By Andi Douglas, nwaMotherlode beauty editor and mama of 3
I’m sure you’ve heard about the benefits of drinking apple cider vinegar (ACV) as a means to improve digestion, which can lead to some weight loss, balancing your pH levels for healthier skin and banishing bad breath. But if you just can’t stomach the pungent drink (which should always be diluted with water or juice, btw) it doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on all the benefits people are discovering with ACV.
My favorite method of applying ACV to my beauty routine is by applying it to my scalp to combat the dry, flaky skin I suffer from during the winter months. Just like our face, arms and legs, the skin hiding under your hair is affected by the dry heat inside.
But unlike your more exposed body parts, lotion and exfoliation can prove difficult for the scalp. I’ve utilized 
DIY apple cider vinegar treatments with “meh” results, so when I found the Renpure ACV scalp scrub and scalp serum, I was pretty excited. After two uses, I’m almost completely flake-free and I was pretty far gone at this point.
The serum has a well-designed applicator tip that works great for getting through your hair and really targeting the scalp. I found these products at Walmart with the organic hair products but had trouble finding it online to purchase. There is a large selection of Renpure products and, even though it’s not ACV-related, I need to recommend the Tea Tree Mint body wash also for its refreshing smell.
Apple Cider Vinegar can also be your secret weapon to combating skin woes like acne. Not only is it a natural astringent but it can also balance your pH levels which can be the culprit behind pesky skin eruptions. Some diluted ACV poured on a cotton ball and applied to a pimple can help dry it up fast and draw out impurities to keep it gone.
Or you can dilute the ACV and store in a bottle to use as a DIY toner. Did I say dilute yet? Because I’m serious. Straight ACV can burn and irritate skin and even the watered-down version should be tested in a less 
sensitive area, like your jaw line, before spreading it all over. If your DIY skills are sketchy, the SW Basics Toner combines ACV and witch hazel in its simple formula.
A bottle of diluted ACV can be kept handy for soothing sunburns, a funky smelling foot soak, hard to reach acne prone areas like your back or cleaning up tinkle accidents. It really is the Macgyver of salad dressing ingredients, if that can be considered a thing.
You can even get some use out of the dried up baby wipes that were “mysteriously” left open. Make foot or armpit deodorizing wipes by pouring one cup of ACV over the wipes and storing in the fridge overnight. Keep in a sealed Ziplock bag for easy access.
If I haven’t convinced you to use ACV topically, you can try drinking it or taking ACV pills to reap the internal health benefits. Or you can just eat a ton of this delicious Asian chicken salad and then brag to people about how healthy you are!
Happy Spring, Mamas!
Andi Douglas always makes us laugh and is the mama of three especially cute kiddos. She loves talking about hair and make-up, so send her a question about either of those two topics and she’ll be happy to help a mama out. Email her at mamasATnwaMotherlodeDOTcom.
