Acne-Prone Skin: Why You Need A Face Toner

There are just as many face toners in the market as there are beauty brands so how can one choose a good face toner? Even more pressing is why one should use a face toner. Especially on acne-prone skin that could easily pop up some fresh acne with the addition of any new product.

You’ve definitely seen all kinds of toners at the stores and ond on social media — different designs of bottles filled with clear or lightly tinted liquid. Face toners can be tricky to explain simply because many toners are formulated to do various things. That means some toners are more effective for treating and preventing acne than others. So, we’ll be discussing the best reasons to use toner and what it does for your face.

What Is A Face Toner?

A face toner is a water-based liquid skin care product that may be infused with skin-soothing ingredients like rose water, glycerin and aloe. You can often find different formulas made especially for your skin type.

A toner’s job is meant to gently refresh your skin without stripping it of its natural moisture. This means toner won’t irritate even acne-prone and sensitive skin or cause excessive dryness. Toner also prepares the skin to drink up your post-cleansing treatments and any other skincare products that you may apply.

Astringent is commonly mistaken for toner, but they’re two different products. The main difference is that astringent typically contains alcohol, making it ideal for those with oily skin as they are good at helping to control oil. But this is not always necessary as there are gentle ingredients that can do the same thing.

What A Face Toner Does

Because old-fashioned soaps were alkaline-based and used to leave a mineral ‘scum’ on the skin that could lead to dryness and skin irritation, toners were originally designed to remove soap residue and restore the skin’s pH balance. Nowadays, most synthetic cleansing products are pH-balanced so they don’t leave soap scum or an alkaline pH on the skin. However, toners are still useful, especially for people with acne.

If you have acne-prone skin, a toner can help by removing excess oil, product, bacteria and pollutants that may remain after you have washed with a cleanser and water. The best toners for acne also contain ingredients that reduce redness and inflammation and nourish your skin.

Generally, toners 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,
• Treat blackheads,
• Fight inflammation to prevent pimples and soften acne scars,
• Hold water inside your skin to fight skin dehydration from acne treatment ingredients in your skincare routine, and
• Prepare your skin to better absorb your treatments and moisturiser.

Who Should Use Face Toner

Everyone should, but if you have oily skin, are prone to acne or wear makeup, you may especially benefit because toner goes the extra mile to clean out and close up pores. We suggest trying the Kanda Revitalising Facial Toner because it contains both rose water and rose hydrosol which will keep your oil production in check. If you are interested in having glowing, healthy-looking skin, toner is a key step in your routine.

How To Use Toners

To apply a toner, you’ll want to soak a cotton ball with the toner and gently sweep it across your skin after cleansing every morning and before you go to bed at night. This should be your second step so it prepares the skin to absorb your skin treatments and moisturiser.

When To Use Toners

You can apply toners during your skincare routine in the morning and night. For your daytime routine, your toner will help to create a naturally healthy base for your make-up. For your nighttime routine, your toner will help you clean and nourish your skin before bedtime. A pro tip is to apply your toner within a minute of cleansing, as active ingredients penetrate your skin better when it’s wet.

Ingredients To Look Out For In Toners

The most effective ingredients in a toner for treating acne are:

• Salicylic acid: It penetrates deeply into oily pores. It breaks up pore-clogging debris and blackheads so that other active ingredients in the toner can easily enter the pores where acne lesions begin.
• Witch hazel: It helps remove oil and product residue without drying the skin too much. It’s also mildly antimicrobial, which means it fights the bacteria that cause acne.
• Glycerin and hyaluronic acid: These are humectant ingredients, which means they hold water inside the skin. They prevent the skin from becoming dehydrated and keep it looking and feeling healthy.

Ingredients To Avoid In Toners

The primary ingredient to avoid in a toner is:

• Alcohol: It is a powerful degreasing agent that removes excess oil from the skin, but it is also particularly drying. It can also remove important barrier lipids in the skin’s outer layer which is a protective layer of skin that helps prevent skin dehydration and irritation.
• Fragrance: It can be particularly irritating to the skin leading to redness, rashes, swelling and itching.

Facial toners can offer extra hydration, keep your face clean and refreshed, minimise the appearance of pores, and so much more for every skin type. When shopping for toners, check the ingredients label and make sure you’re not choosing one with nasty chemicals or drying ingredients like alcohol, parabens, or artificial fragrances. Instead, opt for natural, plant-based ingredients like aloe vera to smooth the skin, witch hazel to balance oils, or rose water or hydrosol to temporarily tighten the skin.