Face toners: what is it and how to choose?

Manufacturers of makeup products produce toners for the face in a wide range. They need to be selected in accordance with their skin type and the main effect of the components that make up the drug. In the cosmetic departments, you can often find cleansing, matting, refreshing and other toner options. Let us consider in more detail their purpose, features of each type and consumer reviews.

Facial tonic - a cosmetic preparation of liquid consistency, which helps to cleanse, moisturize and regenerate the skin. It perfectly tones and refreshes the epidermis.. Its use prepares the face for the subsequent application of makeup cosmetics.

Tonic is not the main tool in face care, so some women ignore its use. But nevertheless it is necessary to include toning in daily procedures, since it has a beneficial effect on the skin.

Constant use of the tonic helps to normalize the level of acid-base balance of the skin, increase its firmness and elasticity, and start the process of cell renewal.

In addition, toning helps:

• refresh and tone the face;
• prepare the skin for applying other cosmetic preparations;
• narrow the pores;
• visually reduce facial wrinkles;
• cleanse the face of dirt and sebum;
• remove the remnants of makeup;
• eliminate the feeling of tightness after washing.

The process of applying cosmetics should always start with wiping your face with a tonic, since it not only perfectly refreshes the face after waking up, but also performs the function of an antiseptic, prevents clogging of pores when applying foundation and powder.

In evening care, toning is included after removal of decorative cosmetics from the skin and washing. The tonic helps to remove makeup residues and serves as the basis for applying night cream.

Any quality tonic is 90-95% composed of distilled water, and the remaining 5-10% include natural plant extracts, vitamins, polyminerals, medicinal components and natural preservatives.

The composition of the ingredients depends on what functions, in addition to cleansing, the tool can perform. Consider frequently occurring components included in the formulas of tonics.

• Allantoin. The hypoallergenic component, even the minimum dosage in cosmetic preparations (0.1-0.5%), helps to mitigate and relieve irritations and inflammations.
• Hyaluronic acid. It maintains the necessary moisture level and intensely moisturizes the skin. It has a rejuvenating effect.
• Glycerol. Protects the epidermis from inflammation and replenishes the missing moisture. Often used in tonics for dry and sensitive skin.
• Kaolin. Powdered white natural clay is an excellent cleansing component. It removes toxins and nourishes the skin with oxygen.
• Lemon extract. Tightens pores, brightens pigmentation, improves complexion and smoothes fine wrinkles.
• Snail mucin. A popular component of recent years. It is obtained from snail mucus filtrate. Mucin is enriched with collagen, glycolic acid, vitamins A, B and E. It has an excellent moisturizing and healing effect, does not cause allergies and therefore its addition to tonics for any skin type is acceptable. Helps soften and velvety skin.
• Chamomile extract. It is obtained from the flowers of a pharmaceutical chamomile, which perfectly soothes the skin and removes traces of fatigue.
• Cucumber Extract. It has a whitening effect. Gives a feeling of freshness and moisturizes the skin well.
• Salicylic acid. It has antibacterial and exfoliating effects. Helps to remove the stratum corneum of the epidermis, normalizes the sebaceous glands. Included in tonics for problem and combination skin.
• Alcohol. May be present in a small ratio. Provides antibacterial effect, dries out the skin and eliminates greasy shine. Alcohol tonics are most effective for oily skin.
• Thermal water. Saturates the dermis with useful minerals and improves its water balance. Protects from free radicals.
• Zinc. An important self-regulating component. It has a drying effect. Eliminates inflammation and redness, promotes the healing of damaged skin. The main component of funds for oily and problem skin.
• Calendula extract. Natural ingredient with excellent soothing and bactericidal action.
• Rose extract. Provides a moisturizing and anti-aging effect. Tightens pores and softens skin.

Micellar water deserves special attention. Many confuse it with tonic, but this is not the same thing. Micellar water is designed to cleanse the skin from makeup and it must be washed off with water. After it, you can wipe your face with a tonic.

The tonic is an excellent tool for awakening and toning the skin in the morning and is the final stage of cleansing the skin of the face before going to bed at night. In order to completely wash off cosmetics, washing is not always enough, even with the use of appropriate foams or gels. Wipe the face with tonic at the last moment of cleansing. It penetrates deep into the skin and completely eliminates the remnants of cosmetics, grease and impurities.

