Almost all of us, at least at one point or the other, must have wondered about the secret behind that flawless skin of our favorite celebrities. Even though there can be a multitude of reasons for the same, tight pores are what gives you a smooth skin. If we take a closer look at the area beside our nose, we can see tiny pores present there. These can get larger in size as we age, and also depending on the skin type of the individuals. If the pores remain large and open, it causes oil and gunk to get clogged in there, resulting in pimples, which more often than not, leaves behind a mark. If you are looking forward to preventing that, getting your pores tight is the right thing to do. So the next logical question is, how do you get your pores tight? The answer lies in a five letter word, which is TONER. The below given points are accumulated after consultation with experienced skin care experts. They have successfully completed their beauty therapy course from a renowned college in Perth.
What is a Toner?
So what exactly is a toner? It is nothing but a tonic or lotion that is designed to help shrink the open pores in your face and to tighten your skin. They are water-based formulations and are easy to get absorbed by the skin. Applying toners help reduce the occurrence of pimples and also keeps your face clean. It also helps in controlling the oil production of your face to a great extent. A good toner refreshes your skin and does not make it super dry. There is a high chance for some amount of dirt and grime to be left on your face even after washing it with a face wash. So when you apply a toner, it helps in removing any last trace of impurity left on your face, making it squeaky clean. If your face looks dull and lifeless, try spritzing cold toner on your face. As it is highly beneficial in shrinking your pores upon regular use, it makes your face look younger and full of life.
What are the different types of toners?
You might not know this, but yes, there are more than one type of toner available in the market and you must be aware of what each of them means, before making the purchase. The different types of toners are as listed below:
1. Treatment Toners
These kinds of toners are available under different names, including anti-aging toners, soothing toners, balancing toners and brightening toners. They target any specific problem in our face and try to resolve it. They will have active ingredients of high potency depending upon the issue they tackle. Soothing toners may have chamomile extracts in it while skin brightening toners may have Vitamin C in it. You must do a thorough research on the active ingredients present in the toner and must definitely do a patch test before applying it to your face.
2. Exfoliating Toners
As the name suggests, this toner helps in exfoliating the skin, thereby getting rid of the dead cells. They commonly contain glycolic acid or salicylic acid in them, while there are toners that have a combination of different AHAs, BHAs and PHAs in them. If you have dry skin, you can go for AHAs and if you have oily skin, it is better if you choose toners that have BHAs and PHAs in them. Make sure not to over exfoliate your skin as it may damage the protective lipids present on your skin.
3. Hydrating Toners
These toners focus more on providing extra hydration to your skin. They contain humectants like hyaluronic acid, which absorbs moisture from the environment and maintains the hydration of the face. They are generally very gentle on our skin and chances for irritation are generally low. If you are someone with dry skin, then adding a hydrating toner to your skin care regimen can do wonders for your skin.
How exactly should you use a toner?
A toner is applied immediately cleansing your skin and is followed up by a moisturiser in a simple skincare routine. You can store your toner in a refrigerator and spritz it on your face to get an instant hit of freshness. You can also take a little bit of the toner, dip it in a cotton ball and then apply it on your face. It basically depends on your convenience. Just make sure to use it in the right order.
Now that you have a basic idea of what a toner does and doesn’t do, you can now decide on whether or not you need it in your skincare routine. Listen to your skin and understand what it needs. You can choose a toner that suits your skin condition and type. Good luck on your skin care journey!