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This homemade chamomile toner with honey, witch hazel, and aloe vera is an easy DIY toner recipe.
This recipe is one of those happy accidents that I didn’t even mean to make.
I was working on several other chamomile recipes (including this hair-lightening spray), and I had extra chamomile tea.
So of course I began thinking of what else I could do with the leftover tea (besides drink it, of course!).
I decided to try it as the base of a toner, with a couple of other ingredients for sensitive skin included, and it turned out wonderful.
DOES HOMEMADE TONER REALLY WORK?
DIY toner is so easy to make. Homemade toner can be just as effective as a store-bought version, with the added bonus of being able to customize completely to meet your personal skin needs.
There are lots of ways to make a natural facial toner, and it just takes a few minutes to mix it up.
This recipe is also less astringent than my witch hazel and aloe toner recipe, since it contains less witch hazel and uses chamomile tea with honey instead.
Lots of homemade toners use apple cider vinegar, but I prefer a witch hazel base for this recipe. It’s so gentle; I think you’ll love it too.
This recipe is also essential oil free, making it perfect for those sensitive to fragrances. It has a very light, natural scent from the chamomile tea and honey, but nothing overpowering.
BENEFITS OF CHAMOMILE FOR SKIN
You are probably familiar with the calming effects a cup of chamomile tea can have on the body, but did you know it is also great for skin?
It’s soothing and gentle and works beautifully for my skin.
CAN YOU USE CHAMOMILE TEA AS A TONER?
Chamomile is a wonderful ingredient for skin and finds its way into skincare for sensitive skin often. It works well in essential oil form as well, but chamomile essential oils can be expensive.
Using chamomile tea is an easy and inexpensive way to get the benefits of chamomile for your skin.
When using chamomile tea as a toner, I recommend brewing your tea strong. I use a 1:4 ratio of tea to water. So ¼ cup of loose chamomile tea and 1 cup of hot water.
Chamomile is soothing for sensitive or irritated skin and when mixed with just a few other ingredients, makes an excellent toner.
You can also try chamomile tea on its own as a toner or a lovely facial spritz. It will provide a soothing and very gentle feeling on your skin but may not provide all of the cleansing benefits that you get from a more traditional toner.
DOES HONEY WORK AS A TONER?
Another wonderful ingredient for skin that may surprise you is honey. Honey holds moisture into the skin and helps soothe it.
To use honey in skincare without turning your face into a sticky mess, you just need to dissolve it completely. It blends beautifully in this toner recipe with chamomile, witch hazel, and aloe vera.
Make sure you are using raw, unfiltered honey for the most benefits!
Try this recipe with homemade rose water for a different take on an herbal honey facial toner. Simply replace the chamomile tea with rose water.
DOES WITCH HAZEL MAKE A GOOD TONER?
Witch hazel helps even out skin tone. It is one of the most commonly used ingredients in store-bought facial toners, and it is easy to use in your own DIY toner recipe!
Just make sure you are using high-quality witch hazel with an alcohol content of no more than 20%. Otherwise, your toner will be very drying.
Make sure to also check out my more traditional witch hazel and aloe toner recipe.
Natural Toner for Sensitive Skin: Chamomile and Honey Toner
I say this recipe is for sensitive skin, but anyone can benefit from this toner. It’s gentle, nourishing, won’t dry out skin, helps eliminate excess oil and can even be used on acne prone skin. This is really a nice natural toner recipe.
Instructions
- Brew your chamomile tea. I like to use a 1:4 ratio of tea to water. So for 1 cup of hot water, use ¼ cup of loose chamomile tea.
- Let steep for at least 10 minutes, or up to an hour for a stronger tea.
- Strain the spent chamomile flowers from the water.
- Measure out 2 tablespoons of chamomile tea. Save the rest of the tea for another recipe (like this hair lightening spray) or drink it!
- Add the honey to the warm chamomile tea and stir until the honey is dissolved.
- Add witch hazel and aloe vera gel to the chamomile tea mixture.
- Mix until combined.
- Pour into a small glass spray bottle or container of your choice. Give it a good shake, and you’re done!
Notes
This recipe makes about 3 ounces of finished product.
Store in the refrigerator for up to a week.
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HOW DO I STORE MY HOMEMADE TONER?
This natural toner needs to be kept refrigerated since it contains water. Anything you make with ANY water must be refrigerated or you run the risk of developing bacteria.
Keeping this chamomile honey toner safely in the fridge only adds to its appeal to me (especially in warmer months). Chamomile is a cooling herb on its own, but keep this in the fridge, and it’s so refreshing!
I recommend keeping this toner in the fridge for about a week, then mixing up a new batch.
USE AS A CHAMOMILE FACIAL SPRITZ
This toner can also be used as a cooling facial spritz! Just mist on your face (or chest, arms, or wherever you like, really) throughout the day for a lovely pick-me-up.
It is refreshing, nourishing, and perfect for warm days too!
Or pair this homemade chamomile toner with a divine-looking chamomile and honey face wash for a DIY skin cleansing dream team!