I never use commercial toners, never felt it was needed. In my opinion toners are just an invention from cosmetic giants to make us consume more.
Your skin pH is a result of the skin’s acid mantle, a mixture of sebum (skin oils) and sweat that form on the surface of your skin. This acid mantle keeps the pH of your skin at about 4 to 4.5 (Remember, low pH like 1 to 5 is acidic, high pH 8 or above is basic, and the middle, around 7, is neutral.) This slightly acidic pH is a good thing on your skin because it helps ward off harmful bacteria.
When you wash your skin, you strip away this acid mantle. I never use any soap, neither wash nor toner on my face and do not recommend you to use any.
Of course when you are use to wash your face with soap, the switch from washing your face to just rinsing with warm water will be troublesome for most (it was for me when I made the switch 5 years ago) but you will be glad you did.
Washing your face with an alcohol base toner or soap remove the sebum that is suppose to protect your skin and you end up with oily skin as your skin is trying to create more sebum to create that natural barrier. In the end you end up with an imbalanced and too oily skin which can create pimples and black heads.
To help you make the switch you can you natural alternative such as aloe vera juice, rose, neroli and lavender flower water. They are very gently cleansing and hydrating without removing too much of the natural sebum. You can use them every day but also try to just rinse your face with warm (not hot) water. You can also use the floral water to remove make up.
Aloe vera gentle and soothing cleanser
Aloe Vera is anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and helps heal wounds of all kinds.
Suitable for all skin type.
Ingredients
1 cup of Aloe vera juice
1 capsule of vitamin e
5 drops of lavender essential oil or Chamomile essential oils (optional)
Direction:
Combine all ingredients in a dark colored glass. Keep in the fridge.
This can also be use on the body as an after sun soother.
Rose and Neroli cleansing water
Suitable for sensitive skin. Orange Blossom (Neroli) Oil is used in skin care preparations to stimulate cell regeneration. It has antibiotic, antiseptic, calming and tonic properties. Rose water is balancing. Use it only at night at neroli can be photosensitive.
1/2 cup of rose water
1/2 cup of neroli water (orange Blossom)
5 drops of rose essential oil
Combine all ingredients in a dark colored glass bottle. This liquid does not require refrigeration.
Apply with a cotton pad and let dry naturally.
