Commercial facial cleansers and toners can take a big chunk out of a hard-earned paycheck, and those products are often filled with a variety of undesirable preservatives, colors and fragrances. Healthy, non-toxic ingredients in your kitchen cupboard can be effective, additive-free alternatives to commercial products, and won’t take a huge bite out of your budget. Choose ingredients appropriate for your skin type.

Oatmeal

Oatmeal is found in a variety of commercial skin care products, and can easily be incorporated into effective homemade cleansers that will be beneficial for nearly any skin type. Combine a cup of oats with a teaspoon of your favorite skin cream for a dry skin cleanser. Add a teaspoon of plain yogurt to a cup of oatmeal for oily skin. Mix a teaspoon of honey into a cup of oatmeal for normal skin. Use whole oats or rolled oats. Avoid instant or quick cooking varieties.

Tomato

Oily skin will benefit from a tomato skin toner. Combine canned tomato juice with enough honey to make the mixture sticky. Alternatively, blend a fresh, ripe tomato with a small amount of vodka and a cucumber. A toner made of a tablespoon of tomato juice and a few drops of lime juice will help to shrink enlarged pores. Add the oil from a vitamin E capsule to make a moisturizing toner for oily skin.

Lemon Juice

Lemon juice makes an effective cleanser for oily skin. Combined with a small amount of powdered milk or oatmeal, the cleanser will exfoliate skin. Use lemon juice and plain yogurt for a soothing cleanser for acne or irritated skin. Mix lemon juice with other fruits such as kiwi, strawberry to make an impromptu oily skin cleanser.

Green Tea

Green tea is known for its many health benefits, and simple green tea skin toners are no exception. Use loose tea or cup open a tea bag. Mix the loose tea with mineral water. Add a few drops of lemon or lime juice to the tea and mineral water and you have an effective toner for oily skin. Pour the toner into a spray bottle and store the toner in the refrigerator for a cooling hot weather toner.

Honey

Because of its soothing, hydrating qualities, honey is beneficial for any skin type and can be used in a nearly endless variety of cleansers and toners. Blended with a cucumber, honey makes an effective toner for combination skin. Mix honey with ground almonds for a gentle, exfoliating skin cleanser. Add a few drops of lemon juice to the mixture for oily skin. Use honey mixed with a small amount of sugar for an exfoliating lip scrub. Stir castile soap into honey for an effective, all-purpose facial cleanser.