Toner - an underrated addition to skincare
When creating a homecare regimen for a new guest in my treatment room, I will typically suggest starting simple with Cleanser, Toner, Moisturizer/Facial Oil , and SPF. Many guests have asked if I feel that a toner is absolutely necessary to add to a daily regimen, because there is a lot of mixed information that can be found online. While some skincare professionals might disagree, my opinion is that the right toners are just as important as cleansing and moisturizing. In fact, these hydrating skin-refreshers may be one of the most underrated parts of your skincare routine that you may not have realized you are missing.
What is Toner?
Toner is a slightly acidic skin balancing blend made up of mostly water and plant extracts. These are used in skincare to bring the skin’s pH levels back to it’s natural slightly acidic state after cleansing, which can strip away essential naturally occurring sebum and oils. Healthy skin typically sits at a pH level around 4.7-5.5, which protects the skin from damaging free radicals. Spritzing a toner onto the skin after cleansing (or even throughout the day for a skin refresh) can keep your skin in a natural, healthy state. In addition to protecting the skin, toners help to cleanse and purify the skin of leftover impurities after cleansing. It is important to note that not all toners are formulated the same. Some toners, such as our Wild Plum + Blueberry Toner, are meant to nourish and bind moisture to the skin, while some toners act as strong astringents.
Toners to Avoid
It is important to note that many skincare companies will label harsh exfoliants as “toners.” This is one of the most common issues I see in guests experiencing disruption in their skin’s barrier. Many of these products are labeled safe for daily use, but contain concentrated amounts of barrier-stripping ingredients such as witch hazel, alcohol, alpha hydroxy acids, beta hydroxy acids, benzoyl peroxide, fragrances, etc. While we do suggest using a hydrating toner twice a day after cleansing, exfoliating toners should be used no more than once or twice a week. If used daily, these will begin to compromise the skin’s barrier and cause inflammation, dryness, breakouts and other issues.
Benefits of Our Wild Plum + Blueberry Toner
Our Wild Plum + Blueberry Toner contains a hydrating blend of super fruits and is packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and nutrients that are essential to skin health. For the formulation of this product we chose a variety of real, sustainably sourced fruits, such as: plum, blueberry, strawberry, watermelon, raspberry, and apple mixed with plant-based hyaluronic acid and soothing lavender. While hydrating toners are naturally refreshing to the skin, this toner takes it to the next level by containing an invigorating, sweet, natural aroma (no artificial fragrances here) that takes your skin to paradise.
Due to the naturally derived ingredients in this toner, it contains a light pink coloring, therefore we suggest applying it to a cotton round before applying it to the skin. I personally love spraying toners, because it feels like a drink of water for the skin and is so refreshing. Just be careful with light clothing :)
