You know you're supposed to wash your face at night.
Whether you're removing mascara, sweat from the gym or those ugly forehead-makeup crease lines you get from frowning at your boss, that crap needs to go so your skin can breathe while you sleep. Leaving it on can lead to acne, wrinkles and rashes. And while late nights out, too many margaritas or a new bedmate can get in the way of taking off your Kardashian-worthy war paint, even slapping a little soap on your face doesn’t always do the trick when it comes to dislodging the detritus on your face.
Double Duty
Ever wonder why your towels still have beige makeup streaks on them even after you’ve cleansed your face? It’s because you didn’t actually remove every little particle that’s lodged in your pores, honey. Cleansers are designed to cleanse your skin, not dissolve makeup; asking them to do both means something’s gotta give. So all that extra makeup that didn’t go down the drain or onto your towel is still on your face, setting up base camp in your pores overnight. Not pretty.
That’s where toners come in. The overlooked, ignored wallflower of skin care, toners are actually an essential step in removing impurities. And in addition to cleansing your mug, good ones also balance and hydrate skin, prepping it to be moisturized and made up.
Tone It, Don't Terrorize It
For many of us, toners are negatively associated with astringents, like that classic neon blue-colored concoction we furiously scrubbed on our pizza faces in middle school. Most astringents are actually incredibly harsh solvents that strip skin of everything it needs to create barriers to protect itself. The alcohol that it and other toners use to remove makeup, dirt and excess oil actually goes overboard and dries you out, meaning that your skin will produce more oil to compensate, setting up a vicious cycle.
What's In That Bottle?
Conventional toners also may contain 1,4-dioxane, a stabilizer that penetrates the skin easily. Considered a probable carcinogen, it’s also a kidney, respiratory and neuro-toxin. Other nasty chemicals in conventional toners may include butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), another possible carcinogen, known immunotoxin and endocrine disruptor that screws up aquatic ecosystems; glycolic acid, which may be a reproductive disruptor and organ toxin; lactic acid, a suspected neurotoxin and organ system toxin; and salicylic acid, a possible immune system toxin and hormone disruptor.
Good toners use gentle, natural ingredients to clarify skin and help to restore firmness. They detoxify skin by removing industrial-made chemicals your face picks up from the environment, such as smog, smoke and other chemical residues. Good ones also tighten pores, restricting access for dirt, oil and other toxins, and remove oily buildup, dead skin cells and other natural residue. They hydrate, nourish and help to restore your skin’s pH balance and natural acid mantle (its protective layer), helping to reduce acne, wrinkles, irritation and aging. Yay!
Try these natural versions:
Weleda Refining Toner. Uses iris root and organic wild rose leaf extracts to regulate moisture balance on the surface of skin, as well as witch hazel and organic lemon juice to refine pores. $17 for 3.4 oz. at www.weleda.com
Acure Facial Toner. Certified organic and fair trade. Vegan, cruelty-free and free of sulfate, parabens, gluten, PED, petroleum, phthalate and silicone. Balancing and hydrating versions available. $16 for 2 oz. at www.acureorganics.com
Welstar Simply Rose Toning Fluid. Vegan, cruelty-free and organic, this simple blend made in small batches consists of distilled rose water, witch hazel, Turkish rose oil and "love." Other toners available; they also make custom blends. $16 for 4 oz. at www.welstarorganics.com Use code bewell10 at checkout for 10% off ALL Welstar products for HBD readers.
Pangea Organics Facial Toner. Herbal extracts refresh and nurture skin while eliminating environmental toxins. Also makes a great body spray. Certified organic, handcrafted and cruelty-free. Different formulas available. $12-$26 at www.pangeaorganics.com
Anatomy Naturals Botanical Facial Toner. Gentle, alcohol-free formula tightens pores and gently purifies skin with aloe, green tea, witch hazel and essentials waters of chamomile, sweet orange and lemongrass. Vegan and cruelty-free. $28 at www.anatomynaturals.com
The Verdict
Pros: Clarifying and balancing without stripping skin. Hydrating instead of drying.
Cons: An extra step in between washing and moisturizing.
Want to know the deets on what else to buy? Click here to browse through our "What the Hell Do I Buy" category on the website!
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Liz Farrington, Features Writer
A vegetarian who wishes she could stay vegan, Liz is a media professional and former editor at several fitness and lifestyle publications throughout Southern California. Now principal in Farrington Communications, she does sales, marketing, writing and editing for a range of clients. When she’s not shopping for leather-free handbags or deciding which companies to boycott, the Austin resident enjoys following liberal politics, detoxing at the co-op, scoping farmers’ markets and volunteering for animal rescue.
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