CTM 101: Here’s Absolutely Everything You Need To Know About Toners

Toners, aaahh! If you’re in your late twenties like me, you’d probably associate a toner with a painful stinging sensation and mild to severe acne in your teens! Your dermatologist probably told you to put some watery looking stuff onto a cotton pad and give your face a rub down with it? Yep, that was a toner! Most of us associate a toner with something that burns, stings and dries your skin. But that was back in the past. Modern-day toners have close to no alcohol content in them and are loaded with antioxidants and skin-soothing ingredients. And everyone can and should use alcohol-free toners! It’s not only you acne riddled teens anymore.

So let’s get to the point, shall we? What is a toner?

A toner is a watery liquid that you use AFTER washing your face and BEFORE applying moisturiser. A toner is designed to balance your skin. It will cleanse any residual dirt trapped in your pores after cleansing and get rid of dead skin cells. With regular use, a toner helps your skin look brighter, smoother and healthier. While there are different types of skin toners for different problems, some of the issues a good toner can help correct are dull skin, acne, oily skin, redness and dry skin.

Why should you use a toner?

I have flawless skin, do I really need to use a toner? Probably not. But here are a few benefits of using a toner. The right toner provides your skin with essential ingredients that will help deep cleanse, hydrate and exfoliate your skin at a deeper level. Since the toner is quite watery, it penetrates through the deeper layers of your skin. The toner restores your skin’s PH balance and helps your skincare products get absorbed better. There are different kinds of toners on the market that are loaded with anti-ageing and antioxidants that help heal and cleanse your skin.

How to use a toner?

The best way to use it would be to dampen a cotton pad with a little bit of toner and wipe your face with it. You can also sprinkle some onto your hand and pat your face with it. I prefer the cotton pad method since it cleanses your skin better.

When should I use it?

You need to use a toner IMMEDIATELY after cleansing and washing your face. Depending on what kind of toner it is, you can use it twice a day – morning and night. If you have super sensitive skin, it would be best to use it once a day for a while and then gradually twice a day.