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I’m sure that, for many of you, teenage years were the best, most exciting years of your life! This is the time for self-discovery, experimentation, trying out different things and just enjoying your time on this earth!

Sadly, this wasn’t exactly the case with me. At a very young “teenage age” I was “diagnosed” with low-self-esteem and acne-induced shyness.

You can imagine I tried every single product I could get my hands on, but nothing seemed to make any noticeable difference.

A few years later I found out about apple cider vinegar (from my grandma, who used to use it to treat sunburnt skin). I thought “If it helps with sunburn, it should help with my acne!”

That following summer I used to apply apple cider vinegar religiously on my facial skin in hopes of eradicating this plague of mine. Believe it or not, by the time summer was over, I had some 60% fewer acne breakouts, smoother skin, and an overall healthier complexion!

So, what is so special about ACV? That’s what we’re about to discuss next:

What is Apple Cider Vinegar?

ACV is mostly apple juice, but adding yeast to it starts the fermentation process, turning fruit sugar into alcohol.

One thing you need to know about vinegar is that it contains a lot of acids. For this reason, it’s not recommended to drink or apply straight; you must water it down!

We’ll talk more about diluting it later on in the article. But first, let’s talk about:

The Benefits

Here are just some of the main benefits of ACV:

  • Diabetes – consuming apple cider vinegar is scientifically proven to reduce blood sugar levels; this is especially beneficial for those suffering from type 2 diabetes.
  • Weight – there are studies showing that consuming 1 to 2 tablespoons of vinegar can lead to reduced body fat and weight.
  • Cholesterol – as for cholesterol, so far the only studies that were carried out were animal studies. But they also showed favorable results.
  • Skin – apple cider vinegar is an awesome facial cleanser. It will absorb excess oils from your skin, reduce inflammation, and remove dirt and dead skin cells from your skin.

Using Apple Cider Vinegar For Acne

There are a few key points you need to keep in mind when buying and using apple cider vinegar:

How To Buy The Right One?

Buying the right “kind” of ACV is almost as important as using it, which is why you need to learn what to look for when going shopping!

The main thing to look for is murkiness. If the vinegar is murky, it means it still has the “mother” in it. The mother is made up of good bacteria, and its presence indicates the vinegar is unfiltered and unpasteurized.

Another thing to keep an eye on is the label “apple-flavored.” This is a big no-no as it means the vinegar was produced using apple juice rather than the fruit itself.

Lastly, you should always check the expiration date. This is fairly self-explanatory.

How To Apply Apple Cider Vinegar To Your Face:

Before you get started, you’ll need a glass bowl (bottle), a tablespoon, distilled water, and the vinegar.

Step-by-step Application:

  1. Dilute it first – you need to dilute the vinegar prior to using it. I used one part/tablespoon of vinegar to 3 parts distilled water. NOTE: your skin might be different than mine, so you should check your results after 1-2 months of intensive use and adjust accordingly (try 2 or 4 parts water and 1 part vinegar).
  2. Grab a cotton pad – after you’ve decided on the vinegar to water ratio, stir it and dab a cotton pad in it.
  3. The motion – you should not pat your face with the cotton pad, rather, use a wiping motion to remove the dirt and unclog pores.
  4. Do not wash your face – there is no need to wash your face afterward, allow the skin to absorb the remaining vinegar and dry on its own.
  5. A lotion to top it off – this is an optional step but if you want, you can apply the lotion/cream you would normally use to end your face skin care routine.

That’s it! Apple cider vinegar is safe to use daily, you can even use it twice a day, but I prefer to use it in the evening before I go to bed.

About The Author:

Chloe Gunner is a self-proclaimed health and beauty enthusiast and is enjoying every second of it. She is a part of the SkincarePanda team, learning how to become better at helping people live a better life.

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