Many people are clearly beginning to understand the importance of having a regimen which should include incorporating a facial toner among using other products. One of the things that helped and really helps my oily and acne prone skin and improved the overall appearance of my skin is a toner. I’d always used a toner right after I started having acne but never really paid attention to the effects and importance toners have, especially the right ones your skin loves.
Toners are usually used after cleansing your skin to prepare your skin for the next skincare step which is usually moisturizing. A toner that contains the right ingredients help to sooth, smoothen, soften, calm, nourish & repair while also brightening or evening out your skin tone. Toners generally help to shrink pores, protect and refresh the skin while restoring the skin’s Ph balance that may have been raised by harsh soaps and other cleansing substances.They also basically remove dirt, oil and grime which clogs pores. Most people have different types of skin and manner in which their skin reacts to products, so also are there different kinds of toners that suit these different skin types.
Toners for different skin types
- Toners for oily and blemish prone skin: if you have oily or blemish prone skin, you want to buy a toner that doesn’t have alcohol or alcohol based substance in it and that gently removes dirt and oil, not forgetting to look out for ingredients like Chamomile, Witch hazel, Allantoin, Aloe vera, Niacinamide, Rosewater, green tea, and other Vitamins. Witch hazel is a much debated ingredient in that most people say that it’s astringent properties can cause skin to dry out producing more oil. However, i feel if you have witch hazel contained in a product along with skin loving and hydrating ingredients then whats the worry? After all, what we need are ingredients that help control oil although not dry out our skin!
- Toners for combination skin; Having combination skin means that there are areas of your face that produce more oil that others and other areas dry. Anything that will help to reduce oil production in your oily areas and that is less drying around your dry areas is recommended. You will need something equally as gentle with skin loving ingredients as well.
- Toners for dry or sensitive skin: In this case, it’s best to use toners clearly labelled for sensitive skin. Because of all the products I had used over the years that did much damage to my skin, I have stuck to using products that are either natural or formulated for sensitive skin just to help improve my skin. I currently use this toner and this facial wash. Toners that contain rosewater will work very well for dry skin as rosewater is a moisturizer which helps to hydrates your skin. Another is Glycerin.
Natural skin loving toners
If you’d rather decide to go natural and use an all natural toner, you can try toners like pure witch hazel, rosewater or apple cider vinegar.
- Apple Cider Vinegar; I love apple cider vinegar because it naturally evens out skin complexion and helps to fight acne producing bacteria. It balances the natural pH of the skin, clears away excess oils and make-up, and contains malic acid (a natural exfoliant) which breaks up the bonds between dead skin cells (exfoliating) to keep skin pores open. It lightens sun and age spots, and can improve acne and acne scars. To make your ACV toner, mix one part of ACV with two parts of water for that healthy glowing skin. Adding a little tea tree the mixture will also help to combat acne while also keeping your skin properly toned, fresh and clear.
- Rosewater: Rose water as well is a natural antiseptic with anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. it is filled with antioxidants and vitamins that sooth and cool sensitive and irritated skin, cleanse oily skin and rejuvenate, soften and tone skin. Rose water hydrates dry skin, tones oily skin and soothes sensitive skin
- Witch hazel: Witch hazel is an astringent (causes the contraction of skin cells), antioxidant and is anti-inflammatory. It’s good for spot treating acne and soothing dry skin or itching. The problem is that some witch hazel products on the market contain a large amount of alcohol, which can be very drying. Alcohol isn’t good for your skin so if you can’t lay your hands on distilled witch hazel without alcohol, using a witch hazel alcohol-free toner is probably the most ideal idea.
So have you been using any toners lately?
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