Toner: Is it Necessary?

This question is asked often by my clients: Is toner really necessary?

The answer is this: Yes!

Toner plays a very important role in the cleansing process. 

Do you have pesky blackheads that never seem to go away? Toner may be the answer.

The 3 functions of Toner:

1. Finish the cleansing process- This will ensure that leftover cleanser has been removed, in addition to any remaining makeup, dirt, or oil.

2. Exfoliate the pore- This helps keep the pores clean and free of dead skin cell build-up.

3. Resets your skin's pH- This is possibly the most important role that a toner plays. Your skin has an acidic pH of about 5.5, which contributes to your skin's defense to foreign invaders. Cleansers are alkaline in nature, meaning they have a pH much higher than your skin. This is necessary, as it serves to clean debris. However, when you wash your face with something alkaline, your skin is now fighting to achieve its normal acidic pH in order to function properly. What does this mean? It means that when you use a toner after cleansing, your skin will achieve its normal pH much faster and any skin care products that you apply after will be able to function as they are intended. 

Bottom Line: Toner makes your skin able to accept serums, moisturizers, etc. easier. Therefore, they can work better.