As co-owner of a skincare company, it troubles me to say this. I used to wash my face with bar soap. Not just any bar soap, but the same bar soap I used in the shower. Moisturizer? Whatever I had for all-over use. Now, granted, I did try to buy all-natural products, but I did NOT focus on what I should be doing for my face vs. my body. I mean, I was busy. I had a family; I was running a business (NOT skincare!) and then in the evenings I was racing off to karate class. I didn't have time to dedicate to a skincare routine. Then one day I bought a toner. I thought this would be a quick way to wash my face in the mornings (YIKES!). This moment changed everything for me. One night, after washing my face with my typical bar soap, I soaked a cotton ball with the new toner and applied it to my freshly clean face. What I found was a whole lot of dirt and grime on my cotton ball. It was absolutely disgusting. Was that bar soap even doing anything? Needless to say, this is when my journey into skincare really started, and I've never looked back.
I would say that one of the most overlooked products in a skincare routine is the toner. We wash our face and we put all the serums and moisturizers on, so what really is the toner for, right? For me it was always just a splurge purchase that made me feel nice, but they are so much more! Toners can have a range of ingredients to serve a number of different purposes, but here are a few of the overall uses.
1.) Moisturize
Depending on what you are using to wash your face, many of the oils and natural moisture can be stripped from the skin. Applying a toner or spritz can replenish some of that lost goodness and give some extra moisture that will actually help your moisturizer work better and keep your face hydrated throughout the day.
2.) Balance pH
Your skin has a natural pH level of around 5. This is easily disrupted by all the things we do to our skin, such as washing, moisturizing, applying makeup, or just being out in the world and all of its pollution. Toners or spritzes are designed to help balance your skin's pH to keep it healthy.
3.) Cleanse
When you wash your face, some grime, oils, or makeup can be left behind. Wiping your face with a toner-soaked cotton ball can help get that last little bit, especially that pesky mascara!
In addition to all these benefits, each individual toner can be formulated for specific qualities. We've designed three different toners to address different skin types, or just different times in our lives. Read on to learn more about each of these toners!
There are two ingredients that are included in each of our toners, because they have such wonderful skin-loving qualities. The first is witch hazel. Everyone has heard of witch hazel as a toner, but here are a few of the reasons why it's so popular.
1.) Helps treat acne, and the inflammation that can occur on account of it
2.) Incredible astringent, it helps to shrink pores and make your skin appear firmer
3.) The tannins in witch hazel are great antioxidants and can protect against skin damage
4.) Reduces undereye puffiness and improves skin tone
The second ingredient you will find in each of our toners is aloe vera juice. Aloe is well known for its ability to soothe the skin, but there is so much more to it than just that, such as:
1.) High levels of vitamins A, C, E, and several B's.
2.) Contains salicylic acid, which fights acne and helps to exfoliate the skin.
3.) Stimulates the production of hyaluronic acid as well as collagen and elastin which provide wonderful anti-aging benefits.
4.) Has been said to help fade the appearance of dark spots.
For more information on the other ingredients in our toners, I'll leave a brief description of each below.
Our cooling cucumber lime toner is one of my favorites for hot summer days. After being outside I love to spritz a little on my face as a refresher. But, it's so much more than just that. The cucumber and lime hydrosols are lovely for oily or acne prone skin, as well as having astringent benefits, leaving the skin looking firm. This toner also includes hydrolyzed oats which are humectant in nature, drawing up to 50% more moisture to the skin! Finally, the addition of ginkgo biloba extract promotes cell turnover while feeding and nourishing the skin.
With the lovely, light scent of rose, this toner is one you're sure to love. Included in this formula is rose water and hyaluronic acid which are both great for the retention of moisture. Hyaluronic acid is the best-known humectant, attracting up to 1,000 times its weight in water! This is why it is such an exciting ingredient in your skincare, as it plumps up the skin to fill in fine lines and wrinkles. It is also said to improve your lipid barrier, which will actually make your skin healthier over time. The final ingredient in our hydrating rose toner is silk amino acids. Silk amino acids are known to improve the firmness and elasticity of the skin while also hydrating and locking in moisture. As you can probably guess from reading this, our rose toner is great for those with dry or mature skin.
This toner was made with cell regeneration and turnover in mind. Willow bark, high in salicylic acid, increases cell turnover through its exfoliating action. Also included are frankincense and lavender hydrosols as well as ginkgo biloba extract, all working together to revive the skin, as they all have regenerative properties. Good for all skin types, the salicylic acid content in this toner makes it particularly great for acne prone skin.
To use a toner, it should be added into your skincare routine after cleansing, and before moisturizing. Regardless of what type of moisturizer you use, it is best to apply it while your face is still damp from your toner.
As toners are such a versatile product – used to cleanse, refresh, moisturize, etc. – I think you'll love this addition to your skincare routine! I would love to hear how you all use them, so drop us a comment below! Happy toning!