We’ve been hearing for ages how adding apple cider vinegar (ACV) to our daily diets can help promote and support wellness, but have you considered the many ways it can enhance your beauty routine? Such a simple and versatile substance, ACV has endless uses for hair, skin and nails. Forget chemical-laden conventional beauty products! Once you customize your daily practices with ACV, you'll never consider going back.
1. Take your pedicure up a notch
If you opt for at-home pedicures instead of pricey, fume-filled experiences at a salon, you may be missing some of the perks, like heavy-duty callous removal. Not to worry. You can get the same results at home with ACV! Simply combine one part ACV and two parts water and soak your feet for 10 to 20 minutes. Gently remove callouses with a natural pumice stone and you’re good and sandal ready. Bonus: ACV soaks are also good for fighting nail fungus!
2. Clarify your hair
Over time, using the same shampoo and conditioner can leave a buildup on your hair. Instead of using a harsh clarifying shampoo, which runs the risk of stripping hair and leaving it dull and dry, rinse your hair with ACV once a month to remove buildup and get soft, shiny hair.
3. Help prevent blemishes
To help cleanse skin and prevent blemishes, make a solution of one part ACV and one part distilled water. After your regular cleansing routine, apply the solution to your face with a fresh, clean cotton round pad once or twice daily. No need to rinse afterward; your skin will absorb what it needs and the rest will evaporate leaving behind thoroughly cleansed skin.
4. Make your own sheet mask
Sheet mask facial treatments are the hottest thing to hit the beauty industry. But do you really know what’s in them? Make your own safe and non-toxic sheet mask by soaking organic cotton gauze strips in a mixture of even amounts of ACV and water, with one teaspoon of manuka honey mixed in. Let the strips set on your face for 15 to 20 minutes and rinse if you feel necessary.
5. Treat sunburn
Sunburns stink. When you forget to apply sunscreen and end up a little brighter red than you'd anticipated, take some of the sting away by wetting a clean cotton washcloth with a solution of two parts ACV and one part water and applying it to the affected area.
6. Balance your pH
Beauty is both inside and out. If your body isn’t balanced, it can show on your skin. You body can become unbalanced, with too much acidity or too little, depending on your eating habits. To promote physical health and wellness, consider adding a drink consisting of one tablespoon of ACV and one cup of water to your daily routine to help balance your pH levels. You can also try washing your skin with this Apple Cider Vinegar & Honey Soap Bar.
7. Freshen your breath
Bad breath is gross. And what’s worse is often you don’t even realize you are the offending party. To keep your breath smelling fresh and have a healthy mouth and gums, rinse and gargle with equal parts ACV and water every morning after brushing your teeth.
8. Enjoy a DIY detox bath soak
DIY bath soaks are one of the best detoxifying and healthy habits you can include in your beauty routine. Add one cup Epsom salts and one cup ACV to your bath once a week. Not only will your skin be healthier and softer but you'll be supporting your overall wellness with this natural bath soak.
9. Replace your makeup remover
What’s in that bottle of makeup remover in your cabinet? You’re unsure, right? Right. Instead of using the mystery solution make yourself a two-to-one water to ACV solution applied to a clean cotton cloth to remove your makeup. You can keep the solution in the fridge for up to a week.
10. Soften your skin
Skin softeners are the difference between wondering why your moisturizer works and why it doesn’t. While you may be tempted to buy an expensive, yet mystery-ingredient-filled skin softener solution, you can make your own by mixing equal parts distilled water and ACV. Place a few drops into the palm of your hand and massage into your face after cleansing -- but don’t rinse it away. You’ll be amazed at the results.
