What is toner and do I need it?

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Let’s be honest, who actually knows what face toner is for? It is recommended by everyone you talk to but do you know what it actually does, besides “shrink your pores.” I honestly didn’t know either, It wasn’t until recently that I actually found out what is a face toner for.

I used it because it seemed it was part of everyone’s skincare routine. So if you don’t know what it is, (I’m assuming you don’t since you’re here) I’ll tell you all about it.

What is face toner?

Let’s start with the obvious question, what is toner? It actually has a pretty important job, It balances your skin’s pH level. PH stands for potential hydrogen, “It describes the acid-alkaline ratio of a substance that ranges from 0 (most acidic) to 14 (most alkaline),” according to theportlandgirl.

Toner is something that every skin type can benefit from. If you have dry skin and thought face toners would only dry your skin even more, well not anymore. Toners used to be made of alcohol and would be drying to your face.

Thankfully we have come along way with toners. Toners are now made to balance your Ph no matter your skin type. You can skip to what face toner you should get for your skin click here.

What does toner do for your face?

So you apply it after you wash your face but not sure what for. No, It is not to make sure you have all of your makeup off. You should be absolutely sure your makeup has been completely washed off before this step.

It’s not meant to be used as a second cleanser. I feel I need to clarify this because I feel that’s what a lot of people use it as. If you often find makeup on your cotton pad after you apply toner then you are washing your face WRONG. Yea, there is a RIGHT way to do this.

Toner is meant to remove dust, pollution, dirt, and any impurities that may be left after washing your face. So if you still have some makeup left, the toner will wipe it right off.

I just mean you shouldn’t rely on your toner to remove the dirt/makeup on your face. If you still have tons of makeup on your cotton pad then you didn’t wash appropriately. I hope that makes sense.

Okay, so toner is actually mean to balance your skin’s pH level. Our skin’s pH is actually acidic. When I found this out I was surprised. 

Our skin’s pH is naturally between 4.2 and 5.6 according to Cheryl Woodman from honestyforyourskin. We need to restore our skin’s pH after we have washed our face since cleansers tend to be on the alkaline side. The reason our skin is naturally acidic to keep moisture and bacteria out.

What are the benefits of using face toner?

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Okay, so it balances your pH lever, but what does that matter? Actually a lot. If your skin is too acidic you will experience eczema and acne. If its to alkaline then it will be flaky and red. Stay away from products that are below a pH of 2.5 or higher than a pH of 8 can do a lot of damage to your skin.

If you are struggling with your skin’s pH then it is very important you are applying products that won’t disrupt your skin’s pH. Technically you should do this in general. If you’re not sure where to look, Drunk Elephant’s products are all supposed to be pH balanced. It is just a little on the pricy side so beware.

There is another great benefit to face toners besides balancing your skin’s pH. Toners containing salicylic acid or glycolic acid also mildly exfoliate your skin.

Salicylic acid is best for those with oily skin, while glycolic acid is best for those with normal to dry skin. When we exfoliate our skin we are getting rid of dry skin cells giving us a youthful and glowy appearance. If you want your face to have that natural glow, then follow these tips.

We actually shed about 9 pounds of skin cells per year! It sounds completely gross but it’s beneficial. As we age we actually shed farther in between, which is why incorporating retinol into your skincare routine is so important.

Besides speeding up the process of getting a new layer of skin, retinol is what I call the fountain of youth for these reasons. I have been using Olay’s Regenerist retinol24 for a while now and this is what I think about it if you’re interested.

More benefits

1.Rebalances your skin’s pH level

2. It mildly exfoliates your skin

3. Evens out rough, dull skin

4. Helps prevent blackheads

5. Minimizes the appearance on pores. Toner can only minimize your pores, not actually shrink them. What it does is it helps get the gunk out of them to help them appear smaller and not get any bigger. If a product says it shrinks pores, they are misleading you.

When should I use toner

Toner is not a must have skin care product, but it does have tons of benefits so I encourage you to get one for the reasons I just mentioned. If you do decide to purchase a toner then apply it to a freshly washed face.

To ensure there is no makeup left on your skin then make sure to double cleanse. Besides using the right toner for your face, it is also very important to use the right cleanser for your face.

