Apple Cider Vinegar

What Is Apple Cider Vinegar in Skincare?

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is fermented apple juice in which yeast first turns the sugars into alcohol and bacteria then turn the alcohol into acetic acid. In skincare and hair care it is used, always diluted, as a mild acidic rinse: in hair rinses for smoother, shinier-looking hair and in toners for skin that feels fresh and clean.

EWG Skin Deep score for Apple Cider Vinegar EWG Skin Deep rating for Apple Cider Vinegar

It is a kitchen ingredient with a strong reputation online, but the published skin research is small and mixed, and full-strength vinegar can injure skin. This entry sticks to what is known.

Quick Facts

INCI names Apple Cider Vinegar (exact INCI wording varies by supplier)
Common names Apple cider vinegar, cider vinegar, ACV
Source Fermented apple juice (apple: Malus domestica)
Main active Acetic acid; a product must contain at least 4% acetic acid to be called vinegar
pH About 3 to 5 (supplier data); strongly acidic before dilution
Form Clear to cloudy golden liquid; raw ACV contains a cloudy "mother"
Solubility Water soluble
Typical usage rate 2% to 5% in toners; up to 10% in rinse-off shampoos and conditioners (supplier guidance)
Preservation Does not preserve a formula; add a broad-spectrum preservative
Skin types Normal and oily skin, in dilute form; not for dry, broken, or easily irritated skin

How Apple Cider Vinegar Works on Skin and Hair

A low-pH rinse

Healthy skin's surface is mildly acidic, and many soaps are alkaline. A dilute acidic rinse brings the surface pH down after washing. On hair, an acidic rinse is used to leave hair feeling smoother and looking shinier, and to help lift leftover product and hard-water film.

What the research measured

  • Soaks and the skin barrier. In a 2019 study (Luu, Flowers, Kellams and colleagues, Pediatric Dermatology), 22 people (11 with a chronic dry-skin condition and 11 healthy volunteers) soaked one forearm in 0.5% acetic acid made from apple cider vinegar and the other in tap water, 10 minutes a day for 14 days. Skin pH dropped and water loss rose right after each soak, but both returned to baseline within an hour. After two weeks, vinegar did no better than water for the skin barrier, and 16 of the 22 participants reported mostly mild discomfort on the vinegar side.
  • Full-strength vinegar. A 2012 case report in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (Bunick and colleagues) described a chemical burn from apple cider vinegar applied to the skin. Undiluted vinegar is an acid and should never be left on skin.

In short, dilute ACV is a pleasant rinse with a real pH effect on the surface, but it is not proven to strengthen the skin barrier, and stronger is not better.

How to Use Apple Cider Vinegar

  • Hair rinse. After shampooing, pour a rinse of 30 to 60 g ACV in 250 g water (about 2 to 4 tablespoons per cup) through the lengths, leave 1 to 2 minutes, and rinse out.
  • Toner. Use 5%, the top of the supplier's 2% to 5% range, in a water or aloe base. That is about 1.5 g (roughly a third of a teaspoon) per fluid ounce. Apply with a cotton pad and avoid the eye area.
  • Rinse-off products. Use up to 10% in place of part of the water in shampoos and conditioners.
  • Preserve. ACV's acidity does not stop bacteria, yeast, or mold in a finished formula, so add a broad-spectrum preservative that works at your final pH, and check pH after adding it.
  • Never use it neat on skin, and never leave it under a bandage or overnight.

Who Apple Cider Vinegar Suits

A dilute ACV rinse suits normal and oily skin and most hair types, especially hair dulled by product buildup or hard water. Skip it on dry, cracked, freshly shaved, or broken skin, and skip it if acids usually sting you. If you have sensitive skin, patch test on the inner arm for 24 hours and start at the lowest rate, 2% in a toner, then work up.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is apple cider vinegar good for your face?

Diluted to 2% to 5% in a toner, it can leave normal and oily skin feeling fresh and clean. It should never be used full strength, because a case of chemical burn from topical apple cider vinegar has been published.

How do you dilute apple cider vinegar for skin?

Use 2% to 5% in a toner, about a third of a teaspoon per fluid ounce at 5%. For a hair rinse, mix 2 to 4 tablespoons into a cup of water.

Does apple cider vinegar balance skin pH?

Briefly. In a 2019 study, a 0.5% soak lowered skin pH right after use, but pH was back to baseline within about an hour. Daily soaks for two weeks did not improve the skin barrier compared with water.

Is apple cider vinegar good for hair?

Yes, as a rinse. As an acidic rinse it leaves hair feeling smoother and looking shinier and helps lift product and hard-water buildup. Rinse it out after a minute or two.

Can apple cider vinegar fade dark spots?

No published study shows that apple cider vinegar fades dark spots, and putting it on spots full strength can burn skin. For an even-looking tone, choose tested brightening ingredients instead.

Can I leave apple cider vinegar on my face overnight?

No. Leaving vinegar on skin, especially undiluted or covered, can irritate or burn it. Use it as a dilute toner or rinse.

Shop and Learn More

We do not currently sell an apple cider vinegar product. For a gentle acid step in a cleanser, see our Alpha Hydroxy Probiotic Cleanser with lactic acid, and for another apple-derived ingredient, our PhytoCellTec Malus Domestica apple stem cells. To compare acids, see our alpha hydroxy acid glossary entry and toners.

Sources

  • Luu LA, Flowers RH, Kellams AL, et al. Apple cider vinegar soaks [0.5%] ... do not improve skin barrier integrity. Pediatric Dermatology. 2019;36(5):634-639.
  • Bunick CG, Lott JP, Warren CB, Galan A, Bolognia J, King BA. Chemical burn from topical apple cider vinegar. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2012;67(4):e143-e144. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2011.11.934. DOI

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

About the Author
Written by Kari Thomas, cosmetic formulator and founder of Skin Perfection.