Toner: Your Questions, Answered
I have been trying to really up my beauty game recently, and in my search for natural products, I have found the Holy Grail of toners. But first, let me explain what a toner is, and why it's important to implement into your daily skincare routine.
Toner has many different functions, but I will only hit on the top four reasons why it's awesome.
1. Toner removes leftover makeup and dirt that was left behind after you've washed your face.
It gently lifts away the remnants of your cosmetics and allergens that have been left behind after cleansing. This ensures that once you apply your serum, moisturizer, and other skincare products, that they can sink deeper into the dermis to yield more concentrated results.
2. Toner resets the pH balance of your skin
Once you wash your face, the soap or cleanser you use often times knocks the skin's natural pH off balance, and that usually results in the skin producing more sebum and oil in order to restore those levels. But using a toner, this quickly returns the pH level to it's natural order, so that your face does not have to overcompensate with oil. This is why it is important for girls with oily skin to use a toner daily! (I've noticed a drastic decrease in oil production after I starting using a toner twice a day!)
3. Toner soothes red, irritated skin
Most toners are water-based formulas that contain plant extracts. Both aid in soothing irritated skin. Girls that are prone to flare-ups, and tend to get red easily, toner is your best friend!!! Look for ones with rose extract to aid in the calming process.
4. Toner tightens your pores
After cleansing and removing all traces of dirt and makeup, the natural astringents shrink the pores on your face. I don't know about you, but I always want to use products that promise to make my *huge* pores smaller and tighter. In order to tighten pores, a product must help control oil production. The astringents clear away excess sebum and oil, cleaning out each pore, enabling the pore to close up.
Sooooo, now that I've explained why toner is an important, I am going to talk about my personal favorite toner that has T R A N S F O R M E D my skin. My skin type is oily and sensitive. I can't wear just any product, I have to carefully research and look into the ingredients list, or else I'll break out. Finding the correct skincare products for my face has been a struggle for so long, but now I've found the holy grail of all toners. Thayers Alcohol-Free Rose Petal Witch Hazel Toner is liquid gold. I love that is alcohol-free, which means that it is gentle on sensitive skin. Rose petal is crucial for skin that is prone to red patches and flare ups. I have always had sensitive skin that quickly and easily gets red. Having rose extract helps with irritated skin and helps in evening out skin tone and texture. Before using this toner, I never had good skin texture; it never was completely smooth, and that made me self-conscious whenever I left the house without makeup on. This product completely transformed my skin. The texture of my skin has dramatically improved since I started using it.
Something to mention here...this amazing, all-natural product, can be found in any drugstore for less than $10!!! WOW. I bought my bottle at Target, but it can be found in any drugstore near you.
Below, I will give my personal recommendations of great toners to use. Let me know if you have had a toner transform your skin, or if there is one you love that is missing from my list!
Thanks for reading!!
-Emily
