| It is universally accepted that we need to cleanse and moisturize our skin regularly, but do we really need to use a toner?
To tone or not to tone?
Although it is universally accepted that we need to cleanse and moisturize our skin regularly, opinion is divided on whether we really need to use a toner on our skin. Most women simply skip applying a toner because they don�t understand what it does. Does it clean the skin? You use a cleanser, why do you need a toner? Does it remove traces of cleansing lotion? You clean your face with a face wash�
Why do you need a toner?
The first and most important job of a toner is to restore the skin�s natural pH balance. The skin has a pH balance of 5.5, while water can have a pH balance as high as 9.5 depending on where you live and on how hard the water is. After washing your skin, your skin�s pH balance is completely distorted and your skin starts working overtime to restore pH levels; a process which may take up to half an hour. On the other hand, if you use toner, pH levels are restored in an instant. Your skin is now prepared for the moisturizer.
What toner should I use?
Certain toners clarify and exfoliate the skin, leaving it completely oil and dirt free and removing all dead skin cells. Such toners are strong and tend to contain alcohol, which is ultra-drying. If your skin is very oily using a stronger alcohol-based toner like Clean and Clear should help reduce the oiliness, but there is a possibility that it could also cause more break-outs. The over-drying action of stronger toners causes skin to react by producing excessive oil to combat the dryness, leading to more breakouts. It is thus safer to use an alcohol-free toner. Different skins react differently though, so it is important that you stick with a regime for a couple of weeks before you can tell whether a particular product suits your skin or not.
If your skin is normal to dry go in for a gentle toner that doesn�t exfoliate the skin but moisturizes it such as Nivea Alcohol-Free Moisturising Toner. Or you could go in for a toner with anti-ageing properties.
Natural option: One of the gentlest toners is natural rosewater. Splash it on your face to keep face moisturized, fresh and to balance pH levels. This may not be ideal if you have oily skin, but since it is so gentle, it may provide you with just the right amount of moisturizing level you need.
How should you apply toner?
If you apply the toner directly on your face without using cotton, your bottle will last longer. Exfoliating toners do need to be applied with cotton wool, but moisturizing toners can be just splashed on your face. Apply toner to a cotton ball and sweep it GENTLY across your face. The cotton wool should come out relatively clean when toning. If it doesn�t, you need to change your cleanser; it�s not doing its job.
There is also the temptation to scrub your face clean with toner every time it feels dirty, which should be avoided. This is why you should use these toners only after cleansing, when your skin is already clean so your toner functions as a toner, not as a cleanser.
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