Does apple cider vinegar help acne? It’s kind of a miracle tonic

By S. Nicole Lane, HELLO GIGGLES

It may not sound like the most desirable way to wake up in the morning but believe it or not using apple cider vinegar as a toner for your face can work wonders on your adult acne. Apple cider vinegar is a natural and organic way to substitute your moisturizers, spot treatment, cleansers, and pills. Since our skin is naturally acidic, the harsh soaps that we apply strips away the natural acid that protects us from bacteria and pollution. Apple cider vinegar removes dirt, bacteria, and makeup without dismantling that natural acidic barrier in your skin.

This isn’t a new found beauty treatment, my friends. Apple cider viengar has been used for over 5,000 years by the Babylonians, the Egyptians, and the Greeks. Crazy, right?

How does it work exactly? First, make sure to purchase unfiltered, organic, raw apple cider vinegar that still has the “mother” in it. The unpasteurized apple cider preserves probiotics and the yeast colonies found in the “mother.” Dilute the apple cider vinegar with filtered or distilled water and store it in a small container. The dilution will depend on the sensitivity of your skin but two or three parts water is the most common. After that, simply use your apple cider vinegar like you would your regular toner. Apply to a cotton ball and wait until the toner has dried to use any lotion or creams.

The “mother” helps rebalance the bacteria on our skin and reduces inflammation that can result in acne. ACV is basically working as a probiotic for your skin.

The main issue with applying apple cider vinegar directly to your skin is that once you stop using it, your acne may return because you aren’t getting to the root of the problem. Diet and lifestyle changes would probably enhance your skin permanently, while apple cider vinegar or other topical treatments are temporary.

Apple cider vinegar is known to be a little miracle ingredient, however. The health benefits include: detoxification, reduction of blood sugar level, improving digestion, and removing excess acids. Even if you don’t suffer from terrible acne, apple cider vinegar could still help you with a variety of health issues and prevent any from emerging.

More alternative beauty regimens for clearer skin include honey, cucumber, coconut oil, and more — seriously, just open up your pantry or fridge and most of the stuff in there will work better than some heavy duty, chemical-laden products you’ve stocked up on from the drugstore. Then again, if you have a serious skin issue or acne, it’s better to go to a dermatologist to see what they recommend for your situation. Skin care, like everything else in life, is not a perfect science.