Many skincare brands are launching products with herbs at the forefront. With the popularization of essential oils in the United States and other areas of the world, people in the West now realize the incredible potential of herbal ingredients. Herbs are added to skin care products for a variety of benefits like moisturizing, treating inflammation, acne prevention, and reducing the signs of aging. Facial toners & primers are one of the more popular skincare products that utilize herbs and require few ingredients with minimal processing. Toners have been recommended mostly for removing dirt and oil left over after removing makeup or to restore proper pH after washing your face—soothing the skin, and preventing breakouts without over-drying. They are also said to help prepare and hydrate, making make-up application easier—not to mention the incredible aroma it leaves. Some toners out on the market even claim to prevent the signs of aging.
This astringent skincare formula uses yarrow which helps to reduce redness and soothes inflamed skin from minor blemishes, insect bites, and other skin irritations. The anti-inflammatory benefits of yarrow for skin are provided by the lactones and tannins in the herb along with anti-oxidant compounds. If you don’t want to use yarrow, there are other herbs that could be used in this same formula. When sourcing herbs for toner, you’ll want to choose botanicals with similar properties. Spearmint, rose, chamomile and lavender all have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and moisturizing attributes that can work.
HOW TO MAKE SOOTHING YARROW FACIAL TONER
Ingredients
DIY INSTRUCTIONS
Place the yarrow flowers in a large mason jar or lidded glass jar. Pour 2 cups of vodka over the dried herbs and secure the lid. Place the jar in a dark place for 4–6 weeks, gently shaking the jar once or twice each day. Now the infusion is ready. Strain out the yarrow flowers and discard leaving you with a wonderfully simple facial spray. Store the toner in a clean container with a lid for up to one year. Refrigeration is not required. You can put the liquid into a spray bottle for easy application or by soaking a cotton ball and dabbing your face.
