Should you use a face toner in your skin care routine? Yes, you should. Here’s why and how they have changed from their stinging, astringent past.
Do you use a face toner in your skincare routine? If you don’t perhaps it’s time to get on that bandwagon again. And by “again” I mean re-introduce yourself to the beauty toners of today and not those from the past.
Many of us will recall those harsh, medicinal smelling toners back in the day that were incredibly drying, very astringent and caused a sting to the skin. Needless to say, they were very uncomfortable but were used by those who thought they were necessary to cleanse skin deeply and help with problem skin and acne.
Today, face toners are more gentle and have added benefits they didn’t have before.
Toners that are free from harsh alcohol give your skin a drink of moisture. When left damp on the skin before applying moisturizer, they give a double boost of hydration.
Also, they help give an extra cleanse from dirt and chemicals that lie in your pores and can therefore help make them look smaller.
“Applying a small amount of face toner to a soft cotton ball or pad and gently blotting and wiping your face with it will remove oil and give the appearance of smaller pores,” Dr. Hadley King, a New York City board-certified dermatologist tells the Today Show. “Our skin is naturally acidic, typically with a pH balance of between five and six (on a scale from 0 to 14). But that balance can get out of whack after cleansing due to the alkaline nature of soap. When this happens, your skin needs to work overtime to return to its normal levels (and that may result in oil), but using a toner can help restore this balance quickly.”
Dr. Howard Murad, MD, a Los Angeles-based dermatologist, backs those toner claims. He says toning is an essential step in any healthy skincare regimen. “I find that using a toner is just as crucial as cleansing, as it restores the skin’s natural pH balance,” Dr. Murad tells TotalBeauty.
You don’t necessarily have to have oily skin or acne to get the benefits of toners. With just a little extra, quick step in your routine you can add great benefit to your overall skin’s health. With clean, hydrated and plump skin, you’ll get healthy glowing skin.
In order to get that luxurious complexion, these face toners are great brand choices to get you started:
Fresh Rose Floral Toner
Pixie Glow Tonic
Burt’s Bees Rosewater Toner
Simple Kind to Skin Soothing Facial Toner
Thayers Rose Petal Witch Hazel with Aloe Vera
Caudalie Beauty Elixir
AmorePacific Treatment Toner
Ole Henriksen Balancing Force Oil Control Toner
Kiehl’s Cucumber Herbal Alcohol-Free Toner
Clarins Toning Lotion With Iris
Check them out!
—by Toni-Marie Ippolito
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