The benefit of a tonic is that it:

• softens and moisturizes the skin;
• reduces the level of adverse effects of hard water after washing;
• promotes the elimination of toxins;
• possesses antibacterial properties;
• improves the appearance of the epidermis;
• prepares the skin for a better perception of moisturizer;
• maintains the necessary level of acid-base balance.

Applying a tonic according to skin type does no harm. With special care, you need to choose drugs for problem and oily skin. You can not abuse the tonic, which contains alcohol, for problem skin. It should be used only in those areas where the inflammatory process has arisen. Preference should be given to a remedy with salicylic acid. - it will remove fat from the skin without destroying its structure, and will not lead to unpleasant peeling.

With frequent attempts to remove fat from the dermis, a protective function is activated, which will try to return it to its previous level, and the greasy sheen will look even more noticeable.

Tonics differ not only in the composition of the components, but also in the main purpose. They are divided into several types.

• Tonic lotion. Designed to remove contaminants and disinfect facial skin. Suitable for oily and problematic skin, has antibacterial and sebum-regulating properties.

• Cleansing tonic. Used to remove makeup. It has a soft composition, gently removes cosmetics from all parts of the face, including from the eyes and lips.

• Tonic spray. Allows you to care for skin at any time of the day. Ideal for hot summer days, as it can be applied over makeup. It has a tonic, cooling and refreshing effect.

• Toner. A new generation care product that has become widespread with the arrival of Korean cosmetics on the Russian market. The texture resembles a light gel-like or creamy emulsion, which when applied to the skin transforms into a tonic. It is applied after morning washing or evening removal of cosmetics. Provides perfect hydration and maintains epidermal moisture. This is a kind of tonic cream that restores the water balance of the skin after cleansing and enhances the effect of subsequent care products.

On the front side of the label, in addition to indicating the brand, manufacturers must indicate the main action of the tonic. Tonics come in many forms.

• Moisturizing. Soften the skin and maintain the necessary moisture level. Helps to eliminate the feeling of tightness.

• Exfoliating. They help accelerate the renewal of epidermal cells by exfoliating the stratum corneum. Stimulate the production of elastin and collagen, neutralize bacteria.

• Matting. Tighten pores, smooth the relief, normalize the sebaceous glands. Eliminate oily sheen and improve complexion.

• Anti age. Necessary in the care of mature skin. Restore water-lipid balance, enriched with collagen, vitamins and various acids. They have a rejuvenating effect.

• Flower water. It is obtained after distillation of flowers in the production of essential oil. Tonics based on flower water have a natural aroma, have an antiseptic and regenerative effect.

All trademarks specializing in the creation of makeup products produce tonics. Consider the most famous manufacturers, tonic which are of high quality and reasonable price.

• Garnier. It produces tonics for different skin types, the effect of which is directly aimed at solving certain problems - getting rid of dryness, intensive moisturizing, narrowing pores, eliminating black spots, etc.Most species have a water base, perfectly cleanse, tone and refresh.

• Natura Siberica. Tonics contain only natural ingredients and vitamin complexes.

• Belita Vitex ("Belita-Vitex"). Belarusian brand that produces a wide range of tonic products for the skin. The products have an improved composition, which includes the active ingredients (retinol, proteins, collagen, hyaluronic acid), plant extracts, natural oils. Well moisturize and rejuvenate the skin.

• Novosvit. Tonics of the domestic producer LLC “Folk crafts” differ in budget price and good quality, meet all the requirements of GOST. The new products - toners that meet different needs, have proven themselves excellently. They are equipped with convenient dispensers and there is no need to use cotton pads during use. Any toner has a pleasant texture and when applied to the skin is transformed into a tonic.

• Bioderma. French-made medical cosmetics are sold only through pharmacy chains. Developed 9 lines aimed at solving dermatological problems. In each of them there are tonic agents. Tonic Series Sensibio owners of a sensitive type of dermis, tonic lotion of a series will appreciate Sebium help to cope with the imperfections of oily and problem skin.

• Clarins. French brand producing professional cosmetics. Tonics (like all brand products) are aimed at eliminating specific skin problems. Soften and moisturize the epidermis without disturbing the natural pH level. Price and quality are comparable with the result.

