Face mists not only nourish your skin, but they can also help address issues such as dehydration and irritation—working double and triple duty most of the time. They should be a part of your twice-daily beauty routine but can be used more often if needed at any time of day.
Since it can become costly to reach for that retail-sized bottle again and again, we’ve put together a few simple and effective facial mist recipes for different skin needs. Read on to get the recipes!
5 Ways to Make a Homemade Face Mist
My skincare routine only changes slightly in the summer months—my heavy winter moisturizer gets swapped out for something lighter, and I break out my bottles of face mist, one of my favorite skincare multitaskers.
Face mists are amazing because:
1. You can use them as a toner. For some people, a toner you can spray is a lot more fun than the kind that comes in a regular bottle and has to be applied with a cotton ball.
2. Face sprays are the perfect way to use the power of evaporation to cool off when it’s hot out, and your face feels gross. Keep them in the fridge for even more cooling effects.
3. Some face mists also work as setting sprays. And you know we all need a good makeup setting spray when it’s eleventy-billion degrees out.
4. They’re perfect for traveling to freshen your skin and give it an added boost to counteract the dry air on the airplane.
But you don’t have to spend a ton of money on those fancy store-bought face mists. A few simple ingredients like green tea, rose water, and apple cider vinegar naturally soothe skin and leave your face feeling refreshed. Plus, they are so economical because you can make them again and again—even mixing up ingredients and tailoring them to your skin type—for next to nothing.
If you’re ready to add a few face mists to your arsenal, I’ve rounded up some of my favorites below.
1. Balancing Facial Mist
Often cleansers are made to be alkaline to soften the skin and help dissolve makeup. This can wreak havoc on your skin and damage the precious skin barrier, which usually has a pH of approximately 5.5.
When you make your own facial mist, you can help rebalance the pH by introducing slightly acidic properties back into the skin.
- 2 tablespoons raw apple cider vinegar
- 2-ounce mist spray bottle
- Distilled water
Add raw ACV to the bottle, and fill the remainder with distilled water. Refrigerate until needed, and shake before each use.
2. Anti-Aging Face Mist
Adding vitamin C to your morning beauty lineup is a wonderful defense against damaging free radicals [source]. This facial mist fights sun damage and pollution simultaneously.
- 6 ounces water
- 3 bags hibiscus tea
- 1 ounce witch hazel
- 1/2 teaspoon vitamin C powder
- 2-ounce mist spray bottle
Bring six ounces of water to boil, turn off the heat, and add three organic hibiscus tea bags. Steep covered for 20 minutes. Remove tea bags and add one ounce of alcohol-free witch hazel and 1/2 teaspoon of vitamin C powder. Mix well and transfer to a small spray bottle.
Apply a tiny bit of the prepared mixture to your neck first to make sure you don’t have any sensitivity, and then use it each morning after cleansing.
Store in the refrigerator for up to 1–2 weeks.
3. Toning Facial Mist for Oily Skin
Contrary to popular belief, all skin types need a toner. Not only do toners reduce oil production, but they also remove traces of makeup left after washing.
With the addition of natural anti-inflammatories such as aloe vera, they can soothe irritated skin, reducing redness and inflammation [source]. This recipe for face mist addresses oily skin hydration needs without clogging and tightens pores—thanks to the witch hazel.
- 2-ounce mist spray bottle
- About 2 tablespoons alcohol-free witch hazel
- 1 teaspoon aloe vera gel
Add a little less than 2 tablespoons of witch hazel to the glass spray bottle, leaving just enough room for the 1 teaspoon of aloe vera (or maybe add the aloe vera first). Shake before each use to combine.
Store in the refrigerator and use within 1–2 weeks.
4. Rosewater Facial Mist for Dehydrated or Sensitive Skin
Rosewater both soothes and hydrates skin, making it ideal for dehydrated or dry skin. The anti-inflammatory [source] and skin healing [source] therapeutic properties of the natural oils of rose also help ease morning puffiness.
For dry skin that is coupled with irritation or redness, add the optional chamomile essential oil to work double duty [source].
- 6–8 cups of extremely fragrant (organic, if possible!) fresh rose petals
- Distilled water
- Ice cubes
- Large cooking pot with lid
- Tongs
- A brick or small bowl weighted down with kitchen weights
- Shallow, wide-mouth bowl
- Glass jar with lid or mist spray bottle to store rosewater
- Measuring cup with spout or kitchen funnel
Remove the petals from your roses, separating each from its stem and shaking out any stamen that might have gotten caught up in the petals.
Place a brick, heavy bowl, or cup filled with kitchen weights in the bottom of your large pan. Then place a wide-mouth bowl on top of the brick or weighted bowl so it sits a little higher than the water will be and serves as a collection bowl.
