14 Best Homemade Toners For Oily Skin: Natural DIY Recipes & Tips
A natural blend that calms irritation, tightens pores, and balances your complexion.

14 Best Homemade Toners For Oily Skin: Natural DIY Recipes & Expert Tips
Oily skin can turn your face shiny, clog your pores, and make you prone to breakouts, especially when dirt and impurities accumulate throughout the day. While cleansing is crucial, it’s the act of toning that truly helps eliminate leftover impurities, tighten pores, and balance your skin’s natural oil production. If you’re looking to avoid harsh chemicals or commercial formulas, these homemade toners for oily skin use natural ingredients available right in your kitchen. Read on for the 14 best recipes, their benefits, application tips, FAQs, and expert advice for managing oily skin effortlessly.
Table of Contents
- What Is A Toner & Why Is It Essential For Oily Skin?
- Benefits Of Using Homemade Toners
- 14 Best Homemade Toners For Oily Skin
- How To Use And Store Homemade Toners
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Key Takeaways
What Is A Toner & Why Is It Essential For Oily Skin?
A toner is a water-based skincare product designed to remove residual impurities, balance your skin’s pH, minimize pores, and prepare your face for further moisturizing. For oily skin types, toners are especially important because:
- They help control excess sebum, decreasing shine and oiliness
- They remove leftover dirt and reduce pore size
- Natural toners can soothe irritation and clarify the skin
- They create a smooth base for serums or moisturizers
Benefits Of Using Homemade Toners For Oily Skin
The best homemade toners use minimal, natural ingredients. Here’s why they’re ideal for oily or acne-prone skin:
- Chemical-free: Avoids the harsh effects of artificial scents, alcohol, and preservatives
- Soothes & calms: Natural astringents soothe redness and help with inflammation
- Pore minimizing: Shrinks and tightens open pores for a more refined appearance
- Balancing: Restores pH balance for stable, healthy skin function
- Cost-effective: Uses ingredients already in your kitchen or garden
14 Best Homemade Toners For Oily Skin
Below are the top homemade toner recipes, how to make and use them, plus their unique advantages for oily skin.
1. Apple Cider Vinegar Toner
- Ingredients: 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, 1 cup distilled water
- Method: Mix and shake well. Soak a cotton pad and gently wipe over cleansed face, focusing on oily areas.
- Benefits: Balances sebum and pH, gently exfoliates, minimizes pores.
- Tip: Dilute the vinegar more if your skin is sensitive.
2. Mint Leaves Toner
- Ingredients: A handful of fresh mint leaves, 1 cup water
- Method: Boil mint leaves in water, let it cool, strain, and store in a sterilized bottle.
- Benefits: Refreshes, cools, and tightens pores; soothes sunburn and irritation.
3. Lemon Juice & Peppermint Tea Toner
- Ingredients: 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, 1 cup freshly brewed peppermint tea (cooled)
- Method: Mix both ingredients. Apply with a cotton pad.
- Benefits: Lemon is a natural astringent; peppermint calms inflammation.
- Tip: Avoid if you have sensitive or broken skin, as lemon may sting.
4. Aloe Vera Toner
- Ingredients: 2 tablespoons aloe vera gel, 1 cup distilled water or rose water
- Method: Blend aloe gel with water until smooth. Store and shake before use.
- Benefits: Calms irritation, moisturizes, and controls oil without clogging pores.
5. Cucumber Toner
- Ingredients: 1 small cucumber, 1/2 cup water
- Method: Puree peeled cucumber with water, strain, and use the liquid as a toner.
- Benefits: Hydrates and cools, soothes and tightens, reduces inflammation.
6. Green Tea Toner
- Ingredients: 1 cup brewed green tea (cooled)
- Method: Pour green tea into a sterilized bottle and refrigerate.
- Benefits: Rich in antioxidants, controls sebum, calms redness, and rejuvenates skin.
7. Rose Water Toner
- Ingredients: Pure rose water or homemade rose water from fresh petals
- Method: Use rose water as a toner directly after cleansing.
- Benefits: Balances oil, adds hydration, and provides a gentle, pleasant scent.
8. Witch Hazel Toner
- Ingredients: Pure witch hazel extract, or mix witch hazel with aloe vera gel (optional)
- Method: Apply pure or diluted witch hazel to skin via cotton pad.
- Benefits: Tightens pores, dries excess oil, soothes blemish-prone skin.
- Caution: Can be drying; dilute if necessary.
9. Camphor & Rose Water Toner
- Ingredients: Pinch of edible camphor, 1 cup rose water
- Method: Dissolve camphor in rose water and store in a bottle.
- Benefits: Controls acne, calms oily and inflamed skin.
10. Rice Water Toner
- Ingredients: 1/2 cup uncooked rice, 2 cups water
- Method: Soak rice in water for 30 minutes, strain, and refrigerate the liquid.
- Benefits: Rich in minerals and antioxidants, tightens skin, evens out tone.
