What is Natural Toner for the Face?

Disclaimer: Always ask your dermatologist before using any natural toner on your skin. The below information is only my opinion based on personal experience, intense research, and amazing results. This article contains no medical advice or beauty advice and is for informational purposes only.

What is the BEST Natural Toner for the Face?

Out of all the skin toners, which is the best natural toner?

Hands down, the BEST natural toners for the face are ROSE WATER and WHITE TEA.

IMPORTANT: Always check with your dermatologist before trying any of the natural toners below to make sure they’re right for your skin type.

It’s been said that one of Queen Cleopatra’s beauty secrets was pure rose water. This natural toner has been cherished for thousands of years, for good reason.

Here are the benefits of rose water natural toner:

• Tightens pores
• Naturally kills bacteria on the skin
• Reduces redness
• Balances all skin types
• Soothes irritated and painful skin
• Doesn’t dry out your skin (naturally hydrating)
• Helps skin cells regenerate
• Unclogs pores
• Anti-aging
• Preserves collagen and elastin in your skin (keeps it firm and plump)

The FDA says that rose buds, flowers, fruit (hips), absolute, and leaves are generally recognized as safe for their intended use. ²

I recommend that your rose product is organic and food-grade.

To make sure you’re getting the best rose water, choose the variety of rose called damask rose (scientific name is Rosa Damascena). This is the species that’s been studied and is full of all the above proven benefits. To be sure you’re getting the best rose water, search the words “Rosa Damascena” when buying online. Also search “organic“.

I prefer to buy rose water that can also be used for cooking purposes. Anything you put on your skin gets absorbed into your body. It’s wise to be careful. If I can eat it, I feel more comfortable putting it on my skin. That’s always a safe rule in my book.

For the best rose water, see my recommended natural beauty page on this website for the best natural toners here.

---

What Can I Use as a Natural Toner?

Here are some great natural ingredients to use in a DIY toner:

1. Rose Water (tie for best)
2. White Tea Water (tie for best)
3. Orange Blossom Water
4. Holy Basil (Tulsi) Water
5. Comfrey Water
6. Ice
7. Chamomile Water
8. Witch Hazel
9. Diluted Organic Raw Apple Cider Vinegar

These are all good natural toner ingredients.

Rose Water

Aside from all the amazing things listed at the top of this article, rose extracts have even more benefits ¹ :

• Help sleep longer (mice study)
• Have a relaxing effect (rats study)
• Decrease anxiety and/or depression (mice studies)
• Help brain cells grow (rats study)
• May improve heart function (guinea pig study)
• Decrease coughing (guinea pig study)
• Anti-HIV activity (in vitro study)
• Lower blood sugar (rats study)
• Laxative effect (rats study)

White Tea Water

White tea is famous for being a potent natural toner with a ton of beneficial properties. Not only can you drink it, but you can put it on your skin too!

Studies show that white tea has the following beneficial qualities when applied to the skin ^{7, 8} :

• Increases collagen and elastin (for firm and plump skin)
• Antioxidant
• Protects skin cells from damage
• Anti-wrinkle effect
• Anti-aging
• Improves sun-damaged skin
• Keeps moisture locked in (very hydrating)
• Reduces redness
• Decreases inflammation
• Restores healthy skin cells

To see the white tea leaves that I use, see my recommended natural beauty page on this website for the best natural toners here.

Orange Blossom Water

Orange blossom water is famous in France and other parts of the world for naturally toning the skin. It’s one of the secret beauty weapons French women use.

Aside from being wonderful for the face, it’s also known to reduce anxiety. In mice, a study showed that orange blossom water reduced sleep-induced anxiety more than a popular prescription anxiety drug. ⁵

I read about a girl’s experience with orange blossom water who raved about how well it worked for her anxiety. She took 2 tablespoons with water before going to bed and slept like a baby.

For the best orange blossom water, see my recommended natural toner page on this website.

