skin secrets from my mother
Here’s another great use for vinegar: skin tonic!
I got this recipe from my mother, who I believe learnt it from her esthetician.
Take 2-3 organic strawberries (sliced) and float them in 1/4 cup white vinegar until the vinegar turns red (looks a bit like fake blood, doesn’t it?). You may steep the strawberries for as few as 3-4 hours or as long as a day or two (I tend to go longer since I like the heavier strawberry scent). Discard the strawberries and put your tonic in a nice-looking bottle. Voila!
I like to store mine in the refrigerator to keep it fresh and stimulating but I believe it will be shelf-stable in your bathroom cabinet. I use a dime-sized drop each evening after washing my face (patted on with bare hands), then follow with my favorite moisturizer – Epicuren Facial Emulsion Enzyme is my current choice though I am notoriously fickle when it comes to skincare lines.
As many of you know, I have been on a vinegar kick for a long time (cleaning the house, laundry, etc.). This is by far the best thing I’ve done for my skin EVER and it’s completely safe and natural. I’ve read that vinegar kills most bacteria (making it great for adult or teen acne-prone skin) and strawberries are loaded with Vitamin C, a common ingredient in age-defying cosmecuticals.
I wish I had a similarly posed “before” shot to show you how the surface wrinkles under my eyes have lessened since I’ve started using my ‘strawberry+vinegar’ tonic. Don’t imagine, however, that it works on deeper wrinkles – my smooth forehead is the result of twice-a-year Botox!
What do you think, readers, are any of you interested in trying it? If so, please share your results!
This is so great. I’ve been kind of on a vinegar kick as well. I’ve been drinking a lot of apple cider vinegar with honey lately. Also very healthy. This is so interesting, but do you find that you don’t like the smell of the vinegar on your skin? I love what vinegar can do, but most of the time I (definitely my family) does not like the smell of vinegar.
Hi Calvina, that’s why I steep the strawberries so long – not only because they are especially hydrating to the skin but because they minimize the vinegar smell. I’ve also been trying to wash up earlier so any residual ‘vinegar-ness’ goes away before I pop into bed. Dane is using it, too, so he seems to mind the least!
I definitely want to try this the next time I have strawberries at home. I’ve been cleaning and doing laundry w/ vinegar for years and currently use mint tea as my toner for my face but it seems to get stale after a day or two on the shelf. The strawberry-vinegar sounds like it would keep a lot better and it must feel so refreshing on your face. thanks for the tip!