Clove Water Spray: “Botox in a Bottle”

Few kitchen spices earn the anti-ageing buzz that clove does. Its star compound, eugenol, sweeps up the free radicals that chip away at collagen, while natural antiseptic powers keep pores clear of breakout-causing microbes. Pair that warm, spicy bud with fermented rice water, green-tea catechins, cooling cucumber juice and soothing botanicals, and you get a multitasking face mist that firms, brightens and hydrates in one quick spritz.

Fans call it “Botox in a bottle” because the blend leaves skin looking instantly taut and glassy—no needles, no high price tag, just pantry staples and twenty minutes of countertop chemistry.

Ingredients Required

• 8–10 whole clove buds – antioxidant powerhouse and mild antibacterial
• 1 tablespoon green-tea leaves (or 1 tea bag) – catechins defend against UV and pollution damage
• 2 tablespoons fermented rice water (48-hour soak) – peptides and inositol improve elasticity
• 30 ml pure rose water – calms redness and adds a soft floral scent
• 15 ml freshly strained cucumber water/juice – gentle astringent, hydrator, vitamin C and silica boost
• 15 ml cold-pressed aloe-vera juice – humectant that accelerates barrier repair
• 4–5 drops vitamin E oil (puncture a capsule) – lipid antioxidant that prolongs shelf life

Optional: ½ teaspoon vegetable glycerin for extra slip in very dry climates.

Procedure – Brewing the Concentrate

1. Simmer and steep  – Pour 100 ml distilled water into a small stainless pan and bring it to a low boil. Add the clove buds and green-tea leaves, cover, reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Switch off the flame and let the mixture steep another 10 minutes so flavonoids fully infuse.
2. Strain  – Pass the hot liquid through a fine mesh sieve or coffee filter into a heat-safe jug, discarding solids.
3. Blend actives  – While the concentrate is still warm (about 40 °C), whisk in the fermented rice water. Gentle heat helps the rice peptides disperse evenly.
4. Cool and enrich  – Allow the liquid to reach room temperature. Stir in rose water, cucumber juice and aloe-vera juice. Pierce a vitamin E capsule; squeeze 4–5 drops into the beaker and whisk briskly to create a uniform micro-emulsion. (Add glycerin here if using.)
5. Bottle and store  – Funnel the toner into a sterilised 100 ml amber or cobalt spray bottle. Label with the date, tighten the cap and refrigerate. Used with clean hands and stored cold, it stays fresh for roughly three weeks.

Instructions – How to Use Your Toner

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