If you don’t know which one best suits your skin type then check this out, I did the research for you. It is important to use the toner right after you wash it to restore your skin’s pH level for the reasons I just mentioned.

So which toner should I get?

It doesn’t matter the type of skin you have, you should stay away from toners that contain alcohol as this can dry your face. If you decide to opt in for a harsher toner then don’t apply twice a day. Start off with once a day to see how your skin reacts.

Dry Skin

Luckily we have come along way with toners and are not longer made to remove excess oil. People with dry skin can benefit from them too. People who have dry skin should look for toners that contain ingredients that will soothe and hydrate their skin.

Some of these ingredients to look for are hyaluronic acid, Vitamin E, glycerin, chamomile, antioxidants, aloe vera, fruit extracts, and essential oils according to  Anna Guanche, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist in Calabasas, California. If your skin is on the dry side, then stay away from toners that have alcohol and salicylic acid.

Avene gentle toning lotion is a must if your skin is dry and sensitive. You can trust this toner because it is dermatologist tested and hypoallergenic. This toner is packed with antioxidants and soothing and anti-inflammatory properties which help if you experience redness or any sensitivity. This toner is alcohol-free and oil-free. It does however have fragrance.

PCA Skin Hydrating Toner is also a good choice for dry skin, dehydrated, or free radical damage skin. It is also fragrance-free, paraben-free. It contains watermelon, apple, and lentil fruit extracts which provides antioxidant protection and improves moisture retention. Herbivore botanicals rose hibiscus hydrating face mist is perfect if you rather spray directly to your face. This toner contains aloe vera, rich rose extracts which protect your skin from free radical damage. If you suffer with breakouts then you’ll be glad to hear it also contains witch hazel. This toner is also

-Truly natural

-Vegan

-Cruelty-free

-Paraben-free

-Sulfate-free

-Alcohol-free.

Dermatologica Multi-Active Toner comes in a spray form. Whenever you feel your face a bit dry, spray it on for some hydration. This toner contains amazing ingredients such as aloe vera, lavender, cucumber extract and balm mint for some cooling effect. This product gets even better since its

-Gluten-free

-Paraben-free

-No artificial fragrance

-Cruelty free

-Vegan

-No artificial color

– Improves moisture absorption rate of skin

Toners for dry skin

Oily Skin

Those with oily skin will benefit using toners since it can help control the extra sebum production and control the size of your pores. Some ingredients to look for are salicylic acid and glycolic acid since both help with the oil on your skin.

Pixie Glow Tonic is a very popular toner for those with oily skin since it contains glycolic acid, ginseng, and aloe vera.

Origins Zero Oil Pore Purifying Toner is awesome for those with large pores. It contains oil-dissolving salicylic acid which does a great job at taking out all the gunk in your pores to minimize their size and helps keep acne away.

Herbivore – Natural Jasmine Green Tea Balancing Toner is great if you are prone to acne. The toner contains green tea which is a great antioxidant. It also contains white willow bark which karate chops blemishes. and aloe vera which is really soothing for your skin. Its also

-Paraben-free

-Sulfate free

-Cruelty free

Toners for oily skin

Combination Skin

Having combination skin can be a little tricky since you are dealing with both oily and dry skin. These toners are pretty cool since they help control the oil AND contain hydrating ingredients at the same time.

Murad clarifying toner contains the famous witch Hazel which balanced your pH level, and absorb oil and algae witch controls sebum production. This toner also contains antioxidant ingredients like grape seed extract and vitamin E. Vitamin E is also good for anti-aging and reduces inflammation.

Paula’s Choice pore-reducing toner helps balance your oily spots while giving your skin some hydration. This toner contains antioxidants that counteract free radical damage. It also contains soothing plant extracts and niacinamide (which helps with oil production and minimizing the appearance of pores).

Neutrogena alcohol-free toner is very popular with those with combination skin. This toner is hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic which is ideal if you have sensitive skin.

Toners for combination skin

Best over all

Thayer alcohol toner. This toner is alcohol-free, contains witch hazel and rose water and aloe vera. It is gentle for all skin types, non-drying and ridiculously cheap. Not convinced? Check out the reviews here.

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