Skin fresheners, or classic toners, usually contain a small percentage of alcohol. They are most
suitable for use in warmer months or if you feel that your skin is becoming oilier. Contrary to popular
opinion, alcohol-based toners do not dry out pimples and do not decrease oil production. In fact, they
can increase the production of sebum because the removal of oil from the skin can lead to excess oil
production as the skin tries to compensate for this and prevent moisture loss.
Astringents are the heavy artillery. When used recklessly, they can cause more problems than they
solve. Astringents usually contain a high percentage of alcohol (up to 60 percent), antiseptic
ingredients, oil-absorbing clays, and essential oils. To prevent dehydration and premature skin aging,
astringent toner is best applied only to problem areas of the skin, such as acne. Don’t overindulge in
astringents in your pursuit of clean skin. Such potent alcohol solutions can lead to severe dehydration
and premature aging of the skin.
The most common application of a toner is with a clean, pure-cotton pad, but the most economical
way to use a toner is to spray or spritz it on your face. Hold the atomizer or spray bottle about ten to
twelve inches from your face, close your eyes, and mist it over your face two or three times. Massage
the liquid into your skin. And if some of the toner gets into your hair, don’t worry—it’s good for your
hair and scalp.
Consider making a toner a part of your daily skin care regimen. A well-formulated and correctly
chosen toner can hydrate, remove dead skin cells, help prevent acne, fade brown spots and postacne
marks, as well as soothe sunburns or skin irritations and even slow down aging.
A Word About Alcohol
If a toner contains alcohol, it should be grain alcohol (ethanol), not petroleum-derived isopropyl
alcohol (propan-2-ol), which is considered poisonous. Isopropyl alcohol, or rubbing alcohol, used in
many conventional toners, is made of the known toxic chemical acetone, the alcohol denaturant methyl
isobutyl ketone, and around 70 percent ethanol. It is cheaper than grain alcohol, but it’s not the safest
substance for use in cosmetics.
SD alcohol, often used in natural preparations, stands for “specially denatured” alcohol. It’s often
combined with a bitter substance, denatonium benzoate, to prevent some hungover individuals from
drinking the product. European products often list denatured alcohol as “Alcohol Denat.”Most often,
denatured alcohols used in beauty products are listed as SDAlcohol 23-A, SDAlcohol 40, and
SDAlcohol 40-B. The numbers indicate which substance was used to “denature” the alcohol.
Witch hazel, rose water, and orange water are traditional facial tonics that have been used safely
for many centuries. Calendula, licorice, green tea, and lavender suit all skin needs, while lactic,
pectic, and tartaric fruit acids perform mild exfoliation. Zinc gluconate, hyaluronic acid, seaweed
extracts, and squalene from olive oil add antiaging benefits. If you have acne, your best bet is a toner
with salicylic or glycolic acid. Such toners are best applied with a cotton ball, not with a vaporizer.
You don’t need any glycolic acid in your eyes!You may also use a mild acidic toner if you like to
double-cleanse with an alkaline-based foaming cleanser that may leave the skin’s natural pH off
balance. A mild acidic toner will neutralize the alkalinity and return the skin’s acidic balance to
normal.
Green Tip
For use during colder winter months, you may want to choose a toner with added glycerin, which attracts moisture
from the air and draws it to the skin.
The best toners I have tested are formulated with floral water. They are essentially a mix of