To tone or not to tone – 6 tips on why you should use a toner

When it comes to skin care, a lengthy fiddly regime isn't for everyone. Modern skincare regimes are all about being time and cost efficient. Products that do several things at the same time are favoured for their simplicity and ease of use.

However even if you prefer to keep your skincare regime short and simple there are a couple of easy additions which can’t be part of a multi-functional product but that can make a world of difference in the look, feel, and long-term quality of your skin as well as improve many aspects of problem skin such as congestion, redness and inflammation.

One of those is a toner.

Toners used to be a key addition to any serious skin care regime but in recent years they have gone out of fashion, especially among younger generations.

But toners are not a flash in the pan skincare fad or something that only your granny uses, but an essential part of an effective skincare routine which is why we have started to see toners emerging back into the skincare arena.

Modern toners are more targetted than the old fashioned toners and the better ones contain natural ingredinets rather than chemiclas to help clean, tighten and tone skin without causing any irritation to sensitive and problem skin. While some toners simply clean the skin, others actively help prevent acne and contain anti redness ingredients.

So why is it that toners are so useful and what do they actually do?

Facial toners are a quick no-fuss way to even skin tone, reduce oily patches and close open pores in skin prone to acne as well as ‘double cleanse ’congested skin and reduce redness and inflammation in sensitive skin and skin prone to rosacea.

A toner takes just a few seconds to swipe over freshly cleansed skin and yet the benefits it brings will last all day.

Here are 6 tips on why you should use a toner;

Pore minimizing

Facial toners that have specific pore minimizer ingredients help close open pores after cleansing and create a more luminous appearance so if you prefer to can go bare faced your skin feels fresh and ‘sealed’ after toning. A toner also creates a balanced and smoother base for the use of cosmetics.

Helps protect sensitive skin from the elements

A toner for sensitive skin is formulated to help your skin stay clean and undamaged by environmental stressors by closing pores and reduing inflammtion. Open skin pores and inflammed skin let in more pollution and dirt which adds to the risk of blackheads and localised inflammation of the congested skin pore in skin prone to acne or redness and itching in skin prone to rosacea or eczema.

Temporarily tightens skin

Facial toners are an amazing skin rejuvenator. They help to give skin a tighter, firmer appearance and can reduce the appearance of fine lines.

Leaves skin feeling more refreshed than water

Spritzing your skin with toner is a great way to start (and end) your daily routine. It leaves skin feeling fresh and revived much better than a washing your face with water.

Soothes irritated and red skin

Facial toners for sensitive skin often have anti-inflammatory ingredients in them which help reduce redness and sooth irritation. They are especially useful after a shower or washing the face with warm water or used on stressed and hot skin which has a tendency to swell blood vessels below the surface and give skin a redder, puffier and more blotchy appearance. A toner closes the skin pore which reduces redness and gives a more even appearance.