Comfrey Water

Comfrey is a kind of flowering plant. You can brew tea from the leaves, just like you would any regular tea.

Comfrey has been proven to ⁴ :

• Reduce inflammation
• Heal skin faster
• Decrease pain

Comfrey tea is a great way to tone your skin naturally. It’s as simple as brewing a cup of tea and letting it cool.

To see the comfrey toner that I recommend, visit my natural toner page on this website.

Ice

Ice is a remarkably effective and simple natural toner. It has cooling properties that give your skin a radiant glow.

Ice has the following benefits:

• Firms the skin
• Decreases puffiness
• Decreases swelling
• Decreases circulation of blood, reducing inflammation
• Decreases pain of blemishes

People who ice their faces feel energized and refreshed. It’s a great pastime. You can ice your face while watching a video or talking on the phone.

Chamomile Water

Chamomile is a very popular natural toner that people use for skin redness and inflammation.

Unfortunately, it can occasionally cause a bad reaction or allergy if the person is sensitive or allergic to plants in the ragweed, chrysanthemum, or Compositae families. ⁶

For people without allergies or sensitivity to chamomile, they love to use it as a soothing natural toner.

In studies, chamomile has been proven to ⁶ :

• Reduce inflammation
• Penetrate below the skin’s surface to deeper layers
• Kill cancer cells
• Soothe eczema
• Have antibacterial effects
• Heal skin faster (even faster than corticosteroids!)

Not only can you use it as a natural toner, but you can drink chamomile tea as well. Studies have shown that it helps people fall asleep and may help with mild to moderate anxiety. ⁶

To see the chamomile toner I recommend, visit my natural toner page on this website.

Witch Hazel

Witch hazel has been used for hundreds of years as a natural skin toner. It’s a flowering shrub that some people use for inflamed and irritated skin.

It has survived the test of time and is a staple of any drugstore down the street today. People don’t buy things unless they work.

It’s one of the most affordable natural toners on the market. This is a great option if you’re on a budget and need something quick & easy. DIY face toner using witch hazel is a no-brainer.

IMPORTANT: If you use witch hazel, make sure to buy the kind WITHOUT alcohol. Search for alcohol-free witch hazel. For an added bonus, there are some witch hazel toners with rose petals that are even better for the skin.

Witch hazel is not as effective as white tea is when it comes to preserving collagen and elastin in your skin. However, a study shows that witch hazel protects skin cells from damage and has antioxidant qualities. ⁷

To see the witch hazel I recommend, visit my natural toner page on this website.

Holy Basil (Tulsi) Water

Holy basil (also known as tulsi) is a very popular herb used for beautiful, clear, and healthy skin.

It has rare properties and is considered an adaptogen. Holy basil has an inherent intelligence that adjusts to the body by either giving or taking away energy to achieve health and balance.

Holy basil has been studied to have the following properties ^{9, 10} :

• Antioxidant
• Heals wounds faster
• Antibacterial
• Decreases inflammation

The plant itself has so many health benefits besides being a great natural toner for the skin. It’s considered a sacred plant in some cultures. Ask your doctor if it’s right for you.

To see the holy basil toner I recommend, visit my natural toner page on this website.

Diluted Organic Raw Apple Cider Vinegar

Organic raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar is one of the more popular natural toners for acne. It’s important to dilute it with enough water so that it doesn’t sting. Diluting it also helps reduce the strong scent of vinegar.

Many people use diluted apple cider vinegar as their natural toner of choice for acne. There’s evidence that some of the acids in apple cider vinegar kill bacteria that cause acne.

Dermatologists provide effective acne treatment. A doctor of functional medicine may also be able to help determine the cause of the problem.

To see the best raw organic apple cider vinegar that I personally use and recommend, visit my natural toner page on this website here.

---

What does a Toner do to Your Face?

Natural toner is traditionally applied after washing your face. Sometimes there can be remnants of dirt, makeup, or cleanser left behind in the pores of your skin. Toner can help remove this.

