Apple Cider Vinegar Toner! A gentle daily Chemical peel!

Most people view vinegar as something only used for cooking and maybe a few for cleaning, but I'm going to tell you why Raw unpasteurized Apple Cider Vinegar is a perfect match for your skin!

First, let me ask you a few questions:

Do you have red, blotchy, rash prone skin?

Does your skin itch or feel irritated on a daily basis?

Do you break out easily and frequently?

A couple of  years ago I could've answered yes to all of these questions and if that's you, then listen up!
Your acid mantle has probably been compromised. What is your acid mantle?

The acid mantle is your skin's protection barrier. It protects you from sun and environmental damage (chemicals, pollution, etc.). The more alkaline your skin becomes the more acne, blemishes, allergies, rashes etc. you will have. This is why balancing the acid mantle is super important and why you shouldn't use face washes or anything on your face that is not pH balanced! For example most soaps have an alkaline pH which breaks down the acid mantle making your skin more vulnerable to damage.

So go now and look at your face wash, does it say pH balanced? If not, throw it out, it's wreaking havoc on your face!

Why apple cider vinegar (ACV)? Short answer: it's like a gentle daily CHEMICAL PEEL!
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ACV contains acetic acid, lactic acid, citric acid and malic acid as well as vitamins, minerals and amino acids, all essential building blocks for healthy skin. You know those really expensive chemical peels you need to go to an esthetician to get? Well using ACV on your face is like getting that chemical peel but it's much more gentle, there are no chemicals, and you won't peel! You will see a glowing difference in your skin from using this on a daily basis!
ACV also lightens dark spots and acne scars!

Now that you have this information find yourself a gentle, pH balanced face wash and an apple cider vinegar toner. You can make it yourself, if you're a DIY-er, it's quite easy!

Recipe:
1 Tbsp ACV ( I recommend Bragg's Unpasteurized Organic ACV)
3-4 TBSP Water

Mix the ACV and water and apply it to your face with a cotton ball or paper towel, or whatever you prefer to use, just make sure it's clean!

NOTE: You will not get the same results with a pasteurized ACV because many of the healing components have been compromised/altered in the pasteurization process.

If you'd rather just buy an ACV toner I make and sell them here
https://www.etsy.com/shop/HeavenlyBotanicals?section_id=16075524&ref=shopsection_leftnav_2

All of my Organic Raw Unpasteurized ACV toners are infused with herbs organically sourced, wild harvested or grown on my farm (gardening is my other passion!).

Other benefits of ACV, when take internally (note my toners are for external use only!):
Helps control weight

Helps control the yeast balance in your body

Helps maintain healthy skin

Promotes digestion, especially in those with low stomach acid

Helps detox your body (if you're prone to yeast infections try drinking it daily, 1 tbsp in 8 oz of water a couple times a day).

Other ways to use ACV:
Prevent or treat Yeast infections- if you're prone to yeast infections try drinking it daily, 1 tbsp in 8 oz of water a couple times a day
Also try putting in a bath for yeast infections (1 cup per bath)

Bake with it! Yes if you're a gluten free baker and you often have dense baked goods results then try this awesome fix, substitute your baking powder or rising agent for 1 TBSP ACV and 1 tsp Baking soda. You may need to play around with the measurements depending on how big a batch you're making but I usually use this proportion for a 2 cups of flour cake recipe. I will be posting some recipes in the future so check back!)

As a hair rinse for silky soft hair. It will cleanse your hair of build up from hair products and close the hair shaft reducing frizz and increasing shine!
Recipe:
1-2 TBSP ACV
1/2- 1 cup of water





FDA Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to treat, cure, diagnose or prevent any disease.

Welcome to the Heavenly Botanicals Blog!

