin.
6. Olive oil Tonic. Take ½ a cup of water, ¼ cup rose water, 3 tablespoon soap flakes, 1 table spoon glycerin and 2 tablespoons olive oil. Mix together and apply on your skin it’s a great tonic for dry skin, but one needs to wash it after 15 minutes you cant keep it on.
7. Carrot Tonic. Mix ¼ cup cabbage juice, ½ cup carrot juice, 2 table spoons of wheat germ and ¼ cup rose water. Strain and put in a bottle. It is a great nourishing toner.

Besides these other natural products that can nourish skin are Almonds .It contains Vitamin A, which keeps the skin soft and free of wrinkles. Tulsi water makes for a great toner too. The juice of fresh fruits and vegetables tone and provide enzymes that help balance and cleanse the skin.

All in all a good toner is a non-alcohol refresher that helps remove dirt, it refines the pores and tauten and tones the skin , making it ready for moisturizing treatment.

After telling you all about how one should tone one’s skin naturally lets move on to our next skin care fundamental Moisturizing. Part four of this column is coming up next week: Indispensable for one’s skin, Moisturizing!

Tip of the Day: The simplest and cheapest toner is splashing your face with cold water.