The range of tonic products on store shelves is very wide and sometimes it is difficult to make a choice in favor of a particular brand. For girls and women who have some skin problems and are especially careful about the purchase of care products, tonics from professional cosmetics can be recommended.

For dry and sensitive skin:

• emollient tonic Lotion Douce Tonifiante (Clarins, France);
• Ultra Hydrating Lotion (Ultraceuticals, Australia);
• Gentle Rejuvenation soothing lotion (Obagi, USA).

Funds quickly relieve irritation, have a regenerative effect and perfectly moisturize the skin.

For problem and oily skin:

• tonic Comodex (Christina, Israel);
• CLENZIderm tonic lotion (Obagi, USA);
• Armony Tonic balancing tonic (Levissime, Spain).

You can purchase these tonics in cosmetic centers or on specialized sites. The price for them is quite high, but the effectiveness has been proven by numerous studies. Good results can be achieved with the use of pharmacy series of French brands. They have an antibacterial effect, narrow pores, exfoliate keratinized cells:

• purifying toners of the Normaderm (Vichy) line;
• Effaclar tonic (La Roche-Posay);
• micellar tonic Sebium (Bioderma).

They give freshness and delicately care for dry and irritated skin:

• tonic “Moisturizing” Ecolab (Russia);
• tonic for dry and sensitive skin KORA (Russia);
• soft lotion based on thermal water Avene (France).

Special care requires problem teenage skin. Due to the hormonal changes that occur, she is prone to the appearance of blackheads and black spots. Thorough cleansing of the skin must be included in daily procedures.

Choosing tonics for teens, you can focus on:

• “Seracin” matting tonic Librederm - reduces excess sebum secretion, reduces pore size, maintains the necessary level of hydration;
• Joyskin cleansing tonic - has a bactericidal and anti-inflammatory effect;
• Clearasil Cleansing Lotion - contains salicylic acid and phytoextracts, which can reduce the number of foci of inflammation and enlarged pores.

Owners of oily skin should give preference to alcohol tonics, in addition to cleansing, and get a light drying effect. You can pay attention to tonics of professional series: Kosmoteros Professionnel (France), Geltek (Russia). Well established and inexpensive tonics of the Chistaya Liniya brands, Via Lata, Garnier.

Normal skin also needs hydration and supportiveness.

Tonic agents are applied to the cleansed face (after washing with foam, gel). You can apply them in two ways.

• Cotton pad. The most common method in home care. The disc is moistened with tonic and gently wipe the face with massage cosmetic lines.
• Hands. This method is recommended by cosmetologists, explaining that it is more effective. Cotton pads can lead to excessive rubbing and the formation of early facial wrinkles. The tonic is applied with the fingertips in the direction of the cosmetic lines of the face. The skin is slightly patted, thereby accelerating the penetration of the product and activating its action.

Spray tonic in the form of a spray on the face, evenly pressing the dispenser. It is best used in the summer, during a long stay in the open air. It is convenient on trips.

There are different reviews about tonics - both positive and negative. Some girls consider the purchase of a tonic a waste of money, since with thorough washing, the skin becomes perfectly clean and ready to apply a moisturizer.

Beauticians advise to include toning in daily care. Especially problematic and sensitive skin needs it. In their opinion, the best for skin prone to the appearance of acne and blackheads are tonics of the brands Vichy, Bioderma, La Roche Posay. Buyers are also pleased with their results. After regular use of cleansing and matting types of toners, the skin takes on a healthier appearance, the pores are significantly narrowed and the number of rashes decreases.

Owners of sensitive skin also notice the effect of toning. They noted an improvement in complexion and the elimination of dryness when applying toners of the brands KORA, Garnier, Ecolab.

Anti-aging tonics for mature skin have their own advantages. They add the necessary hydration and activate the action of creams. There are many positive reviews about the Snail Repair series Novosvit toner, which contains snail mucin.

The inclusion of tonic in the arsenal of daily care products is voluntary. The choice in his favor is made by girls and women who care about the health and beauty of the face, who do not spare reasonable expenses and time to care for their appearance.

Find out how to make natural tonics with your own hands for different skin types in the next video.