DIY Green Tea Toner

The optional theme for The Fit Dish (hosted by Jill Conyers @ JillConyers.com, & Jessica Joy @ TheFitSwitch.org) is…Morning Routine!

I’ve discussed in the past how my morning routine is disturbingly minimal because I’m a terrible morning person, and also highly value sleep whenever I can get it… That hasn’t changed at all, so if you want to adopt that habit, click the image below!

Aside from that, I’ve been having a little fun lately with making my own skin care products because…aside from food and workout clothes, skin care products is #3 on my money-trap list. I may or may not have put myself on a 7-year ban (forserious) from LUSH because I wanted to buy everything in the store. (The fact that I didn’t have a car/license for 2 of those years, and then didn’t live within a 3-hour radius from one for the past 5 years probably helped.)

For the record, up til March of this year, I’d actually only purchased about 6 items from there, and none of them were over $15 each–most were under $7–but still.

Medical school doesn’t exactly leave me with a bunch of money lying around to spend, and being able to make your own products for cheap is pretty fun (e.g. my go-to Honey Aspirin Mask!), so why the hecks not?!

This toner only takes 3 ingredients (and one of them is water), so it doesn’t get much easier than that! I have a couple 3 oz. travel-size containers since I’m constantly on the run moving everywhere, so it fit rather nicely in there!

Why bother using toner, you ask? It can help to remove excess oils and dead skin cells from your face after you’re done washing it, and can help other skin applications (e.g. moisturizers, night creams) to absorb more rapidly! I’m a big fan of Alba Botanica’s Aloe & Green Tea Oil-Free Moisturizer (affiliate link!). :]

DIY Green Tea Toner

Ingredients:

• 1 green tea bag
• 1 tbsp witch hazel
• Filtered water

Instructions:

1. Boil water, drop in tea bag and let sit til cool.
2. Remove teabag + squeeze out excess moisture. Add witch hazel, mix + shake.
3. Pour into bottle.
4. Refrigerate! (It should keep for ~1 month!*)

*If you notice a weird smell before then, please dump it out and make a new batch.

I like keeping this in the refrigerator and using it at night, after I’ve washed my face and before I use any moisturizers.

If you have dry or sensitive skin, I’d caution against using this on a daily basis (it’s super diluted, but maybe stick to an alcohol-free one!). Butttt…if your skin has a tendency to get oilier in the summer (or it’s super hot/humid where you are), this could be useful for you in reducing oil production + fighting acne!

Green tea has possible anti-aging properties, and some early research shows that applying a solution with a certain chemical found in green tea to the skin for 2 months helps to reduce acne. (It also just makes this smell nicer.)

Witch hazel is an astringent with anti-inflammatory properties + also contains tannins, which can help to reduce swelling, repair broken skin, and fight bacteria when applied directly to the skin.

• What’s in your morning routine?
• Do you make your own skincare products?

Click the image to read my other Dish The Fit posts! :]

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