Aside from coconut oil, apple cider vinegar is one of the most well-known and praised natural remedies on the planet. Drop a tablespoon in a glass of water and chug it in the a.m. to (reportedly) aid digestion, lower your risk of heart disease, balance your body’s pH, and reduce blood pressure. It’s also a well-known treatment for the hair — rinsing your strands with it can amp up shine, clarify, and restore the pH balance. One benefit no one talks about, however, is what it can do for your skin.

First thing’s first: What is it? Apple cider vinegar (or ACV for those in the know) is made from fermented apple juice. It’s most commonly used in salad dressing and marinades. Doesn’t really sound like something you want on your face, right? Wrong!

ACV is a natural astringent that balances skin to prevent over-active oil production and detoxifies by fighting bad bacteria. It’s a healthy ingredient that keeps oil out of those pores and can also remove makeup and excess dirt. You can apply it as a natural astringent to treat a breakout: Just take a washcloth soaked in diluted apple cider vinegar and dab it onto your skin. ACV can also help balance your skin’s pH levels: By reducing them, it can help treat acne spots and remove dead skin cells. It’s even a great home remedy for bug bites.

Now, don’t go splashing this sour stuff on your face straight from the bottle. It needs to be diluted with water first — if not, the natural acids in it can irritate or even burn the skin. Another option? Look for products that contain already diluted ACV that also combine it with other beneficial ingredients that enhance those oil-absorbing benefits.

When we were creating our new Watermelon Glow Ultra-Fine Mist, we knew we wanted it to be alcohol-free. When used in high concentrations, as many of them are, alcohol can be drying and irritating to the skin. The solution: apple cider vinegar. It balances oil, tones, and minimizes the appearance of pores, all without drying out the skin. The bi-phase mix also contains antioxidant watermelon extract, nourishing rice germ oil, hydrating hyaluronic acid, and hibiscus AHAs to exfoliate gently. And no, it doesn’t smell like fermented apples — like all Glow Recipe products, the scent is a delicious, juicy fruit scent.

Shake it up to mix the nourishing oil layer and the water-based actives, then spray this delicate dew onto your skin for a softening, smoothing, and illuminating hydration effect. Use it in the morning as a replacement for your toner, after you apply makeup to lock it all in place, and spritz throughout the day to refresh parched skin. Keep it on your desk, by your bed, or toss it in your purse for a fresh-looking face all spring and summer long.