Using a toner after cleansing helps to balance the PH level of your skin which gets disrupted while cleansing. It helps to clean off the residue and left over dirt too. Some toners can contain alcohol which can be bad for the skin as it is drying. I know oily and acne prone people love the tightening effect they get after cleansing or using a drying toner/astringent. Our skin needs a healthy amount of oil to form a healthy barrier to protect and repair itself. When we keep stripping off the natural oils, it keeps producing more to compensate, making the skin more oily. Using a hydrating toner and moisturizer can actually help to maintain a healthy and balanced moisture level. Because if it’s dry it will produce more oil. This means more clogged pores and more acne.
These are the two toners I use,
*KLAIRS Supple Preparation Facial Toner: This toner is very gentle and hydrating. It feels very soothing and I think it will be great for any skin type. It has a faint smell which they claim is not from synthetic fragrance, means no risk of irritation from fragrance either. This toner gets absorbed very quickly into the skin, leaving it very soft. It doesn’t feel heavy on my oily skin. I LOVE IT. It costs $21.99 in the Wishtrend website.
*Body Shop Tea Tree Skin Clearing Mattifying Facial Toner: This toner contains Tea Tree Leaf Oil (DUH!), good for acne and bacterial infections. It also contains Willow bark water which naturally exfoliates skin and goes deep into pores making it great for acne prone skin. But this toner has alcohol pretty high up in the ingredients list, which can be drying and irritating. A lot of people can also be sensitive to tea tree water as it can cause redness and irritation. If you have a lot of active acne, it can make your skin worse by further aggravating your skin. If it suits your skin, great! Still do not forget to moisturize afterwards. I won’t recommend it because there a lot of better toners out there in the market without alcohol. You can get it for £6.00 in the Bodyshop UK website.
