Adding Beneficial Ingredients to Your Toner

You're looking to enhance your homemade toner beyond Witch Hazel and DMAE, and it's great that you're considering which ingredients are suitable. As the staff mentioned, most water-soluble ingredients can be added to a toner, provided you consider their stability and optimal pH.

Here are some types of water-soluble ingredients you could incorporate, with examples:

Hydration Boosters

• Hyaluronic Acid: This ingredient is excellent for attracting and holding moisture in the skin. It dissolves in water and is stable across a wide pH range. Adding different molecular weights can provide hydration at various levels of the skin.

Soothing and Skin Barrier Support

• Niacinamide (Vitamin B3): A versatile ingredient that helps improve skin barrier function, reduce redness and inflammation, minimize pores, and regulate oil production. It is water-soluble and generally stable in toner formulations, ideally within a slightly acidic to neutral pH range.
• Allantoin: Known for its soothing and healing properties, Allantoin can help reduce irritation and support skin regeneration. It is water-soluble, though its solubility is limited at room temperature, so pay attention to recommended usage rates.

Antioxidant and Brightening Agents

• Ascorbyl Glucoside (AA-2G): This is a stable form of Vitamin C that offers antioxidant benefits and helps brighten skin tone. It is water-soluble but requires the final product's pH to be adjusted to a specific range (typically 6.5-6.8) for optimal stability, as highlighted by the staff.
• Green Tea Extract (Hi-EGCG™): A powerful antioxidant that can help protect the skin from environmental damage, reduce inflammation, and may help with acne. It is water-soluble but is sensitive to light and works best within a specific pH range (4.0-6.5). Store your finished toner in an opaque bottle to protect this ingredient.

Important Considerations

• Solubility: Ensure the ingredient is truly water-soluble and check its maximum solubility percentage to avoid issues.
• Stability: Review the product description for any notes on stability, especially in water or under certain conditions (like heat or light).
• pH: Pay close attention to the ingredient's optimal or required pH range for stability and effectiveness. As the staff confirmed, you can adjust the pH of your finished toner using appropriate pH adjusters to suit the ingredients you've added.
• Usage Rate: Always follow the recommended usage rate for each ingredient.

By carefully selecting water-soluble ingredients and understanding their requirements, you can create a more beneficial and customized toner for your skin.