11. Green Apple & Honey Toner
- Ingredients: Green apple juice (fresh), 1 teaspoon honey
- Method: Mix and apply with cotton pad. Rinse after 5–10 minutes if sticky.
- Benefits: Gently exfoliates, clarifies, and hydrates oily skin.
12. Chamomile Tea Toner
- Ingredients: 1 cup brewed chamomile tea (cooled)
- Method: Soak cotton ball in the tea, swipe gently over face.
- Benefits: Soothes irritation, reduces oil and redness.
13. Lavender & Witch Hazel Toner
- Ingredients: 5 drops lavender essential oil, 1/2 cup witch hazel, 1/2 cup distilled water
- Method: Combine liquids, shake, and use as a calming toner.
- Benefits: Controls excess oil, calms and refreshes skin, pleasant fragrance.
14. Tea Tree Oil & Green Tea Toner
- Ingredients: 1 cup brewed green tea, 2–3 drops tea tree oil
- Method: Mix and store in fridge. Shake before each use.
- Benefits: Antibacterial, clears and prevents breakouts, regulates sebum.
Comparison Table: Homemade Toner Ingredients & Benefits
Ingredient | Main Benefit | Best For |
---|---|---|
Apple Cider Vinegar | Balances pH, controls oil | Oily, acne-prone |
Mint | Cools, tightens pores | Sensitive, irritated skin |
Lemon | Astringent, clarifies | Very oily, non-sensitive skin |
Aloe Vera | Soothes, hydrates | All skin types |
Cucumber | Hydrates, cools | Inflamed, irritated skin |
Green Tea | Antioxidant, sebum control | Oily, sensitive |
Rose Water | Balances, softens | All skin types |
Witch Hazel | Tightens, clarifies | Very oily, acne-prone |
Rice Water | Brightens, softens | Dull, oily skin |
How To Use And Store Homemade Toners
- Application: Always apply toner after cleansing, using a cotton pad or by patting gently with your palms. Focus on the T-zone (forehead, nose, chin).
- Frequency: Use daily—morning and night—for best results.
- Storage: Store your toner in a sterile bottle in the refrigerator or a cool, dark place. Most toners stay fresh for 1-2 weeks.
- Precaution: Always patch-test a new recipe before widespread use, since natural ingredients can be potent.
- For makeup users: Always use a proper cleanser to remove makeup before applying toner, since toners do not dissolve makeup residues fully.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Are homemade toners safe for daily use?
Yes—when made and stored properly, most homemade toners are gentle enough for daily use. Always patch-test first, and avoid recipes with strong acids if your skin is very sensitive.
2. Can toners reduce acne and large pores?
Toners with astringent and anti-bacterial properties (like apple cider vinegar, lemon, or tea tree oil) help minimize pores, remove oil, and reduce acne when used regularly.
3. How long can I store homemade toners?
Usually 1–2 weeks in the fridge. Discard if the color, smell, or texture changes.
4. What are the best ingredients for extremely oily skin?
Apple cider vinegar, witch hazel, green tea, and tea tree oil are excellent choices for maximum oil-control. For sensitive skin, stick with aloe vera or cucumber.
5. Is rose water good for oily skin?
Yes, rose water balances oil, soothes, and refreshes all skin types, making it a safe and gentle daily toner.
6. Should toners be used in the morning or night?
Toners should be used after every cleanse—either morning, night, or both—for optimal pore care and oil control.
Key Takeaways
- Homemade toners provide natural, chemical-free solutions for oily skin, using simple ingredients like aloe vera, apple cider vinegar, cucumber, and more.
- Toners remove lingering impurities, control shine, minimize pores, and restore pH balance.
- Apply natural toner with a cotton pad after cleansing, daily for best results.
- Store homemade toners in the fridge and use within 1–2 weeks for freshness and efficacy.
- Always choose ingredients suited to your skin’s sensitivity and patch-test when trying new recipes.
Infographic: 6 Easy DIY Skin-Toning Solutions For Oily Skin
- Apple Cider Vinegar & Water: Balances oil and pH
- Aloe Vera & Rose Water: Hydrates and calms
- Mint Leaf Decoction: Refreshes and tightens
- Lemon Juice & Peppermint: Clarifies oily zones
- Cucumber Juice: Cools, soothes and hydrates
- Green Tea: Controls sebum, smooths complexion
Natural toners for oily skin offer a gentle, effective way to manage shine and maintain healthy, glowing skin—without the risk of harsh chemicals. Choose your ingredients based on skin sensitivity, always apply to clean skin, and enjoy the benefits of a more balanced, refreshed complexion every day.
References
- https://www.stylecraze.com/articles/simple-homemade-toners-for-oily-skin/
- https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/beauty/create-diy-glass-skin-homemade-toners-for-less-than-rs-100-now/articleshow/121292836.cms
- https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/life-style/easy-guide-to-select-toner-as-per-skin-type-6852996/
- https://www.stylecraze.com/articles/diy-homemade-cucumber-facial-misttoner-for-glowing-skin/
Read full bio of Sneha Tete