Cleanser-Toner Combo – Is it really necessary to use Toners or is Cleanser Enough?

Because of countless facial cleansing products that hit the market, toners have become a debatable category of skin care products. The misconception that comes along with these products has left women pondering over the necessity of including a toner as part of their skin care routine.

However, if you seek advice from a skin care specialist, you’ll realize how toners are an essential component of any skin care routine. And that brings us to the question – what is the difference between a toner and a cleanser?

Cleanser

Cleansers as the name suggest do just what it sounds like they do – cleanse or clean.  They are used to remove make-up, dead skin cells, oil, dirt, and other types of pollutants from the skin of the face. Nevertheless, just like any other skin care specialist would admonish – a good cleanser such as the Purifying AZA Cleanser not only cleanses and purifies your skin but ensures that it is not ‘stripped’ of its natural oil (sebum) – essential in the moisture level of your skin.

Toner

Generally, toners are designed to remove any traces of dirt, make-up, oils, bacteria, etc. remaining on your face after you’ve used a cleanser (or an anti – aging cream with a cleanser in it). Beyond that, toners can serve a variety of other purposes.

From restoring the protective acid mantle to balancing the pH of the skin, good toners such as Purifying Aza Toner is well-formulated to provide antibacterial and anti-inflammatory benefits for your skin.

So, is toning really necessary after cleansing?

Of course, yes! Currently, toning continues to be an essential part of an effective skincare regime to be used after cleansing.

An effective toner restores the skin’s pH balance after using a bar soap or a cleanser. It also revitalize and repair the skin’s surface – unclogging the pores and removing dead skin cells.

After cleansing, your skin needs a range of ingredients that will revitalize and repair its surface. Antioxidants and skin-repairing essences such as glycerin, fatty acids, and ceramides are all required for the task. Because the skin can never produce much of these vital ingredients on its own, the need for a toner that has the right dose of these ingredients to keep your skin look fresh, and smooth after cleansing and throughout the day is indispensable.

What you need to know before adding a toner to your regimen

While toners have been the subject of many discussions over who it’s actually for and what it does, it’s imperative to know why you need a toner as well as identify the one that will give you healthy looking skin.

A well-formulated toner with pore penetrating and anti-bacterial effects but does not remove moisture from your skin will definitely benefit all skin types especially oily and congested skin.

Active ingredients such as Salicylic acid, Azaleaic acid and Biosulphur regulates hyperactivity of the sebaceous glands while providing anti-acne benefits. These ingredients will help the skin to look healthy, fresh, and smooth after cleansing.

On the other hand, toners with natural plant extracts such as chamomile and calendula calms the skin’s redness and soothes sensitive skin. While toners with witch hazel (a herbal plant      ), lemon and sage oils are recommended for normal to dry skin as these are proven to effectively remove dirt, balance oil production and detoxify the skin without over drying the skin.

Conclusion

An effective toner is not just an additional step to your skin regime but it provides important skin care benefits such as balances the skin’s pH and further cleanses the pores from impurities. Using a toner is recommended for all skin types and knowing the right ingredients will help to determine its benefits to your skin.