Cosmetics - Toners and Cleansers

Skin toners are the next step after a facial cleansing routine. Skin toners ensure complete removal from the skin of all cleansing preparations. They freshen and tone up the skin and prepare a clean surface for the application of make-up. They also restore the acid or alkali balance of the skin, because they are pH balanced. They are designed to penetrate pores, refresh and cool your skin while clearing away excess oil, impurities and dead skin cells that were not removed with your cleanser.

Skin Medica : Skin Medica is one of the best options for treating acne, and is one of the most highly recommended acne kits in dermatology circles.  A Skin Medica kit comes with a foaming cleanser, a toner, and a repairing lotion, each of which are formulated specifically for testy, sensitive skin.  It does not have quite the amount of benzoyl peroxide concentration other cleansers have, which makes it less harsh on skin.

Gel for Oily: Choose a cleanser which may absorb this sticky stuff on your face to make it a bit drier. As a result you will not see the dust making layers on your face. Use gel-cleansers.

Cream for Drier: For the drier type, creamy cleansers carrying a certain proportion of minerals and moisturizing elements should be applied. The shopkeeper can help you buy the best product.

The common herbs used in toners include witch hazel, geranium, honey, lemon, ivy, sage, nettle and burdock. Witch hazel has a tendency to dry the skin. It is ideal to combine it with moisturizers such as Vitamin E, honey, etc. Rosewater helps keep skin and face moisturized, fresh and balances the pH levels.

Cleaning too often and with products that are too harsh will strip those natural oils and cause dryness and even wrinkles.  Using products that are harsh and using them too often also means irritating your skin.

Skin tonics are slightly stronger and contain a small quantity of alcohol (up to 20%), water and a moistening ingredient. Orange flower water is an example of a skin tonic. Skin tonics are suitable for use on normal, combination, and oily skin. Astringents are the strongest form of toner and contain a high balance of alcohol (20-60%), antiseptic ingredients, water, and a humectant ingredient. These are commonly recommended for oily skins as they are drying, but note that the removal of oil from the skin can lead to superfluous oil production as the skin tries to compensate for this and prevent moisture loss.

A truly effective astringent skin toner should improve the circulation to skin tissues and cause them to tighten, control surface oil and lower the skin's pH after cleansing. The toner also prepares your skin by removing all traces of leftover makeup and opening the pores prior to applying moisturizer. You can determine what type of astringent to choose based upon your skin type and needs.

Antibacterials like Benzoyl peroxide, Triclosan and Chlorhexidine gluconate which work by killing the bacteria present in acne. Benzoyl peroxide is the most popular acne cleanser ingredient. Moisturizers are used with benzoyl peroxide to prevent drying of skin.

Skin exfoliants like Salicylic acid , Glycolic acid and other mild acids which act by peeling skin on a micro level to open the pores. Skin exfoliants prevent build up of dead skin on the skin which combines with skin oil to block the pores. Skin exfoliants also clear the follicle ducts in already blocked up pores.