Everything You Must Know About Using A Skin Toner

To Tone Or Not To Tone. Let me tell you what I think about toning. I feel it is unnecessary & time-consuming specially when my toddler is pulling on my clothes to hold him. The very process of applying a toner is so product wasting. The cotton pad soaks a lot of product unless you dip a cotton pad in water and squeeze the water out before soaking the pad with toner which is time-consuming. But using a toner is actually very beneficial to skin.

I find a toner helps me keep my pore size in check & also ensures me that I have an extra step of cleansing while providing moisture/care depending upon the type of toner I am using.  I am going to talk about few very important benefits of using a toner, which might make you give a toner a chance in your skin care regimen, if you are not using one already.

What Is A Skin Toner?

A toner is a specially formulated liquid (mostly runny as water) that is loaded with skin toning properties. It cleanses, soothes, moisturizes your skin. Toners, keep you skin clean by deep cleaning your pores. As a result your pore size too, remains minimized. Flaunt beautiful skin by choosing the right toner for your skin.

Why Should You Use A Toner? Benefits Of Using A Toner

Cleanses Skin of Impurities

Yes, a toner’s basic job is to take off any impurities from the skin. I know, you use a great cleanser & use a makeup remover too, to get rid of the day. But the creamy cleansers or oily makeup removers too can leave behind some unwanted layers/ slippery feeling. A toner ensures that it takes away that last traces of your cleanser or makeup remover too. Leaving behind only squeaky clean skin, ready to absorb skin nutrition from your skin regimen to be followed up.

Balances pH Level Of Skin

We have a protective layer on our skin which is known as acid mantle or pH level as we commonly refer to it. This protective layer must never be disturbed to sustain healthy glowing skin. But whenever we use harsh chemicals on our skin in terms of cleansers or lotions, the pH level of our skin definitely gets imbalanced. A toner ensures that the pH levels of our skin is restored to normal so that skin stays healthy.

Fight Acne & Blemishes

My main motive to use a toner is to keep my pores clean and acne in check. There are few toners that helped me to achieve my purpose. These toners contain AHA/BHA/LHA in order to exfoliate skin. When your skin receives cell by cell exfoliation, your pores don’t accumulate dead skin cells, oil or dirt. Look for a toner that contains Glycolic Acid, Salicylic Acid etc.

Helps In Minimizing Pores

I have found that the most prominent effect of using a toner is on my pores. I have few pores on my inner cheeks. But they stay in check (minimized) when I use a toner. Of course the effect is lost if I stop using a toner for few days. But if a toner can give visible results on my pores, “I ain’t stopping never!!”.

Moisturizing Effect

A toner is mostly related to alcohol. Alcohol is drying on skin in general. But no, not every toner contains alcohol. There are mild toners (alcohol-free), which actually moisturize your skin. Choose one that is formulated for your skin type. If you have dry to normal skin type, you can surely enjoy an extra layer of moisture on your skin.

Special Skin Benefits

Companies are coming out with toners that targets specific skin types & troubles. There are toners that are meant to reduce pore size, some claims to help with blemishes while some also promises to give anti ageing effects. Decide what you want. (I would want everything!!).

Freshen Up Anytime Anywhere

A toner can also act as a face mist during a hot humid day and can give you an instant fresh look. If you are in the middle of day, not having time/resources to freshen up, just few drops of toner on your skin to instantly rejoice it.

Types Of Skin Toners

Skin Toners are of different types. And it totally makes sense. There are different skin types, hence a single product can not cater to every skin type. Read out the different terms for toners below.

Alcohol Based Toners

The very basic form of a toner is alcohol based. These toners are not literally loaded with alcohol but they contain some mild percentage of skin friendly alcohol. They are meant to be used for oily & troubled skin. They specially targets open pores, acne & skin allergies. Normal to Dry skin should avoid such toners, since they would dry these skin types. While Oily & Combination skin, would be thankful to the formulation.

Astringents

Astringents are stronger than toners. Basically, Astringents not only contain alcohol but also contain some very specific and potent ingredients like AHA/BHA to exfoliate skin gently. An oily skin can use either a toner or an astringent, but if you have acne prone skin, go for an astringent. Astringents targets acne causing bacteria and kills it as soon as it gets a chance to do so (can not help with hormonal acne much).

Astringent VS Toner: As already mentioned, an Astringent is stronger in composition to a toner. An Astringent is formulated specially for oily and acne prone skin. It might contain Glycolic Acid, Salicylic Acid, or any other kind of ingredient that gently exfoliate skin to keep pores clean. The main target of astringents is to keep pores clean and acne away.

Non Alcoholic Toners

These are very mild toners to actually tone the skin with moisture. Dry to normal skin should go for such non alcoholic toners. They are enriched with moisture content & skin nutrition.

How To Pick A Toner Based On Skin Type

Every skin needs a specific type of toner. This toner would cleanse, nourish and target specific concern area. Here is how to pick a toner based on your skin type and concern.

Normal – Dry Skin : Hydrating Toner, such as a toner that contains moisturizing agents like roses, Hyaluronic acid, Lactic Acid , Vitamin E etc.

Mature Skin: A toner that provides anti ageing and anti oxidant effects. Look out for Vitamin C, Vitamin E, AHA based toners.

Combination Skin: Lactic Acid based toners are mild and yet does an excellent job for combination skin to keep it balanced.

Oily Skin- Acne Prone Skin: AHA/LHA based toner.

Can I Use Rose Water As Toner?

If you have normal-dry skin & think rose water gives you that rosy glow that you always wanted, stick with it. But if you have more troubled skin, you can try switching to more technologically forward toner, that aims for your skin troubles. Cosmetic industry has progressed very much and toners too. Toners are not made up of alcohol only, they are coming up with micro-exfoliate properties to give you skin exfoliation at micro level with out you even knowing it.

Whenever I have to use a rose based toner, I pick this one.

How To Use A Toner?

You are supposed to pour little amount of toner on a cotton pad and swipe it across your face gently (do not rub).  If you think you are wasting a lot of product this way you can dip the cotton pad into the water, squeeze the water out and then take the toner on the cotton pad. Some celebrities do not even use cotton pads. They apply toner directly via their fingers. Follow any method that suits you.

If you further like to read more about toners, I am providing some links below. Hope these are helpful.

Alcohol Free Toner

• Plum Green Tea Alcohol Free Toner
• Kaya Acne Free Purifying Toner 
• Bliss Of Earth Cucumber Rose Skin Toner

 

Toners That Fight Acne Literally:

• Kaya Acne Free Purifying Toner
• La Roche-Posay Effaclar Astringent Lotion Micro Exfoliant

 

I conclude this topic here. I hope I was able to answer some of your queries & questions with this article. Would you like to add something to this article? You are most welcome.

Nisha Malik ❤

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