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Vitamin C & Witch Hazel Facial Toner Recipe

August 13, 2015 by Katie Wells
Vitamin C and Witch Hazel Facial Toner Recipe

Finding a natural skin care routine can be tough. It often leads to strange things like washing your face with olive oil or honey or making a face mask out of yogurt.

It can be hard to find natural alternatives to some of your favorite conventional products, but this recipe is one that made the switch easy.

Natural Facial Toner Recipe

I never really understood the purpose of a facial toner until I had kids and occasionally had skin that was a mix between dry and oily at the same time.

My confused skin was challenging to care for, as I needed something that would help even out my skin’s oil production.

I found that a toner greatly improved my skin tone almost immediately and realized there were several reasons for this…

Skin is naturally acidic, but many skin care products are more on the alkaline side. A quality toner can help restore natural skin pH. Facial toners can also help shrink pores and balance oil production.

When used under makeup, toners can provide a protective barrier on the skin to prevent impurities from makeup from penetrating skin.

Facial Toner Ingredients: Vitamin C and Witch Hazel

I chose the ingredients for this toner carefully.

Witch hazel, an extract from the leaves and bark of the Hamamelis virginiana shrub, has a long history of use, especially in skin care. It has also been used over the the years as a natural remedy for hemorrhoids, burns and other skin irritation.

Witch hazel is naturally anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial, making it excellent for helping reduce the appearance of acne, redness and skin irritation. It helps lock in moisture, making it a good choice for oily and dry skin, and is high in tannins that reduce the appearance of fine lines.

Vitamin C helps tighten the skin and maintain the natural pH. Many high end skin products (that cost hundreds of times as much as this homemade toner) use vitamin C (often synthetic) for this purpose. Vitamin C is also important internally, but topical Vitamin C provides much more skin benefit.

IMPORTANT: Vitamin C is an acid and while the skin likes a mildly acidic environment, too much too fast can create irritation, especially if you have sensitive skin. You can add up to 3 times as much Vitamin C as I include in this recipe, but start slowly and work up to find your skin’s perfect balance. Over time, you can add slightly more Vitamin C, but don’t exceed 1.5 teaspoons.

Make Small Batches…

This recipes makes a small amount of facial toner, and this is important. Though you could easily double the recipe, it wouldn’t be as effective.

Vitamin C breaks down over time. I prefer to make about as much as I need for a week at a time and keep in the fridge to have a cooling toner to use after washing my face. You do not need to keep this refrigerated, but it slightly extends shelf life. Either way, keep out of sunlight and away from heat.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 tsp natural Vitamin C Powder
  • 1/4 cup witch hazel extract
  • optional: 8 drops lavender essential oil

Instructions

  1. Combine all ingredients in a small glass bottle, spray bottle or dropper bottle.
  2. Shake well to incorporate.
  3. Use after washing face each day. Apply with a cloth or cotton pad.

Or, Make Vitamin C Serum Instead

If you have really dry skin or don’t want to use witch hazel, you can use food grade glycerin in place of the witch hazel. This will produce a serum instead of a toner. Either one should be made in small batches and often because Vitamin C oxidizes so quickly.

Ever used Vitamin C on your skin? Try it!

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Category: Beauty

About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder and CEO of Wellness Mama and Co-Founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a wife and mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

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Reader Interactions

Discussion (63 Comments)

  1. Ivan

    August 16, 2015 at 12:14 PM

    Hi, what would the shelf life be on this?

    Reply
  2. Abigail

    August 14, 2015 at 3:21 PM

    Would buffered sodium ascorbate (vitamin C crystalline powder) work? It’s non acidic. Thanks!

    Reply
  3. Jaime

    August 14, 2015 at 2:56 PM

    I am worried that the vitamin C would make the skin more sensitive to the sun. Any thoughts or articles, anyone?

    Reply
    • Wellness Mama

      August 22, 2015 at 8:53 PM

      It can, so apply this toner at night 😉

      Reply
      • Rachele

        September 5, 2019 at 4:55 PM

        Hi Katie! I love this website, it is so inspiring and have learnt sl much already from you! Also i am managing to improve certain areas pf my lifestyle, so first of all a big THANK YOU for your amazing job 🙂
        I would like to know if instead of commercial witch hazel i could use a homemade infusion of the bark.
        What do you think? I have a lot just sitting there which i dont know how to use, maybe this could be a solition!?? ??

        Reply
  4. Caroline

    August 14, 2015 at 11:24 AM

    Vitamin C should be used in the form of esther C. It’s not as acidic and won’t irritate the skin, making it perfect for toners and serums. Great Article!

    Reply
    • Michel

      September 9, 2015 at 11:53 PM

      You actually want to use ascorbyl palmitate which is also known as vitamin C esther.
      It’s a common antioxidant used in food and skin care products and has a longer shelf life.

      Esther-C is something else altogether. It’s a metabolite of ascorbic acid, the vitamin found in many powders and supplements. It is marketed separately but not shown to have any difference in bioavailability when taken orally.

      Reply
  5. Mich

    August 13, 2015 at 10:54 PM

    I had mysteriously itchy underarms at one time. Super itchy. I crushed my vitamin C pills and made a paste with water and applied to armpits. In a few days itch was gone!

    Reply
  6. Donna Lysinger

    August 13, 2015 at 8:32 PM

    I will try this skin care , may it make a differance. I drink pure orange juice with most pulp, it’s the orange & pure juice together, as the orange’s are $ 1.00 a peice, I get the orange juice on sale at times for $ 6.00 a gallon. So I get 2 in one orange juice & the orange cut up in the juice’ I was asked by friend of mine, what can you do for flabby under chin & under arm’s. I said I’d ask you. Would powered alium made into a paste & rub on. These places to reduce the flab. Please reply.

    Reply
  7. Amanda

    August 13, 2015 at 8:00 PM

    I always use your blog for advice on sooo many things :)) thank u!
    What would be the best ingredients for a wrinkle prevention lotion or face wash?

    Reply
    • Natalie

      December 19, 2015 at 12:17 AM

      My local health food store has an anti wrinkle vitamin A and E oil that I put in my homemade lotions and it works really well.

      Reply
  8. Kimberly

    August 13, 2015 at 7:00 PM

    Would you just apply this in the morning? Do you know where to find spray bottles for this?
    Thank you!

    Reply
  9. Patty

    August 13, 2015 at 6:28 PM

    Is it possible to use the witch hazel without the alcohol and where would I be able to find it? Thank you!!

    Reply
    • Heather

      August 18, 2015 at 9:51 PM

      witch hazel is usually sold right next to the alcohol in the pharmacy section like target, walmart, walgreens and so on. It is really affordable which is another reason I use it.

      Reply
    • Julia

      January 20, 2016 at 5:52 PM

      I don’t believe alcohol in Witch Hazel is recommended by Wellnessmama.com. I got mine from Spark naturals.

      Reply
  10. Heather

    August 13, 2015 at 4:22 PM

    I use witch hazel everyday for my face. Adding vit C powder is genius!!! I have that in my cabinet! thanks. 😀

    Reply
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