One of the major steps in an efficient and effective skincare routine and treatment is using a toner. Toner double cleans, moisturizes, shrinks pores, balances the pH of your skin and adds a layer of moisture protection. When adding toner to your daily skin care program, be sure to apply it between cleansing and moisturizing. Use a cotton pad to gently spread the toner on your face and neck. When choosing a toner, you should look for soft, natural ingredients that will not dry out your face.
When it comes to choosing a toner, there are some certain factors that you will need to consider. First of all, determine your skin type.
- dry skin
- oily skin
- combination skin
- sensitive skin
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If You Have Dry Skin
Dry skin is often characterized by small pores, which feels narrow and has a dull and rough complexion. You will also know if you have dry skin if your skin becomes very dry and even flaky during the winter months. This type of skin is also subject to cracking, peeling, irritation, redness, and itching.
If you have a dry skin type, choose a moisturizing toner. Look for products containing glycerin, hyaluronic acid, rose extract or vitamin E will hydrate your skin and keep your skin plump and healthy.
If You Have Oily Skin
Oily skin is often characterized by large pores, shiny with excess sebum. You will often find your skin feeling greasy after a couple of hours you washed your face. You will get a significant amount of sebum residue is visible when you use a blotting paper on your face. Pick a refreshing toner that helps with sebum control. Look for a toner that contains aloe vera, witch hazel, AHA or tea tree oil.
If You Have Combination Skin
Combination skin is a bit more complicated because, as the name implies, you tend to have oily, dry or normal skin. Combination skin is often characterized by enlarged and fat skin in the T-zone, i.e the forehead, nose, and chin. However, other areas of your skin, like your cheeks and the sides of your face, have smaller pores and less sebum. Picking a toner for combination skin can be tricky, you want a product that will balance your skin. Get a light toner but still provide nourishment that your skin needs. Look for ingredients such as willow bark, rose extract or cucumber extract that will provide hydration to your skin yet refreshing.
If You Have Sensitive Skin
Sensitive skin is often characterized by easily irritable skin. Even though most are genetic, sensitive skin can be irritated by cosmetics, contacts, hot water, alcohol consumption or spicy foods. Because this skin type is relatively thin and sensitive, they are easily triggered and often experience redness, itching, and burning sensation. Choose a pH-balancing and soothing toner. Try to avoid ingredients like alcohol, fragrance, and paraben. Ingredients like calendula extract, chamomile, allantoin or lavender will work well to calm and balance your skin.
What Else?
It’s best to avoid ingredients like alcohol, artificial perfume, or harsh chemicals that will upset your skin. Never use astringent every day unless you have very oily skin type. Astringent contains a high concentration of alcohol that will remove excess oil and germs on your skin. With that being said, it also dries out your skin and disrupts your skin barrier.
Below are 5 ways of using a Toner:
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Pat on Your Face After Face Wash
Use a cleanser with warm water and a mild washcloth to clean your face. Gently massage the cleanser on your skin to remove makeup, dirt, and impurities. Rinse well with warm water, Then pat your face dry with a clean towel. Next, you pour a few drops of toner on clean palm, gently pat onto skin until it fully absorbs. Toner balances your skin to normal pH level and ready for the next skin care products.
Soak Cotton Pad for Quick Hydration
Put toner on a cotton pad. Pour some toner on the pad until it is moist but not soaked. Use cotton pad like this will save you some money as it was designed to absorb less toner than the typical cotton pads. With that being said, your toner will last longer. Soak a few cotton pad with toner and lay on your face like cheek, chin, forehead. Remove after 3-5 minutes and pat the remaining onto skin until it absorbs. Consider this as a quick fix for dry skin. Your skin feels hydrated and soft in a few minutes.
Use It as a Face Mist
Mist or spritz a second toner product for extra moisture. You can pour some toner in a clean spray small bottle and carry them in your bag and refresh your skin anytime and anywhere. You don’t have to worry about your dry and flaky face anymore as you can hydrate your skin anytime you want.
Give Your Face a Mild Exfoliation
Spread the toner lightly on your face and neck. Use cotton to gently wipe the product on your face, neck and décolleté. Avoid the eye area and be careful not to put any product on your lips. Pay special attention to crevices and hard-to-reach areas, including the eyebrows, the sides of the nose, the ears and the hairline. Toners will help remove any impurities that the cleaner may not reach, as well as cleaner residues or salt, chlorine, or chemicals in the tap water. By wiping on your skin gently with a cotton pad, you are giving your skin a mild exfoliation that will remove dead skin cells and impurities. It also double cleanses your skin and keep your skin soft and smooth.
Spray and Wet Your Beauty Blender with Toner
To use the beauty blender, all you need to do is spitz your toner on it to get it wet. You are good to go when the sponge is twice its original size. Just apply some foundation and bounce your beauty blender to even out your foundation. You’ll see your foundation blend with your skin smoothly and also extra glowy. In addition, your foundation will last on your skin throughout the day.
