Keeping It Toned

When it comes to skincare, just admit it, a lot of us are oblivious to it. More often than not, we don’t even know exactly the purpose of each product and what they actually do. Some even use the wrong product for the wrong type of skin. We’ve met those who do not use any skincare product except a basic facewash and we’ve met those who use a thousand and one products and not know the right type. It is mind boggling no doubt as there are too many options out there on the aisle with each boasting different key ingredients. Nonetheless what we should not ignore is the basic routine of cleansing, toning and moisturising. Healthy skin begins with cleansing, that’s easy to understand. But what about toner? The often-misunderstood skincare step, toner can be perplexing. Chances are you’ve heard the beauty term "toner" thrown around when people discuss their skincare regimens. Maybe it’s even part of your routine, but you’re not quite sure how it works. Toners have caused a lot of confusion in the beauty world, but they've recently gotten an upgrade and are back in the skincare routine game. Facial toners with their runny consistency seem to be nothing more than glorified, coloured water packaged in a minimalistic-looking bottle. Plus, traditional toners often cause a stinging sensation when applied, which can't be good for your skin. While it may seem toner does nothing more for your skin than getting you to spend more, this isn’t the case at all.

As science has it, always evolving, a lot has change with toner. The new and modern toners these days, do just the opposite. With its alcoholic days behind, the new generation of toners now contain alcohol-free properties and address almost every skin concern and no longer limited to just acne and oily skin. The purpose of toners is to replenish and nourish skin after removing makeup and cleansing, a step that can significantly, and visibly, help your skin. Even if you use the gentlest cleanser, your skin still needs to be replenished with what the cleanser removes. This is where a brilliant toner can really shine. Today, a toner is similar to water but packed with more hydrogen and oxygen molecules. It can also be packed with other beneficial ingredients like tea tree, rose, salicylic acid, and other skincare essentials, depending on your needs.

There’s a facial toner in almost every skincare line, but what does toner do? Toners of the past were developed to properly complete a cleansing regimen but the toners of today are much different, and even offer a multitude of benefits! Crack open a skincare junkie’s cabinet and there’s bound to be one in their arsenal, toners are the secret to healthy, hydrated and balanced skin.

Facial toner is a water-based liquid fortified with specially-selected ingredients that target specific skin concerns. While older toners did offer some benefits, their main purpose was to rid the skin of residue left behind after cleansing. However, new-era toners function much differently because new-era skincare is different. Toners of today offer boundless benefits, such as tightening pores, diminishing impurities, and refreshing and nourishing skin. They are also multi-faceted with the ability to exfoliate, detoxify, diminish shine, provide moisture, restore balance and even relieve irritation. When applied after cleansing and before additional skincare, a toner can even increase the efficacy of your other skincare products by helping them penetrate deeper into skin.

Toners act to removes impurities and minimises the appearance of pores. Toners also tighten pores making it hard for dirt and oil to get in and cause infections, acne or other skin irritations. It restores the skin’s natural pH balance after cleansing making the skin better protected. Traditionally toners are formulated to remove sebum, excess oil and blemishes that cause acne. While effective, it is important to ensure your toner does not strip oil completely away. Lack of natural oil will irritate the skin inhibiting its ability to heal from acne and in the case of oily skin, make it worse for when the skin senses it is too dry, it produces more oil as a defense to protect itself. Toners can also help close pores and tighten cell gaps after cleansing, reducing the penetration of impurities and environmental contaminants into the skin. It can even protect and remove chlorine and minerals present in tap water. Facial toner can also be used in lieu of washing your skin when it's oily or dirty. It will leave your skin revitalised even when you're on the go and because some toners contain glycolic acid or other alpha hydroxy acids, it can help to prevent ingrown hairs.

A facial toner is a quick, absorbing liquid that helps to remove excess dirt, traces of oil and makeup, correct and balance the pH of your skin, and helps control acne. Undoubtedly, there had been some different connotations when it comes to toner and if it is necessary. In the past, toners haven’t always had a great reputation, in fact it was deemed unnecessary, too astringent and incredibly drying, all of which are definitely not conducive to a radiant and healthy complexion. The traditional toner or rather the more old-school ones were said to contain alcohol and known for stripping the skin of its natural oils and drying out the skin leading to skin irritations, flare ups and even premature aging. However, as mentioned, the new-era toners of today are different, mostly alcohol-free and address almost every skincare concern there is.

Toners can be used twice daily after cleansing, as long as your skin can tolerate the formulation. The common misconceptions about toners have led many people to think that they're better off without one, but toner is a vital part of any good skincare routine. It is an essential part of your daily skin care regime.

