Almost everybody uses toner as one of their daily skincare routines. You use a toner after you cleanse your face. But is toner really necessary? Before we discover whether it is really necessary for you to incorporate toner in your routine, let’s check out what toners are.
What Is A Toner?
A toner is a lightweight, liquidy lotion usually applied with a cotton pad onto your skin.
Formulas vary widely, but the most common types are hydrating toner or astringent toners. It all depends on how much alcohol they contain:
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Fresheners: The mildest form of toners, they’re alcohol-free and suitable for all skin types, including dry and sensitive.
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Tonics: They contain a small amount of alcohol, and are mostly suitable for normal, combination, and oily skin.
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Astringents:T he harshest form of toners, they contain antiseptic ingredients and a high amount of alcohol and aren’t suitable for anyone.
What Does A Toner Do?
Toners remove any last traces of dirt, grime and impurities stuck in your pores after you wash your face. When added to your daily skincare routine and used regularly, it can have an impact on the appearance and tightness of your pores.
Sometimes the alcohol in toners irritates the skin and makes your pores swell. This makes your pores look smaller for a bit, but could damage your skin in a long run. Toners also restores your skin's pH level, smooths skin by refining rough patches and improves skin tone. Toner fans will tell you that toners can do other works besides pores tightening, such as:
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Cleansing: Remove the impurities still left on your skin after cleansing.
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pH Balancing: Restore the pH balance of the skin after cleansing.
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Oil-absorber: Keep oil production under control and reduce shine.
So useful, right? But, wait. Some of these jobs aren’t as important as they seem. Let’s investigate each one of them, shall we?
Is Toner Necessary to Cleanse Skin?
To discover whether toner is necessary for cleansing or not, it’s only fair if we look at the history of toner. Back to 50-60 years ago, people cleansed their faces jwith just a normal soap bar. This often left residues, especially for women with makeup. Then after that, toner came to the rescue because it acted as the second cleanser after soap. At this time, toner is necessary because it helps to cleanse all the residues and impurities that are left behind and can’t be washed with a soap bar.
But today, our cleansers have become better and better. If your cleanser leaves nothing behind, there is no need to use toner. But if your cleanser leaves any residue or impurity behind, it’s not a good cleanser. Instead of incorporating toner in your skincare routine, you might want to replace your cleanser with a better one.
Is Toner Necessary to Restore The pH Balance of Your Skin?
Cleansing doesn’t just take off dirt and makeup. It alters the pH of your skin, too. That’s why your skin feels so tight afterward. This is why using a toner to restore the original pH balance is a good idea. But you should not underestimate your skin. Your skin can replenish its natural balance on its own within only 15-30 minutes after washing. Therefore, it’s a waste of money to buy a toner that does what your skin can naturally do for free. And because your skin can restore its pH balance on its own, no toner is needed.
Is Toner Necessary to Shrink Pores?
Your pores size is genetically determined, so you can’t change it. But then, why do pores look smaller after you use a toner? Because of its alcohol content. Alcohol irritates your skin, making your pores swell. This makes them look smaller for a bit and damages them in the long term. So, is toner necessary if you want to make your pores look smaller? Well, this one is more of your own choice. If you really want to make your pores look smaller and you don't mind a little irritation, then you can incorporate a toner in your skincare routines. But remember, irritation never good for you.
Is Toner Necessary to Keep Oil Production Under Control?
Some toners CAN control oil production if it contains salicylic acid. Salicylic acid is an exfoliant that can get inside the pores, removing all the dirt that’s clogging them up. Plus, it helps keep oil production under control. Unfortunately, most toners take a different approach. They use something nastier to reduce oil and shine: alcohol. Alcohol dries out skin, getting rid of all the extra oil and that shine that goes with it. Your skin produces more oil to compensate what it has lost, starting a vicious circle that never ends. P.S: Salicylic acid is sometimes called BHA.
Finally, we have good news about toner. Toners with salicylic acid can really help keep oil production under control. Those with alcohol, on the other hand, do more harm than good. So, choose your toner wisely!
The Bottom Line
Is toner necessary? We don’t think so. If you’ve already got a good skincare routine in place, a toner is just an extra. It’s only when your skin lacks that extra something that a toner is worth considering.
Would you like to learn more? Because healthy skin matters! SkynFyx is run by a group of skin doctors and skincare experts who want everybody to achieve flawless skin at the cheapest possible cost. Skynfyx also can customize a skincare range just for your skin condition.
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