DIY Toner Guide: 12 Natural Skin Toner Recipes You Can Make at Home

Last Updated on July 2, 2025 by Shanaya

Want to know how to make a DIY toner using safe and natural ingredients? Our easy guide shares 12 effective recipes, perfect for any skin type, from oily to dry.

These 12 simple methods use natural ingredients to make face toner that’s pure and fragrant.

DIY Toner – How To Make Skin Toner At Home

These homemade face tone recipes are to answer your question: “How can I make a skin toner at home?“

1. Pure Rose Water Toner

This is the foundation for making rose water at home in various recipes. It’s super easy, fast, and all-natural.

You’ll need:

• 10–20 fresh roses
• 5 cups purified water

Instructions:

• Remove petals, soak in salt water, and rinse with cold water.
• Place petals in a pot with water. Boil gently on low heat. (High flame will reduce rose oil)
• Simmer for 5–10 minutes until petals turn clear.
• Cool and strain the liquid.
• Store in a dark-colored bottle, in a cool place or refrigerator.

This DIY rose water toner recipe is simple and versatile. You can also use it as a base for other recipes below.

I shared the benefits of rose water toner for skin in a previous blog; you may love to read them here.

 

 

2. Aloe Vera Toner

A cooling homemade toner soothes dry or sun-exposed skin. It’s perfect for hot days.

To make this DIY face toner, you’ll need:

• 1–2 fresh aloe vera leaves
• 1 vitamin E capsule (optional, if you have dry skin)
• 300ml purified water
• A clean, sterilized glass jar

Instructions:

• Rinse aloe leaves with salt water to remove yellow sap because this sap may irritate your skin.
• Peel the aloe vera.
• Extract the gel, strain it to get pure aloe juice.
• Mix the juice with water and vitamin E.
• Your aloe vera toner is ready for use.
• Storage:
  • Pour the DIY toner into a clean jar.
  • Refrigerate and use within 2–3 days.

3. Apple Cider Vinegar Toner Recipe (ACV toner) 

This homemade face toner for oily skin is effective. Apple Cider Vinegar helps control oil and bacteria.

How to make toner at home with apple cider vinegar (ACV)?

Ingredients:

• 100ml organic ACV
• 300ml purified water, or rose water (taken from method 1)
• A spray bottle

Instructions:

• Mix ACV and water (or rose water) in a 1:3 ratio (e.g., 100ml ACV to 300ml water).
• Pour into the bottle and gently shake the mixture.
• Store this homemade toner in the fridge and use it within 7 days.

4. DIY Green Tea Toner

Rich in antioxidants, green tea makes skin softer and helps slow aging. This DIY skin toner retains full antioxidants and anti-aging benefits.

Require:

• 500g fresh green tea leaves
• 500 ml of purified water
• Deep pot with lid
• Steaming tray
• Clean glass bottle
• Glass bowl and ice cubes

How to make DIY green tea toner:

• Wash tea leaves with saltwater. Rinse again and drain.
• Put leaves in the pot with water.
• Set up the steam system with a bowl on a tray.
• Close the pot with the lid upside down. So, the condensation drips into the bowl.
• Place some ice cubes on the lid when the water boils.
• Steam until the bowl fills up with liquid. Your DIY skin toner is ready.
• Storage:
  • Store homemade face toner in the fridge.
  • Use within 3–4 days.

5. Homemade Cucumber Toner

 If you prefer something easier than aloe vera, cucumber is a great choice to cool your skin.

What ingredients are required to make a cucumber toner?

For this DIY face toner, you’ll need:

• 1 cucumber
• 200g green tea leaves (or 2 tbsp dried)
• 1 tbsp honey
• 200ml purified water

Instructions on how to make toner at home:

• Wash and blend the cucumber, and strain the juice.
• Boil green tea leaves with water. Let it cool and strain.
• Mix tea, cucumber juice, and honey.
• Pour into a clean bottle.
• Store your homemade face toner in the refrigerator, use within 3–4 days.

6. Acne-Fighting Witch Hazel Toner

Witch hazel contains powerful anti-inflammatory agents.

This homemade skin toner is ideal for acne-prone skin. Skip this method if your skin is sensitive.

Ingredients for DIY witch hazel toner:

• 200ml cooled green tea
• 100ml of witch hazel extract
• 1 tbsp aloe vera gel

Instructions:

• Mix all ingredients in a clean bowl.
• Pour the DIY toner into a clean glass bottle.
• Then store your skin toner in the fridge, use within 5–7 days.

7. Tea Tree Oil Toner

 This natural toner recipe helps fight breakouts. Tea tree oil is great for acne and has a refreshing scent.