Good afternoon everyone! This blog will be for the purpose of discussing natural solutions/remedies (chemical and prescription free) for all sorts of skin conditions, from acne, to eczema. So let's get started!
A little about me:
I struggled with acne for approximately 15 years (from the time I was thirteen) till about 2 years ago. I went to dermatologist naturally to seek their advice and guidance, when I was about 14) as to what I should do and take. First they started me on a skin care regimen of cleansers and exfoliators, which seemed to help a little but they eventually seemed to just all of a sudden stop working and I needed something stronger and stronger... So they eventually put me on antibiotics, doxycycline, minocycline etc. I was on antibiotics for a good year straight! I look back now and know that was one of the worst things I could have EVER been told to do, but c'est la vie, I can't go back.
I eventually got off the antibiotics because they stopped working, and to no one's surprise, they prescribed Accutane. Now I started off with just minor breakouts when I was 13-14 and by the time I was 18 I had moderate Cystic acne. It was very painful!
So I thought, well, why not try Accutane, I've tried everything else. Accutane is really a last resort and while it did fix the problem for a few years, when I got pregnant the cystic acne came back and worse than I ever had it. This is where my story takes a turn for the best though!!!
By chance (and a lot of research) I found out that my son could not tolerate dairy, even though the doctors said "oh he's probably just a little colicky, it's probably not a food allergy." I did my own research and found out that he probably was allergic to dairy or wheat and I cut both of those things completely out of my diet and wouldn't you know he stopped being colicky and my acne VANISHED!
And I mean vanished, my skin was clear and silky and not blotchy for the first time in my life post-puberty!

NOW, why, OH WHY, do dermatologists not tell their clients that their acne could be diet related? And save some poor teenager the emotional trauma and heartache of acne? I even remember specifically asking my dermatologist at age 14 if I should make any dietary changes to help with the acne, and her reply was "Oh no, diet has nothing to do with it, eat all the chocolate and greasy potato chips(my weaknesses) you want."
So why did she tell me diet had nothing to do with it? I will tell you why, money. (Big surprise right?) Drug companies pay your dermatologist money to prescribe drugs. It's that simple. These drug companies wine and dine these doctors into a stooper. And these drug companies do not want you to know it's something as simple as a food allergy or eating an over processed diet.
Quick fact: Did you know that the Canadian Inuit people did not know what acne was until they changed from their primitive diet to a processed westernized diet around the 1950's? This is the case with many people all over the world. When a highly processed, high carb, high fat (the wrong kind of fats) diet is introduced, acne becomes the norm.

Now here is my advice, if you are dealing with acne, especially if you're over 25 and you have moderate to severe cystic acne, go on an elimination diet. First off let me state that I am not a doctor, but I am a person who has seen the wonders of eliminating allergic foods from my diet. My proof is the dramatic change in my skin. So if you're sick of dealing with acne and you've tried just about everything, search your diet high and low for an allergy. Wheat, Corn, Soy, Sugar, Nightshade family (potato, tomato, eggplant) and Dairy are the top allergens and that's where I would start.

You may be wondering how to do an elimination diet, you could try Dr. Oz's http://www.doctoroz.com/article/elimination-diet-printable-one-sheet
But I would do this diet with the help of a professional naturopath or homeopathic doctor. If you don't already see a naturopath or a homepath, find one! They can help you without the use of chemical drugs, they know the signs and symptoms of a food allergy and are normally well versed in the role diet plays in health.
Unfortunately doctors that practice western medicine are not trained in nutrition, they are trained to treat disease and sickness with drugs. And don't get me wrong, there is a time and place for western medicine, such as during bleeding emergencies, blot clots, heart attacks, but for things like acne, and skin conditions (as well as a slew of other non-emergency conditions) I believe it has failed us.

So, where am I now, well, not only did I realize diet played a huge role in my ongoing acne battle, I realized all the chemical warfare I was still putting on my face/body (cleansers, body scrubs, lotions) were not helping my skin and scars heal. They were causing me to have hives, rashes,
breakouts and irritated skin. That's when www.HeavenlyBotanicals.etsy.com was born. I created my own balms, skin cleansers, body scrubs, and healing facial serums, preservative and chemical free with organic botanicals and oils and now I'm sharing them with the world!

And guess what?! My skin started healing and I don't get hives when I put my products on my skin. It's amazing how skin, when given nutrients, vitamins, enzymes, and the things it needs, will heal and look healthy!

Here's my hope for you, that you will find your cure. Whether it be eliminating a food allergy or finding a chemical sensitivity, I hope you find what is causing your skin issue and I can tell you, when you realize that you have the power to change your skin, you won't stop there. You'll find that you can create a healthier world for yourself, and if you have children, for them. There are few things more satisfying than knowing you don't have to rely on doctors to make you well, you have the power, the power of nutrition!

Wishing you all health, love and happiness,
Brie
www.heavenlybotanicals.etsy.com