Homemade Facial Toner For Aging Skin

See how to make a DIY anti-aging toner! Creating a homemade facial toner for aging skin is easy, and everyone can whip up this beginner-friendly skincare formula. The natural facial toner is filled with botanical extracts and moisturizing nutrients that can help to refresh and rejuvenate mature skin.

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DIY anti-aging toner

Looking for ways to amp up your anti-aging skincare regime? Then add my homemade facial toner for aging skin to the lineup!

The skin toner recipe is enriched with powerhouse actives such as edelweiss extract, plant collagen, and helichrysum hydrosol.

These ingredients provide a moisture boost and help to restore your skin’s natural pH level post cleanse.

And the benefits continue: the toner contains strong antioxidants that fight skin-damaging free radicals and improve skin elasticity and plumpness.

For more rejuvenating toners, try our soothing rose water toner, hydrating toner for dry skin, and this antioxidant-rich green tea toner.

And for other homemade anti-aging skincare recipes, try this pomegranate face oil, plum oil serum, and DIY anti-aging moisturizer.

Why you’ll love this DIY toner

Let’s talk about all the potential skincare benefits this natural skin toner has to offer!

• Helps to stimulate collagen production and minimizes the appearance of wrinkles and signs of premature skin aging thanks to edelweiss extract and plant collagen.
• Hydrates and conditions your face with helichrysum water.
• Replenishes the skin barrier and improves an uneven skin tone.
• Feels lightweight and doesn’t clog pores.
• Keeps your skin at its optimum pH level.
• Suitable for all skin types with a focus on mature skin.
• Natural, plant-based ingredients and free of synthetic materials.
• Easy and quick to prepare.

Toner ingredients

The ingredient list with full amounts can be found in the how-to card at the bottom of the post.

• Helichrysum hydrosol, also called immortelle or everlasting hydrosol, is made from the flowers of Helichrysum italicum. The plant water is said to ease redness, irritation, and dryness, as well as balance the skin.
• Distilled water dilutes and solves the other ingredients. You could prepare the toner with all helichrysum hydrosol. Still, it’s more affordable to use half hydrosol and half distilled water.
• Edelweiss extract is made from the Swiss edelweiss flower and offers an abundance of benefits to anti-aging skincare. More on this fantastic multitasker in a moment!
• Plant collagen, a mix of plant peptides, sinks deep into the skin and provides moisturization. It forms a protective film, strengthening the skin barrier, and promotes a glowing, rejuvenated look.
• Lactic acid acts as a pH adjuster and ensures the formula has a skin-friendly pH.
• AntiMicro Root Blend is a natural preservative made from garlic, ginger, and wasabi extracts. It inhibits the growth of bacteria, yeast, and mold and provides additional moisturization.

From these ingredients, edelweiss extract and plant collagen are the stars, and I’d love to tell you more about these incredible actives!

Edelweiss extract

What is edelweiss extract?

Edelweiss extract is a natural, water-soluble plant essence made from edelweiss flowers (Leontopodium Alpinum) that grow in the Swiss Alps.

What are the benefits of edelweiss extract?

Edelweiss contains an impressive number of active compounds that provide visible rejuvenating benefits. These phytochemicals include:

• Chlorogenic acid, a potent antioxidant that scavenges free radicals.
• Luteolin, a compound that prevents the breakdown of hyaluronic acid in the skin.
• Tannin, which has a skin-firming effect.
• Bisabolene, a chemical with anti-inflammatory activity.
• Sitosterol, which has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial qualities.
• Phenylprobane, which has an astringent effect (meaning it reduces pore size).

What does edelweiss extract for the skin?

The elegant flower is a powerful anti-aging agent. The essence promotes a more youthful, vital appearance and helps to protect your skin cells from premature aging.

• Antioxidant: Most of the flower’s anti-aging qualities come from its high antioxidant content. The extract boasts twice as much antioxidant activity as vitamin C! Antioxidants combat free radicals. Free radicals are harmful compounds that damage cells and lead to wrinkles, loose skin, and age spots.
• Hydration: Edelweiss extract functions as a humectant and binds moisture to the skin, increasing the skin’s plumpness and building resilience against dryness.
• Soothing: The anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of Edelweiss can ease redness and skin irritation.
• Cell renewal: The compounds in edelweiss extract are said to stimulate blood circulation and skin renewal.
• Sun protection: The flower may also offer some protection against photoaging by binding UV rays before they reach your skin. Of course, you still want to include SPF in your daytime skincare.

Plant collagen

Why is collagen important for skincare?

Collagen comes up frequently in conversations about anti-aging skincare, and for good reason! It’s a structural protein that makes up the connective tissue, which is a third of your body’s overall protein.

With age, less collagen is produced, and the exiting collagen breakdowns, resulting in wrinkles and sagging skin.

To slow down this effect, you want to include ingredients in your skincare that replenish collagen in the skin and promote collagen production.

What is plant collagen?

First off, the term “plant collagen” is a little misleading. “Real” collagen peptides are only found in humans and animals; plants cannot produce them.