Natural toner is applied to a disposable cotton pad or cotton ball. You can swipe the toner all over your face to make sure you remove all the remaining residue.

Some toners can deep clean your pores to ensure that enemy bacteria don’t hide and multiply. Some skin bacteria can cause breakouts and inflammation. It’s best to look for ingredients that can combat this problem specifically.

Other toners can give the face a radiant glow by tightening skin, closing pores, and depositing a balancing formula to prevent your skin from drying out. Some toners can reduce redness, inflammation, irritation, and even promote healing of wounds (depending on the type you use).

A good natural toner, like rose water, can add moisture and softness back into the skin. This helps keep moisture locked in. White tea also does this remarkably well. Visit my natural toner page on this website to see the products and basic ingredients I buy to create my DIY toners.

---

Do I Really Need a Toner for My Face?

You must always follow the advice and skincare directions of your dermatologist. If your doctor says that you need a toner, then make sure to follow their orders.

Normal and healthy human skin is naturally equipped to be radiant and beautiful. A natural cleanser, lots of water, and a natural moisturizer can be sufficient for many people with normal healthy skin.

Sometimes less is more.

Studies show that white tea and rose water can make skin healthier and improve the way it looks. ^{1, 7, 8}

Many people who want their skin to look cleaner and healthier use natural toner after cleansing. There are others who don’t use a toner at all and get along just fine without it.

Eating organic fresh fruits and raw vegetables daily helps improve the radiance and texture of skin for many people. Flour and white sugar products can make the skin sag and look dull.

Eating a proper diet, getting enough sleep, eliminating stress, and taking proper vitamins/minerals all can help give a person beautiful skin, maybe more than a toner.

Some people ask their doctors if they can take organic milk thistle capsules. After breaking out for the first week or so from the deep cleansing and detox process, my skin became radiant and glowing from the inside-out after taking milk thistle. But it’s not always a miraculous answer for everyone. Eating junk food alone can make a person’s skin look zombie-like.

IN MY SUPPLEMENTS, I AVOID:

• microcrystalline cellulose
• magnesium stearate
• silicon dioxide

In the milk thistle capsules I buy, I make sure to read the “Other Ingredients” list. I never buy capsules with any of these fillers. I also make sure the ingredients are organic and all natural.

It’s what’s on the inside that counts.

Beauty starts from within. Treat yourself from the inside out, not the outside in.

---

How do You Make Homemade Toner?

NATURAL TONER RECIPES

Making natural toner at home is the easiest step out of all the skincare steps. The most simple formulas include just 1 primary ingredient, depending on the needs of your skin. Work with your dermatologist to find the perfect and most appropriate recipe for your skin’s specific needs.

If there are multiple skin issues you’d like to address, then you can combine multiple ingredients, depending on your skin’s requirements.

See the list of natural toners above to determine which one is right for you. Here’s my list of natural toners that I recommend (it’s a page on this website to guide buyers).

---

Homemade Face Toner for Daily Use

If you’re looking to make a homemade skin toner that will give you a natural glow, see the tips below. To see the ingredients and products I use, visit my natural toner page on this website.

Homemade Toner for DRY SKIN

What is a natural toner for dry skin? The best natural toners for dry skin are:

• Rose Water – Simply wet a clean cotton ball or pad with rose water after washing your face. Swipe all over the face and neck. You can also spritz all over your face with a spray bottle. Pure rose water can be purchased online.
  • See my natural toner page on this website for the one I use.
• White Tea Water – Boil 2 cups water. Let it cool for 1 minute after the water reaches the boiling point. Put in 1/4 cup organic white tea leaves. Let the leaves steep for 4 minutes. Use a fine-mesh strainer to drain the tea into a clean glass container. Put tea in the fridge to cool for 1 hour. Once cooled, apply the liquid to a clean cotton ball or pad and swipe all over your face and neck after cleansing. Keep refrigerated (discard after 3 days).
• To see the white tea leaves that I use, visit my natural toner page on this website.

