Proven: The Most Effective Way to Get Clear Skin

At the age of 14, my skin was unfortunately barraged by one breakout after the other of acne that left me scarred for life, both literally and figuratively. The fact that I have very oily skin did not help my case. All through my teens and twenties, I tried all types of creams, oils, masks, and poultices to clear my skin but nothing ever worked. Eventually, I simply learned to live with my oily, blemished, and acned scarred skin.

Two years ago I saw a dermatologist who recommended that I try toner as a way to clear up my skin and manage its oiliness. I almost laughed because for years I had ignored toner in beauty store aisles and dismissed it as a gimmick to get people to spend more money. I even recalled the numerous times I had slathered a cotton ball soaked with toner all over my zit-flecked face as a teen whilst dreading every second of its stinging. I ignored the dermatologists recommendation until 4 months later I had a bad acne breakout and I was done. Being in my thirties acne was not tolerable anymore so I decided I would give toner a chance – it wasn’t as if I had anything to lose.

Long story short, I did a little research and bought a toner I figured would be the best fit for my skin and it worked like a charm. Within a few months of using the toner my face started looking and feeling like a baby’s bottom and it still does. So when I started making my own beauty products I made it a point to include toner.

So, what is toner?

To put it simply, toner looks like water and acts like water. But I swear it’s not water. It’s packed with so much more than hydrogen and oxygen. Depending on the toner, it also can contain acids, glycerin, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatories.

If you want to talk about science, a toner is a fast-penetrating liquid that delivers skin a quick hit of hydration and helps remove some dead cells off the surface of the skin and unclogs pores by removing oil and traces of dirt and grime. The result: plump, glowy skin. Toner is like a primer for the rest of your skin-care routine like serums and moisturizer.

In the past, toner was deemed unnecessary, too astringent, and incredibly drying, all of which are definitely not conducive to a radiant and healthy complexion. These days, toners do just the opposite. They used to contain high concentrations of alcohol to help remove oil from the skin but the newest generation of toners, however, have more than astringent properties, and many of them are alcohol-free. Currently, there are toners on the market to address almost every skin concern and are no longer limited to treating acne and oily skin.

 To reap maximum benefits, go for low-pH, alcohol-free toners. Also, make sure to choose the right toner for your skin type. Again, always look at skin toners as the “priming” step in your skincare regimen — they boost the overall effectiveness of your other beauty products so that you get clear, healthy skin. This alone explains why toning is the skincare step you should not miss out on. 

If you’re looking to incorporate this beauty secret into your skin care routine, we have the right one for you.

In a nutshell, toners tend to wear many caps. Depending on the ingredients, a skin toner can cleanse, adjust pH, hydrate, and even exfoliate.