Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is an inexpensive natural product that can step up your beauty routine. The multitasker’s ingredients can run the gamut from drying up acne to soothing sunburned skin, to tackling dandruff. Check out all of the beautiful benefits ACV has to offer in just one bottle.
Cold sores. Pesky and embarrassing, cold sores are also easy to spread, so it’s important to act fast when one appears. If you’re suffering from a stubborn cold sore, dab it a few times with apple cider vinegar several times a day. Its anti-inflammatory properties will help reduce the amount of swelling, and the anti-bacterial properties will keep the area clean and free from infection.
Underarm funk. Diluted ACV works great as a deodorant for smelly pits.
Sunburn aid. Mix ½ cup of ACV and four cups of water, douse a washcloth with it, then apply to sunburned skin. ACV will help balance the skin’s pH levels and aid in its healing.
Razor bumps. Saturate a cotton ball with undiluted ACV and gently pass it over the irritated area to reduce inflammation and to soothe it.
Smelly feet/foot fungus. Combine one cup of ACV with four cups of water in a basin, soak feet for 15 minutes at a time, then rinse. ACV will help get rid of funky feet odor, and its anti-bacterial agents will help combat foot fungal issues like athlete’s feet.
Facial toner/pore minimizer. Mixing two tablespoons of ACV with two cups of water and you’ll have an inexpensive facial toner that will tighten and minimize facial pores (let your skin dry naturally). ACV’s natural alpha-hydroxy and acetic acids will also stimulate the circulation to the capillaries in your face that feed the skin. Don’t worry about the vinegar’s pungent odor, it will soon disappear.
Soften skin. Boost the beauty benefits of your bath by pouring one to two cups of ACV into your warm bathwater. It contains vitamins B1, B2, B6, and C to nourish and soften skin; soak for 30 minutes.
Coochie odor. Taking a bath with apple cider vinegar can help fight off the toxins and bacteria that cause vaginal odor while restoring the acidic quality of the vaginal flora. Just pour one to two cups of ACV into a tub filled with warm water. Let the vinegar water air dry once you step out of the tub.
Dandruff. Dealing with flakes? Mix together equal parts apple cider vinegar and distilled water. Massage the solution into your scalp and rinse thoroughly. Repeat once or twice a week. ACV’s antifungal abilities help fight dandruff, while its acidic properties restore natural pH levels.
Acne scars. Are you a pimple popper? If so, then ACV is what you need to fade those acne scars. If you have hyperpigmentation (darker skin than the surrounding area) that is a result of the acne scars, using ACV over time can restore your skin’s natural coloring depending on the severity of the mark. Mix one tablespoon of vinegar with two cups of water and dab onto clean/dry skin. ACV not only removes dead skin but will help to lighten up that scar.
Hair rinse. Mix two tablespoons ACV with one cup water, and douse your hair after washing. Massage into scalp, and leave on for about 10 minutes before rinsing. The acetic acid in ACV will remove residue from product buildup and help you get shiny, lustrous locks. Rinse thoroughly, and follow with a light conditioner.
**Word to the wise! Make sure the ACV has not expired as, over time, vinegar becomes more acidic and can actually burn your skin. When in doubt about using anything on your skin, check with a health practitioner first about its safety!