Taking care of your overall health means practicing proper skin care. With the beauty industry being one of the fastest-growing, billion-dollar industries, it can be difficult to determine what you really need and what you can do without. Thankfully, with the demand for new technology, toner is one of those items you can easily do without.
Common Misconceptions About Toner
One of the many misconceptions about a toner or toning product is that they are supposed to remove the makeup and impurities that your regular cleanser leaves behind. The bottom line, however, is that a good facial cleanser will remove all of your makeup when you wash your face, leaving nothing but perfectly cleansed skin behind. Nowadays, most cleansers in the beauty aisle or department store have a toning agent built in, making the addition of a stand-alone toner an unnecessary expenditure.
Another one of the marketing concepts behind skin care toners is that they will even out your skin tone, reducing blotchiness and irritation. But many of the ingredients in toners are astringent, which means that they further remove oils from the skin, causing more dryness and irritation. They can leave the skin feeling squeaky clean and tight, which communicates to your skin that it is time to increase oil production. This may lead to other skin care conerns in the future.
Balancing Your Skin Without a Toner
The real purpose behind using a toner for your skin is to bring the pH of the skin back into a balanced state. Most cleansers contain ingredients that wisk away dirt and makeup, but they take the natural oils that hydrate your skin along with it, making the skin feel dry. Some makeup companies recommend using a toner after cleansing to bring the skin back up to its normal pH range. However, applying a quality moisturizer within a few minutes of cleansing the skin will not only balance the pH, but will hydrate and soothe your face as well.
Most cosmetics companies are investing in new technologies that combine skin care solutions into a simpler routine, such as a cleanser with the addition of hydrating toning agents, or moisturizers that work to combat fine lines and wrinkles. With that in mnd, save money and time on products that target the areas on your skin which concern you most. Skipping the toner will have little-to-no impact on your skin, but will have plenty of impact on your wallet.