Ingredients for tea tree oil toner:

• 50ml purified water
• 50ml apple cider vinegar (ACV)
• 15 drops of tea tree oil
• Clean spray bottle

How to make skin toner at home: instructions

• Mix all ingredients well.
• Pour the mixture into the spray bottle.
• Preserve DIY face toner in the fridge, use within 1 week.

8. Calming Chamomile Toner For Dry Skin

Chamomile has a gentle scent and calming effect.

Ingredients to make chamomile toner:

• 200ml purified water
• 50g dried chamomile flowers
• ½ tsp honey
• 1 tbsp glycerin

Instructions:

• Rinse chamomile and place it in a glass bowl.
• Boil water and pour it over the flowers. Cover for 15 minutes.
• Strain the flowers. Mix in honey and glycerin.
• Stir and pour homemade toner into a clean bottle.
• Storage: Keep this DIY face toner in the fridge. Use it within 10 days.

9. DIY Rice Toner for Brightening Skin

Rice water is a Japanese and Korean traditional skin-whitening remedy. This method helps extract more nutrients.

How to make skin toner at home using rice water: step-by-step guidelines.

Ingredients:

• 100g rice
• 300ml purified water

Instructions:

• Wash and remove dirt from rice.
• Blend rice with water.
• Strain 2–3 times until smooth.
• Boil the liquid for 3 minutes.
• Cool and pour into a glass bottle.
• Keep diy rice toner in the fridge and use within 3–4 days.

10. DIY Toner: Citrus Lemon Skin Brightener

Lemon helps brighten skin quickly, but makes skin more sensitive to the sun. Avoid sun exposure without SPF.

You’ll need:

• 1 lemon (preferred yellow one)
• 200ml purified water
• 50ml witch hazel extract
• Glass spray bottle

Instructions:

• Mix all ingredients well.
• Pour in the spray bottle.
• Storage: Keep lemon toner in the fridge, use it within 3–4 days.

11. Homemade Vitamin C Toner

Citrus oils are full of vitamin C and natural acids to cleanse and brighten skin. This homemade skin toner is also as great as a refreshing body mist.

Ingredients and equipment

• 50ml purified water
• 50ml apple cider vinegar
• 5 drops of organic citrus essential oil
• Clean spray bottle

How to make herbal mist at home

• Mix all ingredients and pour into the glass spray bottle.
• Storage: Refrigerate the organic citrus toner and use within 7 days.

12. DIY Face Toner: Rosemary Essential Oil Refreshing Spray

Rose toner recipe offers a clean, refreshing scent and is good for skin.

Ingredients

• 100ml purified water
• 5 drops rosemary essential oil

Instructions:

• Mix all ingredients well.
• Pour into a glass spray bottle.
• Storage:
  • Preserve this homemade toner for oily skin in fridge.
  • Use rosemary oil spray within 1 week.

Tips for Making Your Own Skin Toner

1. Always use fresh or organic ingredients.
2. Rinse with salt water to remove chemicals.
3. Don’t overcomplicate it. Stick to 1–2 herbs per recipe to avoid unwanted reactions.
4. Store in a sealed, clean glass bottle. Keep it refrigerated.
5. Use a dark spray bottle for daily use. It protects the active ingredients from sunlight.

FAQs About DIY Toners

1. How long does a DIY toner last?

• • Homemade toner doesn’t contain preservatives.
  • Store it in the fridge, and it typically lasts 3–7 days.
  • For a longer shelf life, freeze it; you can use it up to 3 months.

2. Is herbal toner good for my skin?

Yes, but it depends on your needs.

• Pros:

• • Free from harsh chemicals
  • Naturally hydrating
  • Easy to make at home

• Cons:

• • • Short shelf life
    • Time-consuming
  • Ingredient quality can vary

3. How is rose water made?

Rose water is made by simmering rose petals in water to extract their natural oils, then straining and cooling the liquid.

 4. Which DIY toner is best for dry skin?

Aloe vera DIY face toner and chamomile toner. Both hydrate and calm dry, sensitive skin.

Conclusion

Now that you know how to make toner at home, you can enjoy its refreshing benefits in countless ways.

Whether you’re using these DIY toners as a skincare essential or a fragrant addition to recipes, it’s a simple and rewarding craft. With these 12 easy methods, you can create high-quality toner tailored to your preferences, free from additives and packed with natural goodness.

References:

1. Assessment of Rose Water and Antioxidant Properties 
2. Rose Water Toner Benefits 
3. Global Research on DIY Skin Formulations