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How to prepare a facial toner that will protect, cleanse and nourish skin from herbs, roots, and flowers. A concise list of botanicals to use along with several excellent recipes you can make at home.

Homemade facial toners and mists are fairly simple to prepare and very beneficial to the skin. They not only hydrate, but help combat pollution and help protect skin by the micronutrients that are inherent in the herbs being applied. The longest lasting way to make toners is to macerate the herbs in an alcohol base first, then add distilled water and essential oils after. I personally like using the alcohol base for this reason, but others may not. Truly, since the alcohol is cut by half with the addition of other ingredients it is not at all as drying to the skin as often believed. However, for those who really don’t want to use any alcohol, I have outlined ways to either decoct or infuse the herbs in distilled water instead. Alternatively, any recipes calling for alchol can use white wine vinegar or good quality witch hazel as a substitute.

The following dried roots, barks or stems may be decocted with purified or distilled water. Remember, if you have harvested your own plants you must cut them into small pieces. Once cooled, they may be bottled and will last for about 3 days in the refrigerator. They can be applied directly to skin as a refresher with a cotton ball, or, they me be used as an added or substitute ingredient for any of the toner preparations given below:

Dandelion Root
Comfrey Root
Slippery Elm Bark
Marshmallow Root
Lemongrass Stem
Ginger Root
Witch Hazel Bark
Licorice Root
Mallow Seeds
Peony Root
Burdock Root

The following dried herbs may be infused with purified or distilled water. Once cooled, they may be bottled and will last for about 3 days in the refrigerator. They can be applied directly to skin as a refresher with a cotton ball, or, they me be used as an added or substitute ingredient for any of the toner preparations given below:

Rosepetals
Calendula Flowers
Lavander Flowers
Violet Flowers
Rose Geranium Leaf
Peppermint Leaf
Nettle Leaf
Elderflowers
Chamomile Flowers
Echinacea Leaf
Raspberry Leaf
Acacia Flowers
Blackberry Leaf
Blackcurrent Leaf
Hollyhock Flower
Jasmine Flower
Mullein Leaf
Parsley
Pansy Flower
Snapdragon Flower
Sorrel Lead
Rosemary Leaf
Green Tea Leaf
Hibiscus Flower
Strawberry Leaf
Mallow Flowers

How To Prepare Facial Toner

I am providing the basic method to make your toner preparation. There are generally two ways to do it. The first is the longer method which is in my opinion a better process, the second, is a quick version if you don’t want to wait or need something in the meantime. Following the basic method given are some of my personal recipe favorites for reference.

First, choose any of roots, leaves, flowers etc. from either of the lists above. I recommend starting with just one basic herb, for example, dandelion root. Once you have chosen one herb, take about 1/2 cup and put into a sterile glass jar (jelly jars work great) and cover with 1 and 1/2 cup of alcohol, white wine vinegar or witch hazel (whatever you decide to use). Seal the jar with a lid, or some folded paper towel held in place with a rubber band. Put this into a dark cupboard and allow to macerate. If you have chosen a root or bark you will need to wait about a week, and you should shake the jar regularly (be careful if it is covered with paper towel and not a regular lid). If you have chosen a leaf or a stem you will need to wait about 3 days (again, shake every so often). Once this time has passed, strain the herb out with a seive into a clean glass container or another good size jar (a standard quart jelly jar should do just fine with the measurements given). To this add either 1 cup pure water, OR; you may make a decoction or infusion of a second herb from one of the lists above and allow it to cool. Once cooled, you can add 1 cup of this into the jar of herbal brew. At this point, you may also add one of the following essential oils. The amount noted is assuming you are making your preparation with the measures given above which will yield about 2 cups. Obviously, you will need to adjust accordingly if you make either more or less of the stated amount. Although there are infinite kinds of oils you can use, I have only listed those that are generally safe and non-irritating to the skin. If you would like to use a different oil of your own choosing, be sure to check that it is not known to cause a reaction or aggravate skin. Seven (7) drops of your selected essential oil can be added to the finished preparation as follows:

Lavander Oil
Rose Oil
Chamomile Oil
Jasmine Oil
Ylang Ylang Oil
Peppermint Oil
Myrhh Oil
Vanilla Oil
Almond Oil

…to be continued

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