How to Use Vinegar for Beauty

Co-authored by Chloe Goldman

Last Updated: February 10, 2023 References

As an alternative to typical skin care products, vinegar can offer some surprising benefits. Organic apple cider vinegar, distilled from raw apples, is the most commonly cited vinegar for beauty applications. The acidity of the vinegar, along with its anti-inflammatory properties, makes it a natural alternative for caring for your skin, hair, and nails.^{[1]
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Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Beautifying Your Face

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Make a toner. To do this, combine apple cider vinegar with other household items. Facial toners utilizing apple cider vinegar can help tighten skin, minimize pores, and remove any lingering traces of makeup.
- The natural alpha-hydroxy acids present in apple cider vinegar help exfoliate the skin. ^{[2]
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- A popular recipe for toner is one part apple cider vinegar with four parts water.
- Other household items, such as green or chamomile tea, witch hazel, and aloe vera gel, can be added to the toner depending on your skin’s needs.
- To use, shake the toner mixture to evenly distribute ingredients and apply to your skin using a saturated cotton ball.
- Be sure to avoid the eye area.
- If the toner irritates your skin more than a slight tingle, rinse it off immediately.
2
Use apple cider vinegar to treat pimples. Vinegar can be used to treat occasional breakouts because of its antibacterial properties and its ability to unclog blocked pores.^{[3]
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- To treat a pimple, saturate a cotton ball with one part vinegar and two parts water. Apply the cotton ball to the affected skin for 10 minutes. Repeat this process a few times a day until the pimple disappears. ^{[4]
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Make a calming face mask with vinegar. Along with other kitchen staples, apple cider vinegar can be used to make a mask for brightening or soothing stressed skin. Since the pH value of apple cider vinegar is similar to that of our skin, these masks can be soothing and rebalancing.^{[5]
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- For a soothing mask, combine 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with 2 tablespoons of honey and apply to a clean face. Leave this mask on for up to 20 minutes and rinse. ^{[6]
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- Another recipe features ½ teaspoon of turmeric powder, ½ teaspoon of apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon of honey, and ½ teaspoon of milk. Combine all ingredients and apply to your face for approximately 20 minutes to achieve healthy, glowing skin. ^{[7]
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Use vinegar to help fight age spots. The alpha-hydroxy acids in apple cider vinegar are gently exfoliating and can help with cell turnover on dark spots. ^{[8]
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- To use, dilute one part apple cider vinegar with one part water. Saturate a cotton ball with this mixture and apply to the age spot(s). Leave on for 30 minutes before rinsing.
- By doing this twice a day for about six weeks, you can see a gradual fading of the spots.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Treating Hair and Nails

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Conquer dandruff with vinegar. The white flakes and itchy skin that characterize dandruff can be caused by oily skin, dry skin, or a fungus. Vinegar can help alleviate these symptoms in a variety of ways.^{[9]
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- The antifungal properties of apple cider vinegar can be effective in killing the fungus, if that’s the cause of your dandruff.
- Exfoliating qualities of vinegar help remove dead skin cells from your scalp, again alleviating the dandruff symptoms.
- One common method to treat dandruff involves mixing 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with 2 tablespoons of warm water. Massage onto your scalp for 5 minutes, then rinse and shampoo. Repeat two or three times a week. ^{[10]
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- Although there aren't any head-to-head studies comparing apple cider vinegar with traditional dandruff treatments, it's thought to be useful for dandruff due to its antimicrobial properties.
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Boost your hair’s shine. Using apple cider vinegar as a regular part of your hair care routine can leave you with beautiful tresses.^{[11]
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- Vinegar can help dissolve and remove the styling product build-up and environmental pollution that leaves your hair dull and lifeless.
- After shampooing, rinse your hair with a mixture of 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and 1 cup of warm water. Rinse, then condition as usual. ^{[12]
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- A vinegar rinse can also help seal the hair cuticle, enabling the hair to retain more moisture and look shiny. Additionally, it can help prevent split ends. ^{[13]
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Use vinegar to cure your nails. The enzymes and nutrients found in apple cider vinegar can help solve a variety of nail issues.
- Soak yellow nails once a day in apple cider vinegar to remove discoloration. Often, the yellowness is caused by a fungus that can be countered by a vinegar soak. ^{[14]
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- Vinegar can also be used to help maintain cuticles. Combine mashed fresh pineapple and vinegar and massage onto cuticles. Rinse after a few minutes. ^{[15]
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- Before polishing your nails, wipe them with a cotton ball soaked in vinegar to help your manicure last longer. ^{[16]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Fixing Other Beauty Problems

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Banish smelly feet. You don’t have to use pricy foot sprays or powders to combat foot odor. A quick soak in an apple cider vinegar solution can help solve the problem.
- The antiseptic properties in apple cider vinegar help disinfect your feet and destroy odor-causing bacteria. ^{[17]
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- Combine 1 cup of apple cider vinegar and 4 cups of warm water in a large bowl. Soak feet for 15 minutes and then rinse and dry them.
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Combat athlete’s foot. This fungal infection is easily treated with vinegar. A daily soak in a solution of one part vinegar and two parts warm water can help alleviate the itchiness and other symptoms caused by the infection. ^{[18]
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Fight warts. Try this natural method for removing pesky warts. Soak a cotton pad in apple cider vinegar and bandage it to your wart. Leave in place overnight, and repeat daily until your wart is gone. ^{[19]
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Soothe razor burn. The itchy red bumps that sometimes result from shaving can be helped with the anti-inflammatory properties of apple cider vinegar. Simply swipe a cotton ball dipped in a mixture of water and apple cider vinegar over the bumps. The skin will be soothed, and the mixture will help exfoliate and alleviate ingrown hairs. ^{[20]
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Community Q&A

Question

How long does it usually take for me to see the results of applying ACV on pimples?

Community Answer

It took me about 3 days to a week.
Question

Will vinegar clean or remove stained hands that have dye on them?

Community Answer

I'm not sure, but something that might work is nail polish remover. Be careful if you do use it, though. It can dry out your skin and has toxic fumes. The best thing to do is to just try to wash it off and over a period of a couple of days it should be gone.
Question

Can I use white vinegar to replace the apple cider vinegar?

Community Answer

It won't work quite the same, but you're welcome to try it!

Warnings

Do not put full-strength vinegar on your face or body. It can burn the skin.

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Be sure to use sunscreen when using apple cider vinegar on your face. The acids in the vinegar can make you more sensitive to the sun’s ultraviolet rays.

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Before using a new solution on your face, test it on your hand first to make sure it is not irritating. The skin on your face is more delicate than elsewhere on your body.

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