Many people question whether they need a toner/lotion in their skincare regime .
I personally prefer not to, as I don’t want to add too many steps into my regime,
But toners can be an extra step that you could greatly benefit from.
What are toners for, you ask?
-reduces pore size
-balances acid mantle on the skin
-removes excess cleanser
-can give skin an extra dose of antioxidants and beneficial ingredients
Something I find quite often when I look at a toners formula is that they are very cheap when it comes to a good amount of ingredients , and after all, you don’t want to pay 30 to 40 dollars for a bottle of water and some glitter in it.. Right ?
So here are some things to look for in a toner !
-antioxidants are a must! And there should be lots if you are going to tone at all
-avoid alcohol as the 1st or second ingredient (mostly alcohol denat)
-look for skin identical ingredients such as glycerin , or cholesterol for better value
-make sure it suits YOUR skin type so it balances your skins oil flow/dryness evenly.
-an exfoliating toner (a.h.a or b.h.a) can be a great addition to an oily skins regime
So whether you need a toner in your regime is really up to , and whether your skin needs something extra or you need to refine more oil after cleansing!
Choose wisely and if it smells like last weekends bottle of vodka … Don’t use it!
What’s your favourite toner ? 🙂
The Skin Expert 
I’m a clarins addict, and I ADORE their brightening toner!
I haven’t tried that before, I will look into it :), is it for all skin types? x
Yeah, primarily aimed at young skin – that is late teens and twenties 🙂 its from the daily energisers range and I swear by it – makes your skin feel extra clean and look really bright 🙂 x
Cool. Thanks for the info. x
Loving your writing style! very straight to the point 🙂 Have you ever heard of Michael Todd infamous blue green algae toner? We both love it 🙂 just something to consider..
Thank you so much, I appreciate your
Comment :), no I haven’t actually, sounds intriguing tho ! I will definitely consider it! x
Love your blog, good information. great to see another male Aussie blogging on skincare. PS: “we share beauty” talks about Michael Todd toners, what ever you do…GET YOUR HANDS ON IT!! The toner is amazing. Michael Todd ships to Australia (cheap too) and always has discount coupons floating around the internet.
Thank you :), yeah, I read the formula and I like the sound of it! Will be getting that one, thanks for the info x
I’ve never used a toner on a regular bias to really have a favorite, but this was still super interesting and useful! Thanks 🙂
I do love reading your blog. Another reason a toner is so vitally important to your everyday skin routine is your skin has a unique PH that is optimal to look and feel it’s best. Even if you cleanse with an amazing PH balanced cleanser when you rinse the cleanser off, the water you are using is not the correct PH for your skin. Therefore the step of toning will correct the PH of your skin and get it ready to accept the next step you are applying whether it is a serum to treat or a moisturizer to finish your routine. That last step will be more effective if your skin’s PH is corrected first. My favorite toner is Timeless Prescription® MDI Firming Activator which has multiple functions ,followed by Lumiere De Vie™ Intense Rejuvenation Crème to seal the deal! This is where I get it. Have a great day. http://www.shop.com/rosann/nbts/v243392-c+260.xhtml?vid=243392
Thank you for your comment :), I mentioned that in my post about balancing the acid mantle (p.h). As long as a cleanser is p.h balanced I don’t feel the use of a toner is necessary. Cheers, Ben
I love BeautiControl’s BC Spa Facial skincare line, which includes Regenerating Tonic with PHAs (normal/dry skin) & Regenerating Tonic with AHAs (combination/oily and acne-prone skin).
Thanks for the recommendation 🙂 ill have a look at them x
Hi Ben! Great piece! : ) There is a lot of debate about the relevance of a tone in modern day beauty rituals, your perspective about the extra antioxidants and minerals is a valid one. I’ve just had a little read through the comments and I think your response to Rosannunplugged pretty much summed it up – if the cleanser you’re using is pH balanced – you don’t need a toner! As you also said, alcohol in any skincare product will damage the pH and skin barrier compromising the health of skin. If you’re a toner addict (which most of us are!) organic facial mists should be a staple in your rituals- like the Jurlique rosewater, or anything else botanical! These can be used all day to hydrate skin, & won’t dehydrate or compromise the skin with harmful chemicals..
Again, great piece!
T x
Thanks for your feedback :), I agree, I find the toner question quite common in the industry, and if someone is needing quick results or more anti ageing benefits, extra antioxidants and other beneficial ingredients will definitely benefit them greatly . x Ben
I don’t currently use a “toner” per say, but I do use L’oreal’s Micellar water which is a type of 3 in 1 cleanser/ toner/ make up remover, and I LOVE how my skin feels after using it. It also works as a mild exfoliant since it contains salycylic acid as one of the ingredients, and it’s gentle enough to remove eye make-up in one sweep without pulling or dragging. Oh and it costs under £4 from Superdrug, what’s not to love?
Wow, sounds good ! I like the convenience of those types of products. Saves a lot of time 🙂 thanks for your reply Beck !
x