Toners are a lotion or wash for the purpose of cleansing and balancing the skin shrinking the appearance of pores.
Toners are usually applied by:
– Dabbing on with cotton wool
– Spraying or spritzing onto the face
– Splashing on to skin
– By applying a gauze facial mask soaked in the toning lotion and left on the face for a few minutes.
Moisturizer is usually followed after toning.
Types of toners
Fresheners and Spritzes
These are the mildest form of toners which normally contain water, hydrosol or a tincture and a humectant such as glycerine. Humectants help to keep the moisture in the upper layers of the epidermis by preventing it from evaporating. Toner hydrosols like Rosewater make excellent toners.
These toners are the gentlest to the skin, and are most suitable for use on dry, dehydrated, sensitive and normal skins. It may give a burning sensation to sensitive skin.
Skin tonic toners
These usually contain a small amount of alcohol (up to 20%), water and a humectant ingredient. Orange flower water is one example of this type of toner which is commonly used for normal, combination, and oily skin.
Astringent Toners
These are the strongest type of toner and may contain a high proportion of alcohol (20-60%). They also can contain antiseptic ingredients, essential oils, fruit extracts/acids, water, and a humectant ingredient. These are most often recommended for oily skins as they can be drying, removing excess oil from the skin which can lead to excess oil production as the skin tries to compensate for the loss of moisture in the skin.
Witch hazel is an astringent. To prevent dehydration, astringent is best applied only to problem areas of skin, such as pimples and acne.
Natural toner examples include:
- Witch hazel
- Aloe vera
- Apple cider vinegar
- Hydrosols (left over bi product of essential oil distillation)
- Orange oil (acne and oily skin)
- Fennel oil (anti-aging)
- Rose oil (very hydrating for dry skins)
- Frankincense oil (anti aging and firming)
A few drops of the oils above can be added to water as a toner depending on what skin type you have.
For many more toners and beneficial skin care recipes refer to: Natural Homemade Facemasks And Skincare Recipes