Instead, plant collagen is made of plant-derived amino acids that mimic the properties of animal collagen. The exact composition can vary depending on the plant source.

The plant collagen from Making Cosmetics is composed of proteins from soy, rice, baobab, and the amino acid L-proline. Formulator Sample Shop offers a vegetable collagen made from maize, wheat, and soybeans. Both are great for this homemade facial toner recipe.

What does plant collagen do?

Similar to animal-derived collagen, plant collagen provides moisturization and supports firmness, elasticity, and suppleness of the skin.

Can I use animal collagen instead of plant collagen?

Of course! I wanted to create a vegan-friendly face toner and opted for a plan-based alternative. If that isn’t a concern for you, feel free to swap out the plant collagen for animal-derived hydrolyzed collagen.

Optional ingredients

The following materials are entirely optional. Incorporate them to further enhance the skincare qualities of the toner. Choose one that fits your skin type best.

• Licorice extract is a great choice to soothe sensitive and irritated skin. The plant extract contains flavonoids and glycyrrhizin, which have antioxidant, regenerative, and skin-lightening properties.
• Niacinamide (vitamin B3) is an excellent addition for oily and breakout-prone skin. The ingredient has restoring qualities and can improve enlarged pores, prevent breakouts, and fade discoloration.

How to make anti-aging toner

When it comes to homemade face toners, it’s pretty much as easy as it gets. Measure and mix your ingredients, fill them into a storage vessel, and you’re done. Here’s a breakdown of each step:

Step 1: Measure ingredients

• Measure all ingredients into a glass beaker or jar.

Step 2: Mix toner

• Using a glass stirrer or spoon, swirl the ingredients together until thoroughly combined and the toner solution looks homogenous.

Step 3: Package and store

• Transfer the mixture into a clean, sterilized glass pump bottle or spray bottle. Your toner is ready!

How to use anti-age toner

Wondering how to use this rejuvenating toner? It’s easy!

• Saturate a cotton round or makeup remover pad with toner.
• Gently blot against your skin. Cover your face, leaving out the eye area, neck, and chest.
• To reduce waste, you can also apply the toner with your fingertips or use a spray bottle for easy application.
• For the best effect, follow up with an emollient-rich face serum and moisturizer.

When should I use toner in my routine?

The homemade facial toner is best used as the first step after cleansing your face. It can help to remove any residual cleanser and leave your face refreshed and ready for your subsequent skincare products.

How often can I apply this face toner?

It’s perfectly fine to use the toner twice daily – as long you don’t notice any irritation, of course! You can make the anti-wrinkle toner part of your morning and/or nighttime beauty routine.

Storage, packaging, and shelf life

How to package the toner for aging skin

The components of this toner are light-sensitive and will break down if exposed to sunlight. To shield them from light, pour the toner into a tinted or opaque glass bottle. I used a brown glass bottle with a pump dispenser.

How to store the DIY face toner

The best way to store the toner is at room temperature and away from direct sunlight, for example, in a bathroom cabinet, lidded box, or drawer. As mentioned, UV light can degrade active ingredients, so don’t leave the facial toner recipe out on the counter or a windowsill.

How long does homemade skin toner last?

The homemade facial toner for aging skin should stay good for up to 6 months if stored properly.

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FAQ

What is the purpose of toner?

The skin is naturally acidic, with a pH of around 5.5. Cleansing, pollution, sweat, and makeup can shift and offset the pH. Your skin has to work overtime to return to its natural levels, which can lead to excess sebum and clogged pores.

This is where face toners come into play: they help to quickly restore your skin’s pH balance. Maintaining the correct pH is essential for overall skin health and reducing the possibility of irritation.

When should I start using an anti-aging toner?

Although designed for aging skin, you can start using this wrinkle toner whenever you want. Experts suggest incorporating anti-aging skincare products as early as your 20s.

Does this homemade anti-aging toner dry out the skin?

No! Unlike harsh alcohol toners, my water-based toner isn’t drying but can help to seal in moisture and keep your skin hydrated.

What color and texture does this antioxidant toner have?

The toner appears as an amber-colored liquid and has an ultra-light, water-like consistency. I kept the formula lightweight to ensure it’s buildable, absorbs quickly, and provides a good foundation for your other beauty products.

What does the toner smell like?

Helichrysum hydrosol lends the toner an herbaceous aroma with a warm honey note. The smell of edelweiss extract is sweet and reminds me of hyacinth but less cloying.

Should I add essential oils to my toner?

Essential oils aren’t really necessary. This homemade facial toner for aging skin will perform well without them. I generally avoid using essential oils in face products as they can easily lead to irritation.

However, you can incorporate up to 10 drops of EOs if desired. Please only use oils that you have tested before, and know your skin handles well.

If adding essential oils, you also must include a solubilizer to combine the essential oils and water. I recommend this olive solubilizer (US), Solubiliser Clear Plus (UK), or Solve 61 MB (Europe).

1. Disperser the essential oils in the solubilizer.
2. Then stir the oil-solubilizer mixture into the aqueous phase until well distributed throughout.