When it comes to choosing skincare products such as toners, oh, how we wish that what works wonders for our friends might work the same for us, don’t we? Unfortunately, it just doesn’t work that way. The good news is, just by knowing your skin type, you’ll be able to pick out the most ideal toner that will help close off your pores and prep your skin for moisturising. Read on!
Know your skin type first!
There are seven skin types and each one has their own unique requirement when it comes to skincare, even when using a toner. You’d be surprised to find that there are still many among us who haven’t a clue what their skin type is. If you’re one of them, it will be a bane when trying to select the best toner for your skincare regime. So, first up, let’s figure that one out, shall we?
Dry Skin:
Does your complexion feel tight most of the time, or appear to be rough, flaking or peeling? If so, your skin type is probably ‘dry’. If your skin is too dry, it might also itch now and then.
The best toner for dry skin:
A toner that has hydrating and moisturising properties. It should also contain one or more of the following ingredients: peptides, glycerzin, glycolic acid, essential oils.
Try this: Versed Baby Cheeks Hydrating Milk Toner
With a milky texture that leaves your skin feeling velvety-soft (thanks to algae extract, bamboo extract, and coconut water), with no residue left over either.
Oily skin:
If your skin constantly feels oily and has a greasy film on it, you are definitely in the oily skin category. Chances are, you’ll also notice large, open pores and your skin appears to be shiny most of the time.
The best toner for oily skin:
Your choice of toner should include natural active ingredients that act as astringents, such as witch hazel and tea tree extracts. Bentonite clay as an ingredient may also help.
Worth checking out: Thayers Rose Petal Witch Hazel Facial Mist Toner
Contains organic witch hazel, a natural astringent, which is the star ingredient, apart from rose petal, coconut water, lavender, and cucumber, to tone and soothe oily skin.
Combination skin.
Check out your T-zone now (your forehead, nose, and chin). If it appears oily, and the rest of your face appears to be dry, then your skin type is ‘combination’, or what some may refer to as the worst of both worlds _ dry and oily!
The best toner for combination skin:
Other than using two different products (one for dry skin and the other for oily skin), you can also opt for a toner that has lactic acid, which is known to add moisture to the drier parts of your face without affecting the rest of your skin.
Editor’s pick: Paul Penders Chamomile & Moringa Skin Toner
Created using 22 organic herbs called LevenESSENTIE Gold®, it is formulated in such a way to benefit all skin types, hence combination skin will benefit immensely with regular use of this.
Normal skin.
When you have none of the above and you hardly have any issues with your complexion, then you are one of the lucky few who have normal skin, which perhaps, in a good way, isn’t so normal after all!
The best toner for normal skin:
It’s just a matter of upkeeping, really, hence you can use any toner you fancy. If you’re looking for an antioxidant-type product, then assure it has ingredients such Coenzyme Q10 in it. For faster skin renewal, try a toner with hyaluronic acid, which also helps to soften your skin!
Maintain your great skin with this: Clean & Clear Brightening Lemon Juice Facial Toner
Made with softening glycerin, skin-brightening lemon extracts, and vitamin C brighten and revitalise your complexion, keeping it soft and smooth.
Acne-prone skin.
Easily the most frustrating and heart-breaking skin type to have to contend with – breakouts of acne and pimples that pop out due to various reasons (certain foods, wrong products, etc).
The best toner for acne-prone skin:
Choose a toner with salicylic acid, for it works by removing dead skin cells gently. It also encourages new cell and collagen production and prompts skin healing.
Try this: Murad Clarifying Toner
Removes oil and impurities to instantly refresh skin. Contains witch hazel to help tighten the appearance of pores while cucumber extract helps soothe for a perfectly balanced complexion.
Sensitive skin.
Next to acne-prone skin, this skin type can also be quite disheartening as it gets agitated easily due to one’s diet, the wrong skin product, stress, etc, and flares up, resulting in red, itchy patches.
The best toner for sensitive skin:
It’s important that your toner should be alcohol-free, coloring-free and fragrance-free. Instead, ingredients with anti-inflammatory properties, such as aloe vera would be immensely helpful, together with antioxidants such as vitamins A and C.
We like: Dermalogica Multi-Active Toner
Made without parabens, artificial colorants or frangrance, it’s ultra-light and moisture binding. Contains balm mint, lavender and soothing arnica to soothe and hydrate sensitive skin.
Mature skin.
When fine lines and hyperpigmentation are visible, and your complexion seems to get drier by the day, what you probably have is mature skin.
The best toner for mature skin:
Try to get a toner with vitamin C, for it will help to neutralise free radicals and prevent future aging. Look out for a toner with soothing, hydrating properties as well.
Must try: First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Wild Oat Hydrating Toner
An alcohol-free, oatmeal-powered toner that hydrates, relieves and soothes skin while supporting overall skin health for a fresher-looking complexion.