What is a skin toner?
Find here why you should apply it every day
What does a toner do?
Trust us when we say a toner can work wonders for your skin. It can help to:
- Remove any last traces of excess oil, make-up and dirt;
- Thoroughly clean and close your pores;
- Restore your skin’s natural pH balance;
- Prepare your skin to better absorb moisturiser.
The question is, how? This liquid penetrates your skin super fast to remove dead skin cells and provide a quick hit of hydration. Think of it as a prep for your pores, and a primer for the rest of your skincare routine. So, think of toner as a wake-up call for your skin, getting it ready to start the day.
Now you’re clued up on what is skin toner, but when do you use it?
When to use a toner: day and night
Bring a toner into your everyday routine and you’ll be applying it morning and night. At the start of the day, your toner will help to create that naturally healthy base for your make-up. At bedtime, toner plays its part in helping you clean and nourish your skin before shuteye time.
But are you still wondering about where toner actually fits in your skincare regime? It slots right in the middle. If your routine starts with cleanser and ends with moisturiser, then just pop your toner in between the two. Congrats – you’ve just followed a simple 1,2,3 regime!
Repeat after us:
1. Cleanse
2. Tone
3. Moisturise
It’s a tale as old as time, but it’s definitely a good one.
Top tip: Apply your toner within a minute of cleansing, as active ingredients penetrate your skin better when it’s wet.
Now, are you ready to learn how to apply toner? Let’s go.
How to use toner for newbies
One of the beauties of toner is that it’s so quick and easy to use. Simply add a generous amount to a cotton pad, and then wipe in gentle upward movements over your skin. And that’s it! Nice and simple, just how we like it.
What kind of toner should I use?
It’s easy to see why using a facial toner is a no-brainer. But not all toners are created equal. Some of the toners of days gone by were very astringent and drying, as they used to contain high concentrations of alcohol to remove oil. You want to keep your skin’s natural barrier in place and avoid dryness, so opt for an alcohol-free toner.
Our Kind to Skin Soothing Facial Toner helps remove any alkaline residue after cleansing, leaving your skin feeling refreshed. And it has a special blend of skin-loving ingredients:
- Witch Hazel has natural toning abilities to help tighten pores, plus natural astringent capabilities to help firm the skin, minus that horrible, tight, dry feeling.
- Chamomile helps soothe and calm skin, with its anti-inflammatory properties.
- Allantoin helps support cell regeneration, can soften and protect, and is soothing and non-irritating. It comes from the root of the comfrey plant.
- Pro-Vitamin B5 supports healthy-looking skin and is deeply hydrating, thanks to its ability to absorb moisture from the air – now that’s clever.
So that’s what goes in our toner, but what do we leave out? Artificial perfumes, colours, dyes, parabens, harsh chemicals… essentially anything that could upset your skin.
Related articles
The secrets to beautiful skin after an all-nighter
Up late hitting deadlines (or the dancefloor)? Here’s how to get rid of bags under eyes and achieve beautiful skin in four easy steps.
Up close and personal with skincare's latest obsession: sheet masks
What is a sheet mask? Discover how sheet face masks can make an amazing (and fun!) addition to your skin routine.
Dehydrated Skin: Symptoms & Fixes
Find out the signs of dehydrated skin, and keep your skin feeling great with our simple tips on how to deal with dehydrated skin.
How does pollution affect your skin?
Whether you love spending your time under big city lights or prefer the country life, pollution is a skincare buzzword that should definitely be on your lips.
6 tips for your spring skincare routine
The changing seasons make different demands on your face, so skincare needs to keep up. It’s time to create a spring skincare routine.
What Type of Skin Do I Have?
Learn the difference between skin types – dry, oily, sensitive and combination. Step this way to discover how to know your skin type, plus skincare tips
Sensitive face? 7 sensitive skin tips
If you have a sensitive face, your skin can flare up often. Luckily, dealing with sensitive skin is simple with our sensitive skincare tips.
5 Tips for Glowing, Radiant Skin
Glowing skin is achievable for everyone. With a few simple tips, and the right products, you can find out how to get radiant skin.
How to pick the best micellar water for you
Looking for the best micellar water? From your favourite cleansing wipe to a wash off cleanser, we explore the different types of micellar water for you.
