Remember how you used to remove excess oil from your face with alcohol-based toners? Well, modern-day toners are more than just astringents and have huge benefits for the skin. They are also available in the market with names like essences and tonics. Let’s find out their benefits.
- What Is A Toner?
Toner is a skin care product that is used after a cleanser and before a moisturizer or serum. It is used to balance the skin’s pH levels. When the sebum on your skin mixes with the sweat, it forms a layer called the acid mantle. This layer is slightly acidic and has a pH of 4-5.5. Harsh soaps or cleansers mess with this pH and make it alkaline. Toner helps in neutralizing this pH.
- Benefits Of Face Toners
Even though a toner looks like water, it is so much more than just hydrogen and oxygen. Here are some of its benefits:
A toner can restore the pH levels of your skin, keeping it soft and healthy.
No matter how well you cleanse your skin, there can be traces of makeup and stubborn dirt. Toner comes to your rescue in removing all the grime after cleansing.
It can shrink pores and remove all the excess oil from your face, making it extremely beneficial for acne-prone skin.
It forms an additional protective layer, reducing the risk of environmental contaminants entering your skin.
A toner can function like a moisturizer. Some have humectants, which are skincare ingredients that attract moisture from the air and provide it to the skin.
- How To Use Face Toner?
Put a few drops of the toner on a cotton pad.
Apply it all over the face and neck.
You could also take a few drops in your hands instead of a cotton pad and apply it over your face.
Allow it to dry.
Follow it up with a serum or moisturizer.
- Choosing A Toner For Your Skin Type
Toners come with different ingredients based on the requirements of your skin. Do check the ingredients before buying a toner as some may contain potent ingredients.
Look for ingredients like vitamin C, coenzyme Q10, hyaluronic acid, and glycerin if you have normal to combination skin.
If you have acne-prone skin, look for alpha hydroxy acids like glycolic acid in your toner. This can reduce the appearance of pores. Salicylic acid is a good option,
but it can irritate the skin in case you have sensitive skin.
For sensitive skin, look for soothing ingredients like aloe vera and cucumbers.
If you are in your 30s and 40s, you may want to consider a toner with antioxidants and hydrating ingredients.
Witch hazel, aloe vera, grapefruit seed extract, cucumber, and vitamin E are some of the soothing ingredients if you have dry skin.
If you have oily skin, sandalwood, willow bark, lavender, clary sage, and tea tree are your best bet.