Do You Really Need a Facial Toner?
Over the past 2 weeks, we've been receiving a lot of questions from customers regarding facial toners. Are they really necessary, should we use them and if yes – when and how? To save you time and effort we decided to sum it all up in one informative article that I hope will shed some light on the subject.
How Do Facial Toners Work?
One of the primary purposes of facial toners is to rebalance skin after cleansing i.e. restore its natural pH level. Apart from that, they are supposed to moisturize and refresh the skin, while removing the last traces of impurities and makeup your cleanser couldn't deal with.
Types of Facial Toner
Different toners claim to do different things. Below I've listed the most ubiquitous types:
- Exfoliating/Resurfacing - often contain (natural) acids, AHAs, BHAs and ingredients that speed up the shedding of epidermal cells, hence stimulate cell turnover; help achieve smoother skin surface +enhance the penetration of active ingredients from the advanced treatments you are using
- Balancing/Purifying - restore skin's pH balance and help control (to a certain extent) sebum secretion, therefore keep shine at bay; when formulated with salucilic acid, can be especially beneficial for acne-prone skin.
- Moisturizing - enriched with hydrating ingredients; plump up the skin and enhance its natural glow; some are even believed to boost the benefits of your moisturizer.
- Brightening/Lightening - formulated with kojic acid, glycolic acid and vitamin C, these are meant to aid in depigmentations and to even your skin tone.
- Soothing - contain ingredients like Cammomile extract, Rose Water, Oat extract, etc.; reduce redness, soothe and protect the skin.
How to Choose a Facial Toner?
The rule of thumb is - when choosing a toner, pick one that addresses your primary skin concern. Even if it's not potent enough to do miracles on its own, combining it with your favourite serum/facial oil, can help you see improvement in your skin sooner than if you use these products alone. Also, stay away from toners formulated with alcohol, as these are suspected to be drying and potentially irritating.
How Can You Benefit From a Facial Toner?
"Do you really need a toner" is a quite controversial question. Many experts claim that it's yet another unnecessary step to add to your beauty routine. Nevertheless, I am a firm believer that if formulated well, a toner is always welcome and your skin will appreciate it.
For those who have mature/dry skin, toners can be a way to add extra hydration to the skin and enhance its natural radiance. Toners for acne-prone/oily skin balance sebum secretion and provide anti-inflammatory benefits. Cooling and soothing toners can help reduce redness, tightness and inflammation, that are common concerns among people with sensitive skin.
Thanks to the advances in cosmetology and product development, the new toners popping on the market are superior compared to their ancestors from 5 years ago (back in the days, the majority of the toners were basically alcohol with a pleasant scent).
How and when to use a toner?
Toners can be used morning and evening, and even throughout the day if you want to refresh your skin. They should be applied after cleansing and before serum/moisturizer/facial oils. You can apply toner with a cotton pad or directly with your hands.