Add the petals to the pot around the bowl. Then pour 6 cups of distilled water around the sides of the bowl and lightly submerge the flower petals.
Place the lid on top of the pot, upside down, and pile a handful of ice cubes in the center of the upturned lid. Keep replenishing the ice as it melts.
Simmer on medium-low for 15–20 minutes until the petals begin to lose their color.
Remove the collection bowl from the pot with tongs and then, using a funnel or measuring cup, pour the collected rosewater into a mister bottle or jar with a lid.
See this article for a more detailed explanation and recipe for making your own rosewater.
This is an especially great facial infusion mist for traveling and boosting your skin when on the go.
5. Face Mist for Every Skin Type
If you’re unsure which mist is right for you, you can’t go wrong with this green tea toner that is anti-inflammatory, acne-fighting, and high in antioxidants [source]. Plus, it’s so simple to make!
- 1 green tea bag
- 2-ounce mist spray bottle
- Optional: 2–3 drops vitamin E oil
Steep one tea bag in a cup of boiling water for 4–5 minutes. Remove the tea bag and move the cup to your fridge for chilling. To seal in the moisture when using it on your skin, add 2–3 drops of vitamin E oil.
Add the chilled tea to a glass spray bottle and store in the fridge. Use twice daily after cleansing—shaking well before each use.
Store leftover face mist in the refrigerator.
Similar to a toner, a daily facial mist can be customized by adding any of these ingredients to the green tea base:
Dry or aging skin: Add 4 to 6 drops of argan, jojoba, or avocado oil to your facial mist to treat aging or dry skin—just be sure to shake well before each use. Jojoba in particular is a wonderful choice for dry skin due to how closely related it is to our skin’s own sebum or oil. It mimics our skin’s oil and thus is easily absorbed.
Sensitive or dry skin: Add equal parts rosewater to the green tea mist to treat sensitive or dry skin. Rosewater has anti-inflammatory properties that can treat redness and/or irritation.
Oily or acne-prone skin: Add one teaspoon of witch hazel to your green tea mist for oily or acne-prone skin. As a natural astringent, witch hazel removes excess oil on the surface of the skin while it tones and soothes skin.
Homemade Face Mist FAQs
How long will my homemade facial mist last?
Because all of these recipes are made with water, I recommend storing your face mist in the refrigerator and using it within 1–2 weeks. You can also use a natural preservative such as grapefruit seed extract to extend the shelf life of your mist. I haven’t tried this myself, so if you go this route, you’ll need to experiment in order to get the right ratio.
Why does my mist keep separating?
Since these don’t contain an emulsifier, some natural ingredients like vitamin E and aloe vera will naturally separate. You can get around this by simply shaking your face mist prior to each use.
What’s the right way to use facial mist?
To get the most out of your mist, I recommend incorporating it into your a.m. and p.m. skincare regimens.
After cleansing your face, make sure your eyes are closed tightly and spritz your facial mist on right before applying serum and moisturizer to help increase absorption. Then let everything sink in before either applying makeup or hitting the hay.
You can also use it as a setting spray after putting on your makeup or as a post-workout cleanser.
Is facial mist the same as toner?
Toner is nothing more than a fast-penetrating liquid that boosts the skin’s hydration and helps remove dead cells, grime, and makeup from the surface of the skin. While some commercial toners do this with chemicals, you can get the same effect from homemade face mist as well.
Can facial mist replace moisturizer?
In a pinch, yes. But I find that face mist is best used in conjunction with moisturizer. When applied just prior to your moisturizer, face mist helps draw moisture into the skin and seals it in, so it lasts longer.
How do I make a face mist for dry skin?
Some natural ingredients are perfect for moisturizing dry skin. If your skin’s always parched, add any of the following to your homemade facial mist:
You can also try these 5 hydrating face mask recipes for soothing dry skin.
Not ready to DIY? Here are some of our natural mist favorites:
Youth To The People Adaptogen Soothe + Hydrate Activated Mist
Mario Badescu Facial Spray With Aloe, Herbs, And Rosewater
Re: Fresh Organic Toning Facial Mist
Rose Hibiscus Hydrating Face Mist
APTO Skincare Face Mist Pomegranate
This post was medically reviewed by Dr. Jennifer Haley, a board-certified dermatologist with extensive experience in medical, cosmetic, and surgical dermatology. Learn more about Hello Glow’s medical reviewers here. As always, this is not personal medical advice, and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.
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Oo this is such a good idea!
Hi, how long do the facial mists keep for? Thank you
NO. Unless you plan to use it on the spot you should never, EVER make a water based product without proper preservation. You don’t measure stuff like this in volume or make anything vitamin C based without access to pH strips. Vitamin E oil is not water soluble, you need an emulsifier. This is thoroughly bad advice.
i have to try the one for the oily skin. :)
Ooo great recipes!