Homemade Toner for NORMAL SKIN

The best natural toners for normal skin are:

• Rose Water
• Orange Blossom Water
  • Simply wet a clean cotton ball or pad with floral water after cleansing. Swipe all over the face and neck. Pure rose and orange water can be purchased online (see my natural toner page on this website for the products I use).
• Holy Basil (Tulsi) Water
• Comfrey Water
  • Boil 2 cups of water in a small pot. Turn off the stove. Put in 1/4 cup organic holy basil (tulsi) or comfrey tea leaves. Let the leaves steep for 10 minutes with the lid on the pot. Use a fine-mesh strainer to drain the tea into a clean glass container. Put tea in the fridge to cool for 1 hour. Once cooled, apply the liquid to a clean cotton ball or pad and swipe all over your face and neck after cleansing. Keep refrigerated: discard after 3 days.
    • If you want, you can dilute the holy basil or comfrey tea with witch hazel, to your liking.
    • To see the comfrey toner I recommend, visit my natural toner page on this website.

Homemade Toner for OILY SKIN

The best natural toners for oily skin are:

• Orange Blossom Water – Simply wet a clean cotton ball or pad with orange blossom water after cleansing your face. Swipe all over face and neck. Pure orange blossom water can be purchased online.
• Holy Basil (Tulsi) Water – Boil 2 cups water. Put in 1/4 cup organic holy basil (tulsi) tea leaves. Let the leaves steep for 10 minutes. Use a fine-mesh strainer to drain the tea into a clean glass container. Put tea in the fridge to cool for 1 hour. Once cooled, apply the liquid to a clean cotton ball or pad and swipe all over your face and neck after cleansing. Keep refrigerated: discard after 3 days.
  • Optional: Mix 1 part holy basil water with 1 part witch hazel for an excellent alternative natural toner for oily skin.
  • Optional: Add in a small amount of raw organic apple cider vinegar, to your liking. This helps kill bacteria on the skin.
  • To see the holy basil toner I recommend, visit my natural toner page on this website.
• Ice – Rub an ice cube all over your face after cleansing to tighten pores, tone skin, and slow oil production. Keep the ice moving; don’t stop and hold it in one place. Time: 1-3 minutes.

Homemade Toner for AGING SKIN

The best natural toners for aging skin are:

• Rose Water – Simply wet a clean cotton ball or pad with rose water after cleansing. Swipe all over the face and neck. Pure rose water can be purchased online.
  • See my natural toner page on this website for the one I use.
• White Tea Water – Boil 2 cups water. Let it cool for 1 minute after the water reaches boiling point. Put in 1/4 cup organic white tea leaves. Let the leaves steep for 4 minutes. Use a fine-mesh strainer to drain the tea into a clean glass container. Put tea in the fridge to cool for 1 hour. Once cooled, apply the liquid to a clean cotton ball or pad and swipe all over your face and neck after cleansing. Keep refrigerated: discard after 3 days.
  • To see the white tea leaves that I use, visit my natural toner page on this website.

Natural Toner for ACNE PRONE SKIN

The best natural toners for acne prone skin are:

• Holy Basil (Tulsi) Water – Boil 2 cups water. Put in 1/4 cup organic holy basil (tulsi) tea leaves. Let the leaves steep for 10 minutes. Use a fine-mesh strainer to drain the tea into a clean glass container. Put tea in the fridge to cool for 1 hour. Once cooled, apply the liquid to a clean cotton ball or pad and swipe all over your face and neck after cleansing. Keep refrigerated: discard after 3 days.
  • Optional: Add 1 Tablespoon of raw organic apple cider vinegar to the holy basil water to help kill acne bacteria.
  • Optional: Mix 1 part holy basil water with 1 part witch hazel to help purify your skin.
  • Here’s the holy basil toner that I recommend on my natural toner page of this website.

