Why Consider a Toner

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With so many types of skin care formulas out there it sometimes can be confusing. For those of us who were alive in the 80’s, we may remember a toner as being a harsh astringent that was full of drying alcohols that left skin tight and over-dry. Toners today are far more sophisticated than those of yesteryear. They still remove impurities, like dirt, pollution and excess oil from the skin but generally leave it in a great state, prepped and ready for the rest of your skincare routine.

WHAT A TONER DOES?

Toners have a multitude of benefits. Below we highlight some of the key ones:

•           hydrate skin and keep it moisturized.
•           maintain the pH of skin after cleansing.
•           absorb extra oil from your skin and can help manage breakouts
•           reduce the visibility of large pores and can also help fade pigmentation (such as acne marks and sun spots)
•           Leaves skin ready with a natural glow ready for the rest of a skincare routine

WHY GO NATURAL WITH YOUR TONER?

There are numerous reasons why natural skincare products are better for your skin and the world in general. As toners are left on your skin for a long period of time, it’s important to consider what is going into the formula. A natural toner will often be formulated without non-toxic ingredients and therefore will not contain things that will harm your skin. Often benefits of natural formulas are that they are often cruelty-free, and often made with more sustainable packaging, so are friendlier to the earth in general!

HOW TO USE A TONER?

Toners work best post washing your face. After patting your skin dry apply your toner. Pour a little on a cotton pad and gently swipe your face. Gently is the keyword! Let your skin dry for at least 30 seconds before following on with other parts of your skincare routine (aka essence, serum and moisturizer, etc).

KEY INGREDIENTS TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR

Below are some of the important ingredients you should be on the lookout for in your toner’s formula.

•         Hyaluronic acid is a powerful moisturizing agent that will help hydrate skin and help plump up fine lines and wrinkles.
•         Plant extracts like Chamomile & Green Tea help soothe and calm the skin and also have a number of rejuvenating properties for.
•         Vitamins like C and Niacinamide (B3) help improve skin health, fade away hyperpigmentation and also help with boosting that skin glow.
•         If you have oily or acne prone skin also look out for ingredients like Salicylic Acid to help manage oil production.
•         If you’re trying to target fine lines and wrinkles as well as skin texture issues look out for AHAs such as glycolic acid.

END THOUGHTS

The toners of today have been formulated to not only help the way skin looks but also how it works. Make sure to check out the ingredients on formulas to make sure that there are beneficial ingredients and that they match your skin’s needs.