Skin toners are the next step following a facial cleansing routine. Skin toners ensure complete removal from the skin of all cleansing preparations. They freshen and tone up the skin, preparing a clean surface for make-up. They also restore the acid, or alkali, balance of the skin because they are pH balanced. They’re designed to penetrate pores, refresh, and cool your skin while clearing away excess oil, impurities, and dead skin cells that were not removed with the cleanser.
Choose a toner appropriate for your skin type. The common herbs used in toners include witch hazel, geranium, honey, lemon, ivy, sage, nettle, and burdock. Witch hazel has a tendency to dry out skin, so it’s ideal to combine it with moisturizers such as Vitamin E, honey, etc. Rosewater helps keep your skin and face moisturized and fresh, and balances the pH levels.
Essential oils are the gentlest way of toning up. Use rosewater for normal or dry/sensitive skin and witch hazel for oilier skins as an ideal base for fresheners. These can be applied with cotton wool using smooth, gentle upward strokes, or sprayed on to the face. Oily skin benefits from juniper or lemongrass, whereas drier skins would benefit from rose or sandalwood.
Remember, it should be used only after the skin has completed a cleansing routine and not as a substitute for cleansing. So, your toner must function as a toner and not as a cleanser.
Homemade Toner Recipes
Watermelon Toner
1 cup watermelon chunks, 2 tbsp witch hazel and 2 tbsp distilled water
Put the watermelon chunks in a processor or blender. Strain the liquid and discard the solids. Mix the strained liquid with the remaining ingredients, stir, and pour into a glass bottle. Dab on face using a cotton ball. This is rich in sugar and vitamins A and B. Plus, watermelon has astringent properties and the super high water content makes it an excellent skin refresher.
Rose Skin Toner
3 1/2 cups of witch hazel, 1/2 cup dried rose petals and 5 sprigs of fresh rosemary.
Mix ingredients together, making sure it is all blended well. Strain the blend and splash on your face after cleansing.
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