Saturday, March 29, 2014

Toners: A Skin Care Fundamental Often Missed

Many people these days are not using a toner. Toners are a hugely important part of our skin care routine but unfortunately toners have gotten a bad rap. Toners used to serve a totally different purpose. Back in our parent’s days, cleansers were made from mineral oil and the only way to get it off was an alcohol-based toner. This alcohol-based toner was so commonly used that it became what we all think of as a toner.

What most people don’t know is that toners serve up a ton of very important benefits.

  • They boost the moisture content of your skin keeping it from being dehydrated. Today so many people drink caffeinated beverages and don’t drink enough water. So often I see dehydrated skin because of this. Dehydrated skin can often be confused with oily skin because it appears to be shiny. Dehydrated skin is shiny but not oily. Dehydrated skin is also confused with dry skin. Dry skin needs oil. Whereas, dehydrated skin needs water.
  • Removes leftover cleanser and oil. Let’s face it, some of us don’t spend a lot of time washing our face and there can still be a residue left over. If you use a toner after a treatment or masque, the toner will make sure the product has been removed from the skin.
  • To calm and freshen the skin with natural plant botanicals. This is great for sensitive skin. Many sensitive skin types will be pink, red and irritated after cleansing. Aloe Vera, chamomile, tea tree and lavender are just some of the plants that help calm and freshen skin.
  • To introduce water soluble active ingredients to our skin. This is the amazing part! If you use a toner prior to applying a moisturizer, you can trap water, aloe vera, and all kinds of wonderful water soluble ingredients next to you skin all day long! Most toners will help bind moisture to the skin.
  • A toner also helps your other products to absorb evenly. After you’ve toned and you’re ready to apply your moisturizer, you should only need a small, pea sized amount. If you skip the toner you’ll find you need to add more moisturizer to get the same result.
  • It rebalances your skin’s PH. Our skin is naturally acidic, normally with a pH balance of between 4 and 5. After cleansing, due to the alkaline nature of cleansers, the pH balance of skin gets disturbed. When this happens your skin needs to work overtime to restore the balance (and that may result in oil), but using a toner helps to restore this balance quickly. Your skin will restore itself on it’s on but it will take about 20 minutes. Who wants to wait 20 minutes to put on their moisturizer? This also works with any other treatment. A chemical exfoliant will change your skin to be more acidic and a toner used right after will make sure the product is neutralized and will restore the PH Balance.

There are many different toners these days and they’ve seriously evolved the last few years. Since we now know that we can put just about anything water soluble in them, we can deliver all sorts of benefits. The new generation of toners is here. Here are some ingredients that you’ll find in some of today’s new toners and what they can do for you:

 Antioxidants are nutrients (vitamins and minerals) and enzymes (proteins inside your body) that can help to prevent and repair damage to your body's tissue. Antioxidants do this by slowing or preventing the effect of free radicals, which start oxidation -- a process that causes damage from oxygen that can lead to cell dysfunction. If you've seen a peeled apple turn brown, you've seen oxidation in action. As antioxidants block the effects of free radicals, they end up being oxidized. This is why it's important to constantly replenish your supply of antioxidants. Vitamin A, C and E in particular have great benefits on the skin. Vitamins A and C also encourage cell and tissue growth, helping the body to repair itself. This is very helpful to the skin, which is constantly shedding and re-growing cells.

·         Toners containing glycolic or other alpha hydroxy acids can help to prevent ingrown hairs, so it also aids in grooming. Glycolic Acid is an exfoliator. It safely removes the outer layer of dead skin cells on the surface your skin, bring fresh new skin to the surface. This is beneficial for those who are looking for ingredients that help with anti-aging. Glycolic acid can also help lighten discoloration of the skin, such as sun spots or age spots. It can also help those with acne-prone and blackhead-prone skin by getting rid of congestion and keeping pores clean.

·         Toners containing Hyaluronic Acid. This is a mega performing ingredient that holds a 1,000 times its own weight in water and is dynamic for hydrating the skin.

·         Natural plant botanicals will calm and freshen skin. They will also hydrate and are great for sensitive skin types. Some can actually work below the skin to block inflammatory triggers. Some plant botanicals can also eliminate excess oil or remove it all together.

Here’s a list of toner’s that I think are excellent. I’ll also mention which skin types would benefit from them and also which skin concerns or conditions would be helped by them.


Murad Hydrating Toner

Cost: $27

Normal or Dry Skin Type, Anti-Aging

This refreshing toner balances, hydrates and neutralizes surface impurities. Lecithin helps lock in moisture and restores suppleness. This is a perfect way to prepare skin for treatment.

