One of the great things about a woman’s bathroom is the smell - soaps, shower gels, bubble bath, as long as you don’t go too heavy on the hair spray or perfume, everything smells clean and fresh. Why, then, would someone want to use vinegar as a skin care product? Believe it or not, vinegar deserves a place of honor on your natural skin care shelves. Find out what it can do for you, and how to make it smell good.

Vinegar - your best choice is unfiltered apple cider vinegar, also known simply as cider vinegar - contains beta-carotene, pectin, a wide range of vitamins and several minerals vital to good health and healthy skin.

It’s a powerful antioxidant that fights free radicals, stimulates circulation in small capillaries, helps eliminate waste, and protects against fungal and bacterial infection. It also irrigates the skin, dissolves excess fat deposits near or on the surface, balances oily skin and restores the skin’s natural pH.

Vinegar is also great for acne: It not only clears up a breakout, it can even reduce acne scarring. And it’s great for lightening age spots or other discoloration.

Mixing apple cider vinegar with an equal part of clean water - if you need skin care products designed for sensitive skin, start with one part vinegar and five parts water - also shrinks the pores, reduces shiny patches, and gives you an overall healthy glow.

Adding vitamin C crystals increases the antioxidant content and offers even more protection.

How do you get rid of the smell? Believe it or not, the smell dissipates within a few minutes but, to be sure, add a few drops of essential oils. Lavender, rosemary, rose, and elder flower are among the most common. These oils also have their own skin care benefits. Lavender is a soothing, antiseptic anti-inflammatory excellent for psoriasis, acne and sunburn. Rosemary is also antiseptic, and relaxes both the nerves and muscles. Rose stimulates circulation and purifies, and elder flower, high in vitamin C, is a mild astringent that also softens the skin. However, all the oils should be used in moderation.

After you’ve cleansed, toned, stimulated, softened and purified your skin with apple cider vinegar and essential oils, don’t forget to apply a shielding lotion. The fastest way to ruin a good skin care treatment is pollution. Environmental chemicals and toxins break down the protective layer of the skin, produce free radicals, and cause dry skin, eczema and aging. A good shielding lotion bonds with the skin’s outer layer to keep out chemicals.

Give apple cider vinegar a try. It could be just the skin care product you need to get that healthy glow. And don’t forget the shielding lotion.