Face Toners Making Their Position

Many dermatologists have taken the position that face toners are not necessary, except perhaps for oily skin. In this case they usually recommend toners that contain alcohol.

But if you talk with most aestheticians, they will tell you that toners are an essential part of any skin care routine. So, confused that where does the truth lie? Perhaps the solution to your confusion is here.The fact is that toners are an all-important part of a skin-care regimen. They cleanse the surface of your face of residual dirt, oils and dead cells, tighten pores and restore the skin's natural pH level. Normally the second step in daily care, toner is applied after the face has been washed and before it's moisturized. Toning ensures meticulously clean skin that's more efficient at absorbing and retaining moisture, resulting in a bright, glowing and healthier complexion.

The most important job of a toner is to restore your skin's natural pH balance. A pH scale is measured from 1 to 14 where 7 are neutral, 1 - 6.9 is acidic and 7.1 - 14 is alkaline. The optimum pH level for your skin is 5.5. So you want to aim for a pH of between 4.5 - 6.0 to achieve a healthy skin mantle to resist and fight bacteria. This is where the toner comes in. Most cleansers have a higher pH value between 6.5 and 8.0, and while it can cut through the oil on the skin, this can also rob the skin of moisture. After cleansing, your skin's pH balance normally becomes too high and your skin has to work vigorously to restore the balance back. By using the right toner, your skin's pH level is immediately restored to its optimum range providing the perfect condition to apply your moisturizer.

A well formulated toner should always have a slightly acidic pH. This is close to your skin's pH when it is balanced and healthy. A toner can help restore your skin's pH after cleansing. PH can also be negatively affected by a poor diet, stress and environmental factors. A gentle toner can remove any minute traces of makeup which may have been left behind. If you sometimes find a tiny bit of make-up left on your cotton pad, it does not necessarily mean your cleanser is ineffective. While very strong alkaline cleansers may make your face feel squeaky clean, they will also dry it and strip your skin's acid mantle. Adding antioxidants with anti-aging ingredients such as reservation, green tea, and spiraling may help keep skin looking younger. Additional ingredients which may help brighten skin such as bilberry and Vitamin B3, can be very helpful as well.