The first thing that comes to my mind when I hear someone talking about facial toners is “meh” which is really terrible considering that I come from the skincare industry. I think that over time, we have had so many exciting product developments and breakthroughs, that the faithful toner has taken a back seat in most of our skincare regimes.
Although they have been pushed to the back of our bathroom cabinets, toners do have a part to play in our skin’s health. I really feel like toners have evolved quite a bit in the last 5-10 years.
Previously, one of a toners main functions was to regulate the skin’s pH level after cleansing. Although this is still something a toner does, it isn’t as important anymore as most cleansers will not disturb the pH balance of your skin (read my previous post about cleansing here).
What does a facial toner do?
So what does a toner do besides regulating the pH and how does using it benefit our skin?
It removes every single last trace of dirt and makeup.
Yes, can you believe it, even after cleansing properly! This is more of an advantage for those of you that love heavy foundation or caking on the layers. If that’s you, then you will probably need to pick up a toner that you wipe on.
Usually, people use a cotton pad, dampen it with toner and then wipe it over their face. But a really great alternative is to use it is with gauze (unless you have ridiculously sensitive skin as it may be slightly too abrasive for you). The gauze gives your skin a very light exfoliation which is always a good thing.
It hydrates and refreshes the skin
Most toners will contain humectants or other water-binding ingredients. I personally prefer a spritz toner, it makes the world of difference to my dehydrated, parched skin. Whenever my skin feels a bit bleh, I give it a quick spritz and it jumps back to its happy state in a flash.
It will assist your other products to alleviate your specific skin concern
Like you would with a cleanser or moisturizer, you need to buy a toner that suits your skin type. For example, a toner for a sensitive skin will most likely have ingredients that will instantly soothe an angry skin.
One thing that is very important to remember when purchasing a toner is to make sure that it doesn’t contain any harmful alcohols, they will end up sensitizing and stripping the skin. Most reputable brands no longer use these in their products, but just to be safe, have a quick look at the ingredient list.
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Although it doesn’t seem as important as a serum or moisturizer, incorporating a toner in your skincare regime could produce really great results! Do you have a favorite toner that you swear by?
PS: Next week is going to be a goodie, it’s all about exfoliation so keep an eye out for that!
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