There’s more to a good skin regimen than cleansing and moisturizing. While those are definitely the most important steps, there’s another step in between which should not be omitted—toner. Why is toner important?
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It gives your skin the right pH balance.
When you cleanse your face, especially if you exfoliate, you tend to make your skin more alkaline than acidic. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14, 7 being neutral. Our skin is naturally acidic, having a pH of 4.5 to 5.5. It’s important that skin be acidic so it can fight away harmful bacteria that tries to penetrate and damage the skin.
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It shrinks pores.
Toner minimizes the appearance of pores. It will not shrink them permanently, but it will definitely visually minimize them.
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It adds a layer of protection.
Toners can help close pores and tighten cell gaps after cleansing, thus reducing the penetration of impurities and environmental contaminants into the skin.
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It moisturizes the skin.
Some toners are humectants, which means that they help to bind moisture to the skin.
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It refreshes your skin.
Toner can also be used in lieu of washing your skin when it’s oily or dirt. It will leave your skin revitalized, even when you’re on-the-go. You can even spray it over your make-up!
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It can prevent ingrown hairs.
Toners containing glycolic or other alpha hydroxy acids can help to prevent ingrown hairs, so it also aids in grooming.
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It reduces oil on the skin.
After cleansing your face, you tend to produce more oil. Toner helps restore and balance everything out.
