Why Apple Cider Vinegar Is a Great Addition to Any Beauty Routine

It’s no secret that we're always looking for the newest, most effective beauty solutions. We've even written 'Everything You Need to Know About the Charcoal Toothpaste Fad'— because, in spite of its popularity, activated charcoal is not the safest for your health.

Now, thanks to modern science and nutrition, we can reliably identify natural beauty solutions that are both healthy and effective. One of those natural solutions is apple cider vinegar.

Great for Your Skin

Let's start off with the most popular beauty application. A large part of apple cider vinegar's recent popularity can be attributed to its use as a skin toner. ACV is a mild acid, and when diluted has been found to be pretty effective in restoring the skin to its natural pH levels, clarifying the skin, and even exfoliating.

Mindbodygreen notes that ACV also has antibacterial and antifungal properties, which is great news for people prone to acne breakouts. While there are several ACV toners out on the market, you can make your own by mixing one part vinegar with four parts water for a quick and easy solution.

Great for Your Hair

Ever thought about rinsing your hair out with apple cider vinegar? If you suffer from dandruff or an itchy scalp, you might find that this a life-changing solution. Cosmopolitan recommends ACV rinses as a simple yet effective remedy for a host of different hair and scalp complaints. But how does it work?

Apple cider vinegar has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that allow it to soothe your scalp and eliminate the bacteria and fungi that cause dandruff. Because it's got alpha hydroxy acid, it has exfoliating properties that can help clear your scalp and give it a new lease on life. Just be sure to dilute it properly and finish up with some light conditioner after rinsing, to prevent your scalp and hair from drying out.

Great for Your Body

Apple cider vinegar isn't just a topical solution, it's actually got a ton of health benefits when ingested as well. ACV has been found to improve digestion, boost energy, and even manage blood sugar levels. There's also talk that ACV could even help with weight loss, although this is pretty much unproven.

Unfortunately, you might want to hold back on drinking up that bottle of ACV. Even when it's diluted, regularly drinking apple cider vinegar could damage your tooth enamel or esophagus. So what's the best way to make the most of its health benefits? Brightcore suggests trying ACV gummies instead, as they're portable, safer, and can even have added nutrients for that health boost. Plus, measuring out your dosage is much easier, and you don't have to worry about the vinegary taste.

Great for Your Lips

Last but not least, apple cider vinegar is a great ingredient in a clarifying lip scrub. Lip scrubs are useful for a lot of reasons— they can lighten pigmentation, or simply scrub off dead cells for a fresher, plumper look. Apple cider vinegar is a natural exfoliant, which makes it an especially important ingredient for lip scrubs.

Spa and Beauty Today has a pretty good recipe for an ACV lip scrub. Simply mix one part ACV with three parts honey and two parts sugar, and you've got yourself a simple, effective lip scrub that feels good and looks great.