How Toners Work & Why You Need One!
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Toners are one of those mysterious skincare products that are shrouded in misunderstanding and misinformation. What do they do? Where do they fit into a skincare routine? Why would you need a toner?
Toner is a wonderful and easy way to elevate your skincare and give you a healthier base and gorgeous glow. While you might not think it, toner is the type of product that works hard in the background and takes your skin from good to flawless.
What is toner?
A toner is a (typically) water-based liquid that works to exfoliate and hydrate the skin; it’s basically the perfect way to prep your pores to absorb the next product. You’ll always cleanse your skin first, then apply your toner, and finally follow with a serum or moisturizer before continuing the rest of your regimen.
This “prep” soothes the recently-dried skin (from cleansing), removes dead skin cells, and removes any final traces of dirt or grime that might be left over from cleansing. On a makeup note, toner will also give a little extra life to your makeup by acting as a primer!
What’s the purpose of a toner?
Toner serves a number of purposes, all of which you’re going to need if you’re looking for anti-aging, acne-clearing, or skin-soothing benefits.
Toner helps remove any residue, makeup, dirt, and impurities, giving you the cleanest possible canvas to apply your serums and moisturizer on.
Toner balances the pH of the skin. A balanced pH creates a healthy microbiome; your skin’s microbiome forms the skin’s acid mantle, which protects against pathogens and viruses. The skin is healthiest at a slightly acidic pH, which keeps moisture in and bacteria out. If your pH is too alkaline, your skin will get flaky and red; too acidic, and you’ll increase your chances of inflammation and conditions like acne or eczema.
Helps to further clean out the pores and reduces the look of large pores. This extra step in the cleaning process can help diminish the look of large pores and clear some of the extra debris that take up space.
Helps to calm and soothe the skin - ingredients like green tea have a cooling and calming effect and help avoid irritation.
Hydrates the skin. Do you ever get that tight feeling on your skin after cleansing? Avoid that with a little extra hydration in your toner and apply immediately after cleansing.
Preps the skin for the absorption of any active ingredients that are to follow - toning will help yo get the most benefits possible from your serums!
Balances and removes excess oil - oil slows down your cellular renewal and thus the healing process. Speed this back up by protecting your skin from too much oil.
Can toner be used for any skin type?
Short answer - yes! Because you can find toners with a variety of ingredients for different skin conditions and skin types, you’ll certainly be able to find a toner that’s suitable for your particular routine. Like we explained above, you’ll want to look for a few specific ingredients depending on what you’re treating.
Ask your aesthetician about which toner is going to suit your skin the best - we offer a variety of toners in order to always have one that fits our clients’ skin the best!
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