---

Aloe Vera Toner DIY

Aloe vera is a popular ingredient in some natural toners that has soothing and cooling properties. If you’d like to add anti-inflammatory and healing properties to your natural toner, just add 1/4 cup of organic aloe vera gel to any of the above-listed toners of your choice. Mix well.

DIY Chamomile Toner

Chamomile toner is extremely easy to make at home:

Directions: Boil 2 cups water. Put in 1/4 cup dried organic chamomile flowers. Let the flowers steep for 5 minutes. Use a fine-mesh strainer to drain the tea into a clean glass container. Put tea in the fridge to cool for 1 hour. Once cooled, apply the liquid to a clean cotton ball or pad and swipe all over your face and neck after cleansing. Keep refrigerated: discard after 3 days.

Warning: Some people who have allergies to the ragweed family of plants may develop a bad reaction or allergy to chamomile. Only use under the strict supervision of your dermatologist.

For more about chamomile natural toner, see the top of this article for helpful info.

To see the chamomile toner that I recommend, visit my natural toner page on this website.

---

Using a natural toner for the face is the new wave of a brighter and greener future. Not only does it save a lot of money, but it’s also simple and chemical-free.

• To see all the natural toners that I personally use and recommend, visit my natural beauty page on this website.

In the end, nature always wins. Human beings are a fundamental part of the natural world. The sooner we get back to nature, the sooner we get back to a state of well-being. Carpe diem.

References:

1. Boskabady MH, Shafei MN, Saberi Z, Amini S. Pharmacological effects of rosa damascena. Iran J Basic Med Sci. 2011;14:295–307. [PMC Free Article]

2. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, FDA U.S. Food & Drug Administration (2020). Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, Substances Generally Recognized as Safe (Title 21, Chapter 1, Subchapter B, Part 182, Subpart A, Sec. 182.20). Retrieved from Electronic Code of Federal Regulations.

3. Seigner J, Junker-Samek M, Plaza A, D’Urso G, Masullo M, Piacente S, Holper-Schichl YM, de Martin R. A Symphytum officinale Root Extract Exerts Anti-inflammatory Properties by Affecting Two Distinct Steps of NF-κB Signaling. Front. Pharmacol. 2019; 10: 289. [PMC Free Article]

4. Staiger C. Comfrey: A Clinical Overview. Phytother Res. 2012 Oct; 26(10): 1441–1448. [PMC Free Article]

5. Hajjar T, Arhami M, Vaezi Kakhki MR. Comparative Effects of Orange Blossom, Violet, and Marjoram Extracts and Lorazepam on Sleep Deprivation-Induced Anxiety in Mice. Neurophysiology. 2019; 51: 29-34. Retrieved from Springer Link.

6. Srivastava J, Shankar E, Gupta S. Chamomile: A herbal medicine of the past with bright future. Mol Med Report. 2010 Nov 1; 3(6): 895-901. [PMC Free Article]

7. Thring T SA, Hili P, Naughton D P. Antioxidant and potential anti-inflammatory activity of extracts and formulations of white tea, rose, and witch hazel on primary human dermal fibroblast cells. J Inflamm (Lond). 2011; 8: 27. [PMC Free Article]

8. Lee K O, Kim S N, Kim Y C. Anti-wrinkle Effects of Water Extracts of Teas in Hairless Mouse. Toxicol Res. 2014 Dec; 30(4): 283–289. [PMC Free Article]

9. Shetty S, Udupa S, Udupa L. Evaluation of Antioxidant and Wound Healing Effects of Alcoholic and Aqueous Extract of Ocimum sanctum Linn in Rats. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2008 Mar; 5(1): 95–101. [PMC Free Article]

10. Singh S, Malhotra M, Majumdar DK. Antibacterial activity of Ocimum sanctum L. fixed oil. Indian J Exp Biol. 2005 Sep;43(9):835-7. [PubMed]

---

© Copyright 2022. Natural Universal Secrets. All rights reserved. Copying or reproducing any part of this article is strictly prohibited and punishable by law.