Apple cider vinegar is brimming with skin benefits and helps to very effectively get rid of oily skin. Yes, you’ve read it right. It’s one of the best oily skin treatments.
Read on to find out how to use it for oily skin.
What Is Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)
It comes from fermented juice acquired from crushed apples. For centuries, people either consume apple cider vinegar in small quantities or take it as a supplement. But nowadays, many use it as part of their skincare routine. It has been proven to treat pimples and acne scars, restore the skin’s pH, heal sunburn, soothe and exfoliate dead skin, and of course, eliminate oily skin.
While ACV is acidic in nature, it’s safe for the skin and works for most people if used correctly. The best way to use it for oily skin is in the form of toner. Here’s how you can make your own apple cider vinegar toner:
How to Make Apple Cider Vinegar Toner
First, pour ¼ cup of organic apple cider vinegar into a container with a lid. Then, dilute the vinegar by adding equal part water. If you have extra sensitive skin, you might want to use only filtered or distilled water.
Before using your homemade apple cider vinegar toner on target areas of your skin, do a patch test on your arm. This is to assess how your skin reacts to it.
To apply ACV toner: Soak a clean cotton ball on the apple cider vinegar toner and gently rub it on your face and neck. Alternatively, you can store the toner in a spray bottle and just directly spray it on your skin. Always start with a light mist and add more if you need. Once the apple cider vinegar toner has dried, slather on a good moisturizer.
For best results, use apple cider vinegar toner on your oily skin two to three times a week.
Recommended reading: Best Face Wash for Oily Skin
Points To Take Note
- For your ACV toner, it’s best to use an organic raw, unfiltered ACV- the one that contains the ‘mother’ of the vinegar. So, what’s the deal with this so-called ‘mother’ of the vinegar? Well, this substance that looks like a slice of wobbly raw liver offers the most therapeutic benefits.
- You probably heard your younger brother say that apple cider vinegar smells like feet, and you couldn’t agree more. While this is the case, the smell almost completely disappears once the ACV toner dries on your skin. If you can stand the smell, you may choose not to let the toner stay on your skin overnight.
- This is the most important part- make sure to dilute ACV with water as using it directly on the skin could result in unpleasant side effects.
Benefits Of Apple Cider Vinegar For Skin
- Treats Acne. ACV effectively treats acne, thanks to its antibacterial properties. One of the leading causes of acne is the P. acne bacteria, and the phytochemicals present in ACV significantly act upon the said bacteria. In addition, ACV is anti-inflammatory in nature. This means that it can treat the inflammation caused by the acne-causing bacteria. ACV also fades acne scars by eliminating the damaged layer of the skin and promoting its regeneration.
- Restores the skin’s pH. ACV ticks all the boxes- removing excess dirt, shrinking pores, and restoring the skin’s pH. As long as ACV is properly diluted, the finished product or the toner won’t throw your skin’s pH out of whack.
- Heals sunburn. Besides treating acne and restoring the skin’s pH, ACV is also known for healing sunburn. Its anti-inflammatory properties are basically responsible for this added benefit. But then again, it’s best to dilute ACV properly before application as sunburn, and inflamed skin is usually extra sensitive.
- Exfoliates dead skin. Your dermatologist probably told you already that the best exfoliants are those that contain several naturally exfoliating AHAs. Luckily, ACV doesn’t disappoint with its malic acid, citric acid, and lactic acid- all of which work together to break down the dead skin’s topmost layer, revealing smoother, well-hydrated skin.
- And the best part? ACV eliminates excess oil. So if you’re looking for something that could help with your oily skin, make use of the ACV sitting in your kitchen cabinet. As a natural astringent, ACV doesn’t fail in diminishing the appearance of the pores.
How Much Time It Takes To See Results
If you’re using ACV to keep your oily skin under control, expect to see results after two to four weeks of continued use. As a rule of thumb, you can’t expect significant improvements to happen overnight. But you may get lucky to start seeing beautiful results from your ACV toner earlier than predicted.