Not everyone has the luxury of time to sit in front of a mirror for a six-step morning or evening skincare routine. However, you might be missing a very important part of your routine by cutting down on certain skincare products.
Facial toner is an essential part of the skincare routine, and shouldn’t be left out of your skincare routine. You may be wondering, what does a face toner do? Does it work? Well, it does.
A face toner is a secret ingredient to healthy clear skin. What a facial toner does is unclog your pores by removing the buildup of dirt and oil from your skin. It protects the skin from environmental aggressors, as well as shrinks your pores to smoothen your skin.
Read ahead for a more elaborate explanation of what a face toner does for your skin, as well as how to use it in your skincare routine to achieve the best possible result.
What Does a Face Toner Do for You?
If having smooth, clear skin is your ultimate skin goal, then you need to introduce a facial toner in your skincare routine.
Sometimes, washing your face with a cleanser is not enough to get the dirt off your face. There is stubborn dirt from makeup or other skin products that refuses to leave even after washing your face.
Using a facial toner will help to remove every bit of dirt that is lingering on your face after cleansing. It helps to remove dirt, and excess oil from blocking the skin pores. However, it goes beyond cleansing the skin, it also has other benefits to the skin.
Dr. Ho Jin Kim, a board-certified dermatologist says that face toners help to treat skin issues such as aging, acne, and dry skin. There is a facial toner for every skin type, and it works either to work on oil reduction in oily skin or to hydrate dry skin.
According to Rebecca Kazin, MD, board-certified dermatologist, “older toners were used to restore balance to the skin’s pH level after cleansing it.” However, toners have evolved from being used in the skincare routine for several other skin issues.
Joshua Zeichner, a board-certified dermatologist says that “newly formulated facial toners work for all skin types to treat different skin issues, such as inflammation, uneven skin tone, and aging.”
Dr. Hadley King, a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist says that, if you’re looking for a deep extra cleanse for your face, using a toner is the best option.
Benefits of Using a Face Toner
Here is an outline of all the benefits you stand to enjoy when you implement the use of facial toner in your skincare routine.
- Using face toner will help to minimize your pores, making it appear smaller. This helps your skin to appear smooth and radiant.
- It also helps to restore your skin’s pH level/balance after washing the skin.
- Using toners that contain salicylic acid will help to exfoliate rough skin and slough off dead skin cells from the surface of the skin to reveal a fresh, smooth one.
- Using a toner helps to smoothen the skin’s surface as well as improve the skin’s elasticity.
- Washing your face with soap can strip your face of some natural oils, using a toner will help to restore the oil to your skin.
- Most facial toners help to restore, as well as, seal in hydration on the skin.
- Facial toners contain anti-inflammatory properties that help to soothe any form of redness and discomfort around the face.
- Using it will also help to prepare your skin to be permeable for other skincare products. This makes the application of other skincare products an easy thing to do.
- It also reduces the chance of free radicals invading the skin as it shrinks your pores.
Overall, using face toner will help you achieve clean, soft skin.
How Does a Face Toner Help?
It works on the skin by penetrating deep into it to eliminate dead skin cells. This helps the skin to reveal a newer skin surface that is smooth and fresh.
Additionally, it also hydrates the skin and prepares a smooth entry for other skincare products.
Face toner is a formula that contains several beneficial ingredients that help to shrink pores, as well as unblock the pores by removing the buildup of dirt and oil in them.
How Do You Choose the Right Facial Toner?
When looking to purchase a facial toner, there are a few things to put into consideration. You have to consider your skin type and your allergy. Therefore, it is important to check the ingredients list of a product before purchasing.
Below are a few tips to guide you:
- The best toner to opt for if you are looking to hydrate and clarify your skin is one that contains rose water. Rosewater is quite popular for its ability to provide the skin with extra moisture, as well as oil regulation in the skin.
