Hello,
This is Martha Thomas, head of customer care for Tree of Life Beauty, and I want to welcome you to our weekly newsletter where we discuss important ways to age gracefully, “how-tos” for keeping skin healthy as you age, and so much more about your skincare regimen.
This week we will discuss “Everything you need to know about toners.” If you missed any of our past newsletters, please check them out on our blog.
Please be advised that we are not doctors or dermatologists, and this article should not be taken as medical advice or any medical statement. Any questions or issues involving your skin-care needs should be taken up with a physician, and we highly recommend you consult with your doctor before taking up any skin-care regimen.
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If you don’t use a quality toner regularly, you might have some misconceived notions about them. Toners used to be drying, tightening solutions that often irritated the skin in an attempt to “deep clean” after cleansing. But toners have come a long way.
In fact, many toners today are highly effective in delivering key benefits to your skin—sometimes even more so than cleansers or moisturizers.
Let’s take a deep dive into what toners are, their common benefits, and how you can make sure you choose the right toner for your skin.
What Are Toners?
Toners are the third step in a daily skincare routine after removing makeup and cleansing (it’s the fifth step in a luxurious facial). After you clean your face, your skin usually needs to be replenished and rehydrated. Cleansing takes away all of the dirty oil and debris from your face, but in the process, it can also take away your skin’s natural oils and surface layer protection.
Toners can help return your skin back to its normal balance after cleansing. They can be made up of many different types of ingredients that address different areas of concern. Common toners are water-based or alcohol-based with other sorts of extracts and vitamins infused into the solution. We recommend toners that have aloe leaf juice as the primary solvent, because aloe is calming, refreshing, and healing—which is perfect after cleansing.
You should also use a toner before applying serums or moisturizers. Toners rebalance your skin, which allows the skin to better soak in the products you use after. Some toners are so hydrating, though, that they can even be a short-term substitute for serums or moisturizers to give your face a break from your typical routine!
What Are The Benefits Of Toners?
The best part of toners is that they can do just about anything, depending on what you’re using them for! Some toners are cleansing astringents, while others are soothing moisturizers. Toners are a light and airy way to get the nutrients your skin craves without the heaviness of typical moisturizers.
Toners generally have a few key benefits:
- Remove impurities and traces of makeup
- Help shrink enlarged pores
- Lightweight hydration for oily or greasy skin, especially in warm climates
- Fight acne-causing bacteria
- Soothe problem areas
- Refresh and awaken skin
How Do You Choose The Right Toner?
With so many toners out there, how do you find the one that’s best for you?
First, consider your skin type and the problem areas you deal with. For example, if you have oily skin, a lightweight and hydrating toner can be a substitute for a heavy moisturizer. If you have dry skin, you may want a toner that focuses on soothing redness and irritation. Tired or aging skin calls for a brightening, revitalizing toner.
Secondly, choose based on the ingredients. The first ingredient listed is the most important. Avoid a toner that is alcohol-based, which can dry out skin and cause flakiness. The first and primary ingredient in our vitamin C facial toner is Aloe Leaf juice because of its light, soothing, and hydrating effects.
For the most part, the other ingredients should be “extract” based, meaning that they are nutrient-dense liquids. Extracts allow all of the benefits from key plants to be delivered to your skin in a light, non-invasive way.
Thirdly, we always recommend having two or three toners in your cabinet. Different toners can be used on different days in accordance with weather changes, skin changes, and even what you’re doing that day!
Customers love our Vitamin C toner because it is chock full of antioxidant-rich, soothing ingredients that work well for all skin types!
What do you think of toners? How do you use them in your skincare regimen? Share this article and let us know your experience!