Toners … Astringents, which are generally alcohol-based, tighten the skin and pores and remove oil. Fresheners work similarly to Toners.
People ask me all the time, “do I need a toner?”. Most confusion about toner stems from the fact that the term “toner” can be used to refer to several different types of beauty aids, including traditional toners, astringents and fresheners.
Traditional toners consist of moisturizers, oils and extracts that help soothe your skiastringents by tightening the skin, but they are made of ingredients like caffeine and green tea instead of alcohol. Because all of these different products can fall under the toner umbrella, it’s easy to see why toner is touted for tightening and moisturizing the skin — as well as maligned for drying it out.
You may have heard a lot about toner working to balance the skin, particularly after using a cleanser that can throw off your pH balance. In all actuality, toner is not really necessary here, and your skin should balance itself out.
Depending on what product you’re actually using, it can do any of these things. In order to choose the right toner for your skin, look at the product ingredients carefully. Alcohol, for example, is a dead giveaway that you’re dealing with astringent.
Our skin has an acid mantle made up of sweat and oil that you naturally produce. After using a cleanser, you often strip away these oils, which can change your skin’s pH balance. However, your skin will recreate these oils within a few hours, whether or not you use toner. If you have very oily skin, a toner might help keep shiny skin in check. A little oil is actually a good thing, though: The acids help prevent bacteria build-up. No matter what, you’ll want to start by washing your face with a cleanser. This cleanser should work with your particular skin type, so pay attention to whether your skin is dry, oily or a combination of both. Also, if your skin is particularly sensitive, you should be sure to use only products marked for sensitive skin. You should also stay away from bars of soap (the kind you use on your body) because it can be too harsh for the soft skin of the face.
Use a towel that’s soft and clean to dry your face. It’s a good idea to have a particular towel devoted just to your face, as bacteria can thrive in towels. Next, you’ll want to have some cotton balls, cotton rounds or facial tissues on hand to apply your astringent or liquid-based toner. Start swiping toner across your t-zone, or your forehead and nose. These are the oiliest spots and will benefit most from the astringent.