Putting it into practice

Skincode Essentials Fortifying Toning Lotion

200ml | For All Skin Types

A toner is a lightweight, liquidy lotion usually applied with a cotton pad. If you want to talk science, a toner is a fast-penetrating liquid that delivers skin a quick hit of hydration and helps remove some dead cells off the surface of the skin. The result, skin looks plump and radiant. There is a lot of debate regarding the importance and need of a facial toner but seriously, trust us. You need it. Rather than thinking of toner as something you have to do in between cleanser and moisturiser, try thinking of toner as prep for your pores and as a skin treatment, providing specific solutions to concerns. It brings your skin back to its natural acidic state, sweeping impurities away and helping your skin absorb your other skincare products. Your skin is like a dried-up sponge. If you put a thick cream on a brittle dry sponge, it won't accept it and it isn't 'prepped' for moisture. But if you wet the sponge, the cream will sink in more easily. Toner is something like a second step of the cleansing process. The facial toner is a secret skincare weapon. A toner's job is meant to gently refresh your skin without stripping it of its natural moisture. This means toner won't irritate sensitive skin or cause excessive dryness. Toner also prepares the skin to drink up your post-cleansing moisturiser and any other skin treatments that you may apply much easier.

One that works well is the Skincode Essentials Fortifying Toning Lotion. It is a gentle fortifying toner that conditions and balances the skin, removes final traces of makeup and impurities as well as gently exfoliates the skin to prepare it for follow-on treatments, or rather the other skincare products you are about to slather on. Upon application, skin is left feeling clean, soft and nourished. This Fortifying Toning Lotion leaves behind a sensation of freshness and well being on the skin. It also improves skin tone, texture and clarity. Skin is prepped for follow-on products like the serum and moisturiser which are able to penetrate into skin even more efficiently.

Application

Traditionally, a toner goes on after cleansing and exfoliating, day or night or both. It is best to use it when skin is still a little damp so it absorbs better as most molecules penetrate the skin better when it is wet. Toner is normally applied by sweeping it on with a cotton pad but some people like to pat it on like a serum, which works, too. It is also best to allow the skin to breathe for a few seconds after cleansing then apply the toner because as mentioned, when skin is moist, it absorbs ingredients better, delivering nourishment deeper into the epidermis. Do not blot off the toner. Let it sit and be absorbed fully into the skin. When applying a toner, be mindful, as with all things face care, be gentle when patting over face and neck, and be sure to avoid the eye area. Think of toner as your second cleanse. Toning also better prepares for any following serum, moisturiser or skincare treatment. Toners can help your skin to be less prone to oiliness and infection, thus creating a more vibrant and smoother appearance. If you need a reminder, a toner acts as a prep for your follow on product, in this case the serum and moisturiser. It helps calm and balance the skin and prepare it for your serum and moisturiser. Applying the moisturiser after toning helps to lock in all the goodness and hydration of your toner. A facial toner can be used for cleansing and removing excess oil from breakout spots on your body too, like your chest, back, neck, and shoulders. On hot days, a toner can come in handy not only to combat breakouts caused from sweat, sunblock, and dirt clogging our pores but to refresh the skin.

Follow with a serum, the Skincode Essentials Intensive Lifting Serum will do just fine. It is a light refreshing gel-serum that works to hydrate and restore the skin’s firmness, stimulate cell renewal, protect skin from free radical damage while quenching dehydrated skin and works to firm, energise and brighten skin as well as fighting the signs of aging. As for moisturiser, the Skincode Essentials 24h Cell Energiser Cream works perfectly. Suitable for normal and even dry skin types, it works to fight the signs of premature aging around the clock. This 24-hour power cream not only restores and preserves the skin, stimulates cell renewal, boosts skin defense mechanism, protects from free radical damage and regenerates and nourishes skin, it also improves skin’s elasticity and firmness and smoothens the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Ingredients

As with the rest of the Skincode Essentials products, the Fortifying Toning Lotion also contains the active ingredient CM-Glucan, a water-soluble glucan derivative, with a combined protective action to repair, regenerate, preserve and heal, that has the ability to stimulate the skin’s own defense mechanism. CM-Glucan enhances the skin’s resistance to UVA induced oxidative stress as well as other environmental hazards. It enhances the turnover of cell renewal and improves the skin’s barrier while calming and reducing irritations and is therefore ideal for sensitive skin. The Shea Butter in the Fortifying Toning Lotion offers cell regenerative virtues and efficiently delays skin aging. It also has softening, moisturising and restructuring properties. Shea Butter is one of the oldest remedies for dry skin. This stuff is rich in Vitamins A, E, and essential fatty acids. Shea Butter improves skin's barrier function and naturally offers a small amount of UV protection and is extremely nourishing and reparative. It also helps to re-texturise skin and improve circulation, helping to revive skin from the feeling of fatigue. The Lactic Acid Ester Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) effectively helps reduce lines and wrinkles. It gently dissolves dead skin cells, unclogs pores and has very good anti-acne properties. Meanwhile, the Sodium Hyaluronate is a super hydrating ingredient. It can hold one thousand times its weight in water. It works to regulate moisture balance of the skin and has a high capacity to retain moisture. It gives immediate smoothness to rough skin surfaces and significantly improves skin’s appearance thus reducing dryness, itching and burning of the skin. This ingredient offers an excellent environment for the growth of new cells and the healing of existing cells.