Sometimes simple is best! Whenever my skin needs a little extra tender care, and I am short on time, I make a batch of my lavender toner. It only contains two ingredients, and it is super easy to make!
Ingredients:
2 oz of lavender hydrosol
2 oz of witch hazel hydrosol
Directions:
In a 4 oz bottle, add the hydrosols, cap, and shake gently to mix them. Mist your skin after cleaning and before moisturizing, and throughout the day.
Notes:
Lavender hydrosol is an excellent hydrosol for all skin types, in particular sensitive and irritated skin. It is recommended for both dry and oily skin, since it helps balance the skin. Lavender hydrosol is great for acne too!
Witch hazel hydrosol is the pure, alcohol free distillate. But you could substitute witch hazel extract, if desired (which is the distillate with added alcohol). Witch hazel is soothing and astringent, and good for most skin types.
Shelf life:
It is highly recommended that you store hydrosols in the fridge for maximum shelf life. You could store them at room temperature, but shelf life will be much longer if you store them in a cool, dark, non-humid place. I do not recommend storing them in a bathroom. If you prefer not to keep it in the fridge, then I suggest using it up quickly (within a few weeks or a couple months) or you can make a smaller 1 oz batch (add ½ ounce each of lavender and witch hazel hydrosols to a 1 oz spray bottle). Hydrosols can have a shelf life of months to years, but since they are mostly water, it is possible for them to get contaminated easily (within days), if not handled properly.
For more information on witch hazel, check out my article on formulating with witch hazel on All Natural Beauty’s website: Formulating with Witch Hazel