- A chamomile-based toner is another good option as it helps to soothe the discomfort as well as fight skin issues such as acne, aging, dark spots, and so on.
- Witch hazel is a natural ingredient to look for in the treatment. It helps to unclog pores, regulate oil production in the skin, and even help to even out the skin tone.
- Green tea contains antioxidant properties that can help to replenish the skin, and this is what makes it a good ingredient in toner.
- Aloe vera is a natural hydrator and it also works to soothe the skin to relax the skin and get rid of any discomfort or redness on the skin.
- Tea tree oil helps to unblock the pores by removing the buildup of dirt and oil.
There are also ingredients you should stay away from, especially if you have dry or sensitive skin.
Ingredients to avoid:
- Alcohol
- Salicylic acid
- Benzoyl peroxide
- Fragrances
- Phthalates
- Parabens
These ingredients are to be avoided when you are opting for a toner, because of the drying effect that it does on the skin.
When Should You Apply Toner in Your Routine?
Toner is meant to be used after cleansing the face. This allows your toner to double-cleanse your face to get rid of stubborn dirt that has refused to leave the skin even after using a cleanser to wash your face.
Doing this will also allow your skin to become permeable for the usage of other products. Therefore, after cleansing, apply your toner then move to use your serum or your moisturizer on your skin and enjoy smooth entry into the skin.
How to Use Facial Toner
No skincare product should be applied to unclean skin, and that is why it is important to prepare the skin for the application of skincare products. This involves washing the face and drying it off with a dry, clean towel.
After blotting your face dry with the towel, grab your facial toner and either of a cotton swab or ball. Dish a small amount of the toner into it and wipe your face with it. Do this gently while covering all the areas of the face.
Once you have applied the product to your face, you can move on to use a serum on your face. Apply your serum while covering all the areas of your face.
However, if your skincare routine only includes cleanser and moisturizer, fix the use of facial toner in between. So use your cleanser first, followed by your toner, then the moisturizer.
How Often Should You Use a Face Toner?
The toner you use and your skin type is the major determinant of how often you can use face toner on your skin. If you are using a chemical-based toner and you have sensitive skin, it is best to only use it once daily.
However, you can use a natural plant-based toner as often as in both your morning and evening skincare routine after cleansing your skin.
When you start using a toner that contains chemicals or other toxins, ensure that you build up your usage till your skin can tolerate it without irritating.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can toner dry out your face?
Yes, it can. Using a toner that contains chemicals and other toxins can dry up your skin.
It is best to avoid ingredients such as salicylic acid, parabens, etc, and opt for plant-based toners.
Does toner work on the skin?
Yes, it does. Facial toner does work to unclog your pores by removing the buildup of dirt and oil from your skin. It also protects the skin from environmental aggressors, as well as shrinking your pores to smoothen your skin.
Is facial toner necessary?
Yes, it is. If having smooth, clear skin is your ultimate skin goal, then you need to introduce a facial toner to your skincare routine
What should you do after toning your face?
The next step after using facial toner is to use your serum and follow up with a moisturizer.
However, if your skincare routine only includes cleanser and moisturizer, fix the use of facial toner in between. So use your cleanser first, followed by your toner, then the moisturizer.
Conclusion
If having smooth, clear skin is your ultimate skin goal, then you need to introduce a facial toner in your skincare routine. Facial toner is an essential part of the skincare routine, and shouldn’t be left out of your skincare routine.
A face toner is a secret ingredient to healthy clear skin. What a facial toner does is unclog your pores by removing the buildup of dirt and oil from your skin. It protects the skin from environmental aggressors, as well as shrinks your pores to smoothen your skin
Face toners help to treat skin issues such as aging, acne, and dry skin. There is a facial toner for every skin type, and it works either to work on oil reduction in oily skin or to hydrate dry skin.
Do not miss your chance to have a radiant, fresh skin appearance by skipping the use of toner in your routine. Using facial toner is a golden step you need to take.
Thanks for reading.
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