WHY TONER IS IMPORTANT




When I was growing up I used to think that toner was a sales gimmick to force me to buy yet another beauty product. When I became an esthetician  I learned our skin had a protective layer called the acid mantle. This acid mantle is comprised of lipids (good oils) that are meant to protect our skin from bacteria, viruses and other invaders. When we use soap on our face to cleanse the skin it strips this oil (that we need) by raising the pH (lowering the acidity) of our skin. This is how the oils are dissolved. When you raise the pH the skin needs to be brought back to its acidic ways otherwise the oil that was naturally protecting our skin is compromised. To make matters worse we then scrub our fragile skin causing an even greater compromise to the skin.

Bacteria can't live in an acidic environment. Toner acts as an acid/protector on a temporary basis until the skin can renew its acid mantle.

The truth is most toners are horrible for the skin because they have alcohol in them. God knows why the alcohol is in there. I grew up in the era of Sea Breeze. If you're face didn't sting or burn you weren't taking care of your skin correctly....or so we thought. Might I remind you it was also a time the ozone layer took a major hit from all of that Aquanet!

Even some of the kinder soaps on the market will make the skin a little too alkaline. What I tell my customers to use is witch hazel that is alcohol free as a toner to bring the skin back to its proper pH. Dickinsons has a great toner and I love their wipes for on-the-go skin refreshment in the summer!