Using Toners on Your Skin

Today is all about toners. Many people consider toners to be an unnecessary step in skin care. Toners are an important step in your daily skin care routine for two important reasons.

1. A natural facial toner will improve your skin tone by tightening your pores and helping to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It will increase circulation, giving your face a healthy glow, hydrate your skin and restore your skin's natural PH balance. A toner will enhance the overall cleanliness of the skin by removing dead skin cells, dirt, oil, and any residue from cleansers. 

2. A facial toner acts to soothe and rebalance skin after cleansing and prepares it for moisturizing.

     There are two types of toners on the market, one called toner and the other 'astringent'.  An astringent is basically the same as a toner but with alcohol added. Alcohol is extremely drying to skin, which can actually increase oil production

So, who should use a toner?
     Everybody!  Toner is beneficial to all skin types.  Toners can help control the sebum balance of oily skin by helping to remove excess oil, assist dry skin by giving added moisture and help soothe sensitive skin.

     Toner is not only for cleansing!  During the day you can use your toner as a refreshing spray mist for your face.  This is ideal for hot weather or days spent indoors in air conditioning and heating - both extremely drying to skin.

Make your own toner.
In an 8 oz. bottle mix 1/4 cup witch hazel, 1 tsp. glycerin, 6-8 drops of your favorite essential oil. (I like to use lavender or lemon.) Then fill the bottle with distilled water. Apply with a cotton ball.