Summer’s here, and so are the many summer related skin issues like sunburn, pimples, heat rash, and more. Apple cider vinegar, rich in beneficial acids, vitamins, enzymes, and mineral salts, can help bring your summer skin out of its winter slumber. ACV has been used as a natural remedy, inside and out, for thousands of years thanks to its antibacterial and antifungal properties. Many people claim it can make your skin appear brighter and more youthful. Here’s the best way to use ACV for radiant summer skin.

What’s in a bottle?

Before delving into the many benefits apple cider vinegar (ACV) can provide for your skin, it’s beneficial to know what exactly is in that bottle before ingesting or putting it on your face.

• Apple cider vinegar is mainly apple juice.
• A two-step process turns it into vinegar.  
• Yeast is added to crushed apples, which ferments the sugars and turns them into alcohol.
• Then, bacteria are added to ferment the alcohol further, turning it into acetic acid. It’s this acetic acid (the main active compound in vinegar) that gives ACV its pungent smell and sour taste.
• Unfiltered, organic ACV also contains a substance called “mother.” “Mother” consists of friendly bacteria, strands of proteins, and enzymes — giving ACV that murky appearance.

Here’s how ACV can benefit summer skin

Apple cider vinegar has always been held in high regard as an important weight-loss elixir. But when used correctly, it can also have a significant impact on skin. While some of the research is anecdotal, advocates rave about the results they achieve when adding ACV to their DIY skincare regime. Here’s what ACV can do for your skin.  

• Improves the skin’s barrier — ACV is high in pectin, a polysaccharide that occurs naturally in apples. According to a study published in Biomolecules & Therapeutics, pectin may be beneficial in improving the skin’s barrier. The skin’s barrier is the outermost layer of the epidermis. Its job is to hold in moisture — stopping it from drying out — and protecting your skin from harsh elements.
• Helps clear skin conditions — Research suggests that acetic acid, the main compound in ACV, has antifungal and antimicrobial properties. When used topically, ACV helps clear bacteria that cause certain skin conditions such as occasional breakouts, acne, rosacea, and eczema.
• Acts as a natural anti-aging remedy — Citric acid, found in ACV, is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). AHAs are used to increase skin cell turnover. Research suggests that AHAs are ideal for decreasing wrinkles, age spots, scarring, pigmentation, and dry skin. 

The best way to use apple cider vinegar for radiant summer skin is by diluting it with purified water. Here’s how to incorporate ACV into your skincare regime.

ACV as a facial cleanser

Ditch those harsh soaps and chemicals for an all-natural face wash made from apple cider vinegar.

Ingredients:

• 1 Tbsp of apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup of warm purified water

Instructions:

1. Remove your eye makeup — coconut oil is a great natural makeup remover.
2. Add ACV to water and stir.
3. Using a cotton pad, soak in ACV mixture and wipe the entire face — avoiding the eyes.
4. Rinse with warm water and pat dry.

ACV as a facial toner

ACV is a wonderful natural toner that helps control sebum, improve acne-prone skin, and even act as an anti-aging remedy.  

Ingredients:

• 1-part ACV
• 2 parts purified water

Instructions:

1. Mix together ACV and water.
2. Using a cotton pad, apply the mixture gently over your skin — then rinse.
3. Apply a gentle, fragrance-free dry oil or moisturizer.

As a sunburn remedy

For sunburnt skin, ACV is very soothing. Simply mix one cup of ACV with five cups of purified water. Soak a washcloth with the ACV mixture and press gently on sunburnt areas of the body. Additionally, you can add two cups of ACV to a cool bath for sunburn relief.    

ACV as an exfoliant

Exfoliation is the process of removing old, dead skin cells. ACV contains fruit acids, including malic acid, which acts to exfoliate dead skin cells gently. In fact, natural fruit acids, like those found in ACV, have a number of skin benefits even beyond exfoliation like decreasing skin inflammation and boosting cell turnover. Just saturate a cotton pad with ACV and gently rub onto your face. Then rinse with warm water.

For all-over exfoliation, simply add about two cups of apple cider vinegar into your bath. Soak for approximately 15 to 20 minutes. Follow with a gentle moisturizer.

ACV as a spot treatment

When it’s hot outside, people tend to sweat significantly more. Add to that, pollution, grime, and makeup, and it’s a recipe for breakouts. An ACV spot treatment can help clear those impromptu blemishes as soon as they appear. Simply soak a cotton swab with a little full-strength ACV and dab it on the blemish. The acetic acid in apple cider vinegar is both antibacterial and keratolytic, suggests board-certified dermatologist Sejal Shah, MD, for Women’s Health. Meaning it’s actually potent enough to remove warts or calluses. 

The bottom line: it will work wonders zapping those zits. And as an added bonus, ACV — thanks to that chemical exfoliation — can also help reduce the appearance of acne scars over time.

Keeping your skin soft, smooth, and healthy doesn’t have to cost a fortune. A little apple cider vinegar in your DIY skincare routine will keep you looking radiant all summer long.

-Susan Patterson