Take 2 tablespoons of rosemary powder, 1 tablespoon of orange peels, 2 tablespoons of lemon peels, 1/2 teaspoon of sodium benzoate, 1/2 tablespoon of brandy, 30 mint leaves and 1 cup of rose water. Soak lemon peels, mint leaves and orange peels in boiling rose water for 1 hour. Mix other ingredients into this solution. Use after washing your face.

Rose water is known for its toning properties and is one of the best-known potions for the face. This recipe is a traditional way to prepare rose water. Be sure you have a brick and a heat-safe stainless steel pot. Take 2-3 quarts of fresh roses or rose petals, water, ice cubes or crushed ice. Put the roses in the pot. Pour in just enough water to cover the roses. Place the lid upside down on the pot. Turn on the stove and brig the water to a boil, then lower heat to a slow steady simmer. As soon as the water begins to boil, toss 2 or 3 trays of ice cubes (or a bag of ice) on top of the lid. You’ve now created a home still ! As the water boils the steam rises, hits the top of the cold lid, and condenses. Its time to stop when you have between a pi t and a quart of water that smells and tastes strongly of roses.

This is a refreshing toner for oily skin. It uses ingredients like cucumber and yogurt that are rich in their water content and hence are good on oily skins. Chop up a small-sized, fresh cucumber and liquidize it with 1/2 cup of yogurt. Apply the mixture for 5-10 minutes, and wash it off. The remainder can be stored in fridge for future use.

Dried mint is a lovely ingredient for beautiful skin. Smoothing, hydrating, and toning – mint does it all. Take some dried mint and cover it with 11/2 cups of boiling water and steep for 10 minutes. Strain and reserve the liquid, and allow to cool before using. Apply with cotton pads and use in a mister. Allow to dry on the skin naturally; no need to rinse off.

The second step in your daily routine should be toning, which is an essential follow-up of the cleansing process. Toning removed the last stages of the cleanser and dissolved dirt. It stimulates the surface circulation and tightens up the skin, giving it firmness, and open pores are reduced as well. Astringents are the same thing, except that they are to be used on oily skin. A soother is also very much the same thing. Our soothers are spot on and some of them are so easy to make that it’s a wonder that we did with those bottled varieties. Try these and feel the happiness that comes with a DIY thing.

To really get a better deal out of your toner or astringent or soother, pour half the bottle of the skin tonic in a dish, soak a few small pads of cotton wool in it and place in the fridge. Thus it will always be ready, soaked and frozen, to dab on the face. Before throwing away the pad, press and roll it in an upward direction on your face and neck.

One of the best toners we can recommend out of the neat lot we have accumulated between these pages is the Mint Toner, and also those with a honey base. Both are ideal for parched skin. Mint is especially good during summers as it leaves you refreshed.

Check these toners in upcoming posts and choose the one that appeals to you the most.

Remember, a toner braes the skin and tightens the pores, especially under the eyes and on the jawline. So its an anti-aging trick you could well employ.