Can apple cider vinegar give you healthy skin and treat pimples? (2023)

Apple cider vinegar has become a favoritenatural skin care. With supposed benefits like brighter, clearer skin, can you blame someone for risking smelling like salad dressing when it means a better complexion? Even skincare experts agree that this fermented liquid can do great things for your skin. “Apple cider vinegar is not only famous as a popular salad dressing and as a salad dressingElixir for melting fatsays the New York dermatologistmichelle green, MD. "It also has many skin benefits."

Since it can be found in your kitchen, the pantry staple seems benign for a DIY skincare recipe. But before you pour the bottle all over your face, find out what skin experts have to say about the potential benefits and side effects, and the best way to apply apple cider vinegar. (Tip: It is not recommended to pour the bottle all over your face.)

Below are expert-recognized ways to use apple cider vinegar for your skin.

What is apple cider vinegar?

Apple cider vinegar (aka ACV) is extracted from apples and made through a fermentation process. It comes in liquid form and is commonly applied as a toner when applied topically, but can also act as a spot treatment. "[Apple cider vinegar] has a naturally acidic pH and can help balance the pH of the outer layer of skin," she says.Josua Designer, MD, Director of Clinical and Cosmetic Research at Mount Sinai Hospital. Like vinegar, it contains and also contains acetic acid, which has antibacterial and keratolytic propertiesmalic acid, a gentle chemical peel.

Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar for Skin

While there isn't enough scientific evidence to support most claims about apple cider vinegar, its properties could theoretically provide the following skin benefits:

• Balances the pH of the skin:Because apple cider vinegar can help balance the pH of your skin's outer layer, according to Zeichner, it can keep your skin functioning at its best -- that is, by doing things like producing the right amount of oil and dealing with the bacteria that causes acne .
• Peeling:"Apple cider vinegar contains malic acid, which is similar to the alpha hydroxy acid," says Green. “Malic acid works well on acne-prone skin as it gently exfoliates to unclog pores.and eliminate bacteria.
• Fight against blackheads and acne:According to Green, apple cider vinegar, which has antibacterial agents, can also be mixed with baking soda and water to exfoliate and reduce blackheads.
• Improves Hyperpigmentation:Green says the malic acid in apple cider vinegar can help remove themhyperpigmentationproblems like dark spots. "Malic acid is known for its ability to decrease melanin production," she says. "Melanin gives skin its pigmentation, so malic acid is great for improving hyperpigmentation."
• May prevent and treat certain skin conditions:Thanks to ACV's antimicrobial and antibacterial properties, it may help prevent certain skin infections, including those caused by sunburn.

Side Effects of Apple Cider Vinegar

Because the malic acid chemical peel is gentler than most AHAs, Green notes that it's suitable for all skin types—just try any new products on your skin. Other components of apple cider vinegar can irritate and dry out the skin, and studies show that the acetic acid found in apple cider vinegar can cause chemical burns.An easy way to avoid this is to simply dilute the formula more than recommended if it's too strong.

how to use it

Apple cider vinegar is very strong and, as mentioned earlier, can cause chemical burns. For this reason you shouldAlwaysit must be diluted with water before applying to the skin; usually a ratio of one part apple cider vinegar to four parts water. Consider incorporating it into your skin care routine as follows:

• Apply it as a toner:"We live in a saturated world of beauty products," she says.Sofia Reh, natural beauty expert, holistic chef and member of the Vitamin Shoppe Wellness Council. "Many use different cleansers, masks, etc. Over time, this can erode the skin's natural defenses." When that happens, you open your skin to things like rashes and dry skin. "Using apple cider vinegar as a quick toner is a great way to restore your skin's natural defenses, remove excess dirt, and fight acne," she says. Cosmetic chemist Ginger King, CEO ofbeauty of the kingdom of grace, do you agree. "It's been used as a toner because of its acidity," she says, "and it's recommended to be diluted, especially for sensitive skin."
• As a spot treatment, try:"Apple cider vinegar is amazing at fighting acne-causing bacteria and helping reduce the appearance of pimples and scars," says Valerie Grandury, founder ofsubservience, tell us. His recommendation is to use it as a night treatment and mix it with a powder mask like Odacité.Synergie Inmediate Skin Perfection Mascarilla($64) in the form of a poultice, apply to the stain and leave overnight.
• Make a Homemade Facial Cleanser:While it's not advisable to apply apple cider vinegar directly to the skin, making a dilute ACV solution with water makes a simple yet effective homemade facial cleanser.
• Use as a scrub:Thanks to the malic acid contained in apple cider vinegar, it is ideal for gently exfoliating the skin. For maximum benefit, enjoy a warm bath and a cup of apple cider vinegar. 15 minutes is enough to get smooth skin.

The best apple cider vinegar products

Bragg's ACV is a popular brand and is available at any grocery store. It's just your standard bottle of apple cider vinegar, good to drink or use in home remedies for skin.

Designed for those with oily and problematic skin, this toner is extremely powerful thanks to the addition of not only apple cider vinegar, but also glycolic and salicylic acids. If you have a lot of acne or need a more intense toner, this is a good option.

Apple cider vinegar isn't a facial ingredient—this conditioner from dpHUE is a beauty editors' favorite. While some choose to make their own ACV conditioner, this one is infused with aloe and lavender to repair and purify the scalp. It also doesn't strip the scalp of the natural oils that keep it healthy.

Dermatological peels are not one-size-fits-all, but when it comes to peels, we often forget that. Luckily, these apple cider vinegar-based exfoliating pads are made for everyday use, so they're gentle enough that you can use them occasionally if you have sensitive skin. You should start with once or twice a week as the brand recommends, but if you have tougher skin you can increase from there.

Marie Veronique is a beautician's favorite brand and something of a queen of serums. So her collaboration with skincare expert Kristina Holey comes as no surprise, but it's exciting. This special serum contains AHA, BHA and vitamins B5 and B3 to relieve stress and keep your skin in peak condition.

Meow Meow Tweet is another natural brand that has harnessed the power of apple cider vinegar.detoxifying, exfoliating and anti-acne, making it perfect for use in toners.

This foaming cleanser uses apple cider vinegar andwillow barkgently but effectively cleanses the skin and balances the pH value of the skin.