beauty experts seem to have mixed feelings about toners. Some say that this beauty category is so

yesterday, it should be sold as a collectable antique item at auction. Some say toners are so versatile
and beneficial that you should have a separate one for each of your body parts. I believe that, unlike
sunscreen and moisturizers, toners are optional, but they can greatly improve the overall condition of
your skin.

Do You Really Need a Toner?

You may know them under a variety of names: astringents, fresheners, clarifying lotions, facial
mists, and floral waters. First, let’s define what we mean by “toner.” No matter what they’re called,
toners are fluids or lotions designed to remove surface skin cells, soap residue, and oils from the
skin. When you wipe a cotton ball soaked in a toner, your skin feels fresh and vibrant. Some men use
toners as an aftershave splash.

Most conventional toners are alcohol-based liquids loaded with petrochemicals, artificial dyes,
and synthetic fragrances, sometimes with a drop of witch hazel and glycerin, usually sold with a
cleanser to “shrink your pores” and “remove cleanser residue.” Toners cannot shrink your pores. As
you already know, skin is a very complex organ with delicate and intricate workings. The way it
functions and the size of its vital parts, such as the pores, cannot be altered by a single lick of a cotton
ball. The size of our pores is both hereditary and the result of years of exposure to the sun, makeup
usage, and general skin care habits. If you double-cleanse, a toner does not need to become an
additional cleansing step.

A good toner conditions, nourishes, soothes, calms blemishes, and delivers active ingredients to
freshly cleansed skin. A mild toner also works as a weightless moisturizer, and sometimes in the
evening, you can get away with a rich oil-based cleanser and a moisturizing toner, skipping the
moisturizer and letting your skin breathe and heal itself during the night.

Green Tip
Alcohol-based toners irritate skin, making it swell, so that the pores look slightly smaller. As soon as the alcohol
evaporates, the swelling goes away, leaving behind irritated, dry skin.
Toners also make a great multipurpose beauty product if you are on the run. For example, instead
of carrying a whole beauty kit to the gym, pack a mini spray bottle of toner of your choice. Spray your
face frequently after strenuous activity that makes you sweat, and finish your shower with a dab of
toner to soothe your skin and prep it for a moisturizer. Toners are indispensable during air travel, but
make sure to pack them in small containers according to airline specifications for onboard fluids.

Some toners make a very lightweight yet potent mask: saturate a thin gauze mask with exfoliating or
hydrating toner and apply it to the skin for a few minutes. This is a great way to apply a treatment
toner while in the bath!You can also mix your clay-based dry mask with a little bit of toner so you
enjoy double benefits from two products working in harmony.

There are three types of toners available today. Mild, hydrating toners are called face fresheners or
facial mists. They contain no alcohol and are water-based, sometimes with added glycerin that
hydrates skin by helping it retain moisture. Mists and fresheners usually come in spray bottles.
Spraying a toner from a vaporizer bottle is a very hygienic and economical way to use a toner since
not a drop is wasted on a cotton ball or your fingertips.