Caring For Your Skin: Toning

For part 1 in this series, go here.

What is a Toner?

There are basically two different types of toners out there: moisturizing and refreshing and cleansing and balancing. The moisturizer types are usually liquid sprays in bottles, and are often used to add a light spritz of moisture to your face or to freshen makeup. The cleansing and balancing types are often a cream formula and are used to remove extra makeup or dirt that washing may have missed and to fix your skin’s pH balance. Sometimes toners are a combination of those things; it all depends on the ingredients.

A word about pH balance - this refers to how acidic or alkaline your skin is. If it’s off balance you may experience things like dryness, over oily, acne, and the like.

Why You Should Use a Toner

A toner is extremely beneficial to your skin, but it is optional. If you think your skin’s pH is off, need extra moisture during the day or just want a little extra insurance that all that heavy foundation is off your face, give it a try.

How To Use and Make Your Own

Use a toner right after you wash your face, before your moisturizer. I have a recipe of the balancing and cleansing type for you today.

Once you’ve mixed your toner up, take a cotton ball, dip it in, and just wipe your entire face down with it. Wait for a minute or two for it to soak in then apply moisturizer as usual. That’s it! Yes, it will smell like vinegar. No, it will not kill you. Do it at night, the scent will fade (trust me). This will send acne and over-oiliness on a hike and really get your skin clean. There are also rumors that it will fade scars, and this I know to be true with lemon juice but am unsure about vinegar.

The measurements I’ve provided are just approximant, play around with it to see what’s best for you. Oilier skin – more vinegar. Normal to dry – less. I only recommend lemon juice for fair skinned people as it does lighten skin – I’ve had it fade a couple scars quite well. So darker skin tones: unless you'd like to attempt to lighten your overall skin tone, stick with vinegar.

Homemade Toner

1-3 teaspoons apple cider vinegar, coconut water vinegar or lemon juice

1/4 cup water

Mix together and store in a glass container.