Additional features and ingredients: 
•Witch Hazel tightens pores
•Chamomile and Cucumber Extract soothe irritation and soften skin

An essential in any skin care regimen to hydrate and tone skin. After using the skin cleanser of your choice, apply this skin toner to hydrate, tone, and neutralize any impurities on the surface of your skin. You’ll also return your skin to its normal pH balance and soften and soothe your skin. This toner not only leaves your skin with improved tone and texture but it also feels refreshing while being applied. This is also a perfect skin care product to use in winter weather or high temperature dry summer whether when skin tends to dehydrate.


Dermalogica Multi-Active Toner

Cost: $35

Normal, Dry, Combination Skin
Light facial toner spray hydrates and refreshes. Help condition the skin and prepare for proper moisture absorption when you spritz over skin after cleansing, and before applying your prescribed Dermalogica Moisturizer. Refreshing facial spritz hydrates while smoothing the surface with moisture-binding humectants plus soothing Lavender, Balm Mint and Arnica. Formulated without artificial fragrances and colors.
Benefits:
·         Helps even out skin porosity.
·         Optimizes moisturizer absorption.


Murad Essential-C Toner

Cost: $28

Normal, Dry, Combination Skin, Acne, Anti-Aging

Bitter Orange Flower and Coneflower Extract strengthen skin's natural defense system while natural moisture factors gently condition and hydrate skin. Essential-C Toner re-establishes normal pH level so skin is receptive to treatment and gives environmentally stressed skin a refreshing, hydrating lift any time of day.

Additional features and ingredients: 
·         •Witch Hazel tightens pores without drying skin
·         •Amino Acid Complex provides building blocks for healthy skin
·         •Sodium PCA helps attract and bind water to the skin

An essential and refreshing component of any skin care program, this skin toner is packed with Vitamin C and antioxidants to refresh and hydrate skin while also fighting free radicals and improving skin’s appearance. Whether you’re using an acne treatment product or an anti-aging skin product as your primary skin care regimen, this toner can be a welcome break to any day. Simply apply it to your face and neck after using your favorite skin cleanser. Not only does Essential-C Toner from Murad hydrate and moisturize skin while fighting the aging signs brought on my environmental damage, it also strengthens your skin’s natural defenses. You’ve read about the importance of an antioxidant rich diet in creating perfect, beautiful skin. Antioxidants are just as important in topical use, and you can treat your skin to an antioxidant rush with this vitamin rich toner.


Dermalogica Ultracalming Mist

Cost: $34

Any skin type, Perfect for sensitive skin

A soothing, hydrating mist to calm redness and sensitivity. Use post-cleanse to lock in hydration and prime skin for treatment with UltraCalming products. Lightweight mist helps create a shield against environmental assaults, and synergistically relieves and restores skin while fighting future flare-ups. Our exclusive UltraCalming Complex contains Oat and botanical actives that work below the surface to interrupt inflammatory triggers that lead to sensitization, while helping to minimize discomfort, burning and itching. Soothing Aloe helps calm while correcting the moisture level imbalance that can provoke sensitized skin. Formulated without artificial fragrances and colors.

Benefits:

·         Quickly relieves inflammation and discomfort.
·         Helps condition skin.
·         Can be used after waxing or exfoliation for soothing benefits.


Murad Clarifying Toner

Cost: $22

Oily Skin, Acneic Skin

Clarifying Toner eliminates excess oil and restores balance to acne-prone skin with a refreshing blend of natural botanicals. Problem skin is purified without drying or irritation as Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan) Extract regulates oil production and Witch Hazel removes oil while tightening pores. Skin is left clean, refreshed and balanced.

Additional features and ingredients:
•Allantoin calms and soothes redness and irritation
•Antioxidant rich Grape Seed Extract and Vitamin E protect against damaging free-radicals
•Use throughout the day to refresh skin, reduce oil and shine

Dermalogica Antioxidant Hydramist

Cost: $40

Anti-Aging

A refreshing peptide toner that creates a hydrating, antioxidant shield over skin to help reduce fine dryness lines and prevent the signs of aging. Mist over skin after cleansing and throughout the day to help firm, rehydrate, and minimize skin-aging triggers.

Benefits:

·         Hydrates to reduce fine lines associated with dryness.
·         Creates an antioxidant shield against free radicals.
·         Refreshing mist can be spritzed on skin throughout the day.

Dermalogica Breakout Clearing All Over Toner

Cost: $19

Oily, Acneic Skin

This unique mist-all-over purifying toner controls excess oils and helps eliminate breakouts on the face and body. Refreshing extracts help cool and revive skin.

Benefits:

·         Salicylic Acid combined with Sesame Seed Extract helps minimize the surface oils that cause breakouts.
·         Formulated with 12 gentle botanicals including Lavender, Camellia Sinensis and Argan, known to minimize redness and skin aggravation triggered by breakouts.
·         Lemongrass and Bitter Orange refresh, energize and revive skin.






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