The thing about Toners

Whether you care about your skin or not, the steps you're likely to do in your routine is cleanse and moisturise. But what about the in-between process? - Toning. A lot of people do forget this step - unless you're someone who religiously sticks to a 3 step skincare routine (Cleanse, tone and moisturise) then it definitely is a process that is overlooked. Sure it can add extra seconds or minutes onto your skin routine, which is just more work and time - which can be daunting for most as time is a luxury we just don't have. But taking the extra time could really benefit your skin especially if you have problematic, dull, and dehydrated skin. 

My skincare routine is definitely much more than the 3 step process - but toning has always been something extra and a little bit more ensuring that I've completely cleanse my face and then returning the hydration back into my skin - ensuring that the skin's pH levels are also returned to normal. 

So the basics of what toning actually is to me is 

1. Balancing the skin: No matter what type of cleanser you're using whether it be gel, oil, cream, milk or balm - going through this cleansing process (of how many times you actually do cleanse your skin - I recommend you always double cleanse at night) you are having to use water (unless you're using a water-base cleanser like Bioderma) to remove the cleanser as well as the makeup, dirt and grime that you've removed. The temperature of the water is specifically important in this case as it disrupts the pH balance of the skin which is why sometimes your skin can feel tight and dry post-cleanse. By using a toner after cleansing you are returning your skin to that normal pH balance and often you find after using a toner the feeling of tightness is gone. This is why it's so important to listen to your skin - that's what it wants.

The next two steps I've taken word completely from Caroline Hirons : You should also use one toner to take away and one to add on.

2. Exfoliating the skin: By taking away from the skin - yes we mean exfoliating - and no, we don't mean by using scrubs with beads and such the size of golf balls to do that. The best way to exfoliate without irritating and disrupting the surface of the skin is by using chemical/acid-based toners to remove dead skin cells and deeply cleanse your pores. Trick is to let the toner do the work - not your hands or overly abrasive scrubs. Key ingredients to find in products are glycolic acid, willow bark, tartaric acid, citric acid, lactic acid, glycerin and try to steer very clear of products with alcohol in them - as this can strip your skin and be very drying. 

3. Hydrating the skin: Depending on what time of toner or "lotion" you use - it can also be a base to deeply hydrate your skin (if you are someone who is dehydrated - you probably need to do this step). These toners often come in a mist form with rosewater, aloe vera, citrus (vitamin C), lavender (for brightening) etc.

Toning is an essential step to keeping your skin clear, bright and fresh looking - if you find that your skin is either acne-prone, dull, dehydrated or overly oily - you probably need to add this step into your routine. So... Get on it and do it now.