We regularly add a glug of apple cider vinegar to salad dressings, use it for pickling or whip up tasty marinades with it. It's well known for its many incredible health benefits for the body (from relieving joint pain to natural digestive aid) but apple cider vinegar has so many beauty benefits too.
Yes, it can also be a staple in your beauty regime. Here are just some of the beauty benefits of apple cider vinegar.
7 Beauty Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar
Wondering how you can work apple cider in to your beauty regime? This versatile kitchen staple has some amazing beauty benefits. Apple cider vinegar can be used as everything from a nail soak to treating dandruff.
1. Hair Rinse
Apple cider vinegar is an amazing hair rinse. The acetic acid in the product has clarifying properties that naturally removes heavy chemical product build up/residue from your hair and scalp, leaving you with luscious, shiny, healthy looking hair. Apple cider vinegar also helps restore your scalps natural pH level.
How to use:
Mix approximately ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar with 2 cups of water and pour onto your hair after shampooing. Massage the solution into your hair and allow it to sit for up to 5 minutes. Finish by washing thoroughly and follow with your favourite conditioner. It is recommended to only use this solution on your hair once a week. (Note: Do not use on broken/damaged skin or scalp)
2. Nail Soak
We're all guilty at some stage of overdoing it with the nail polish leaving us with weak, yellow brittle nails. Fungal infections, smoking or poor lifestyle habits can also cause stained nails. Whatever the reason, apple cider vinegar has the solution. The acetic acids in apple cider vinegar naturally help to reduce the discolouration in nails and improve strength. It's also effective for treating nail infections that cause discolouration.
How to use:
Simply soak your nails weekly with a mixture of apple cider vinegar and vegetable oil to leave your nails bright, stain-free and strong.
3. Facial Toner
Apple cider vinegar makes a brilliant facial toner. Apple cider vinegars natural alpha-hydroxy acids and acetic acid increase blood flow to the skin, stimulate circulation and minimise pores. It also balances the skins pH levels giving your skin a healthy glow. This solution is particularly good for people with oily skin.
How to use:
Simply mix together 1 part apple cider vinegar to 2 parts distilled or filtered water (you can also add an essential oil to the mixture). Moisten a cotton ball with the solution and rub into a clean, dry face. You can rinse it off, or you can leave it on your face. If you find your skin to be sensitive then try adding more water to the solution.
4. Acne and Pimples Treatment
Apple cider vinegar has natural antiseptic and antibacterial properties which can help prevent and treat acne and pimples. It helps keep the skins sensitive pores free from bacteria, oil and other particles which contribute to acne and pimples. By restoring of your skins natural pH balance, it can also help prevent breakouts.
How to use:
Again, this face treatment is so easy to do. Simply mix 1 part apple cider vinegar to 2 parts filtered water and apply to the affected area of the skin using a cotton ball. Allow it to sit on the skin for 10 minutes and rinse with warm water. This process can be repeated a few times daily, for a few days.
5. Dandruff Treatment
Another of the amazing beauty benefits of apple cider vinegar is treating dandruff! Anyone who suffers from dandruff knows how difficult it can be to deal with. Often the chemical laden products that are supposed to treat dandruff end up making it worse, particularly in the long term. That's why, when it comes to dandruff the more natural the solution, the better.
Apple cider vinegars natural anti-fungal properties help to relieve dandruff and its acidic properties balance the scalps pH levels to help prevent further fungal growth. It also cleans clogged pores and hair follicles.
How to use:
To use apple cider vinegar to treat dandruff, simply mix a solution of equal parts of apple cider vinegar and water and massage into your scalp for 5 minutes and let it soak in your hair for another 5 minutes before shampooing. (You can also add tea tree oil to the solution.) Rinse your hair as normal. This treatment can be used up to 3 times a week.
6. Teeth Whitener
Apple cider vinegars acidic nature contributes to reducing stains on teeth as well as destroying any bacteria present to help maintain oral health.
How to use:
To whiten teeth with apple cider vinegar, prepare a mixture with 1 part apple cider vinegar to 3 parts water and use as a mouth wash.
7. Reduce the Appearance of Cellulite
Because of apple cider vinegar's natural astringent and skin-toning properties, it makes an amazing natural remedy to reduce the appearance of cellulite. Apple cider vinegar also has many properties which help flush out toxins and water retention around the thighs and stomach, the most common areas for cellulite to occur. It also aids in weight loss as well as helping to improve the elasticity of your skin.
How to use:
Simply mix 3 parts of apple cider vinegar with 1 part coconut or olive oil and massage it into the affected area for 15 minutes. Repeat this twice daily. Alternatively, you could mix ½ tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and 1 teaspoon of honey with a glass of water and drink twice daily.
You can pick up your bottle of Apple Cider Vinegar at all Evergreens stores, or shop online at evergreen.ie.
Checked and updated: 29 August 2021
