What's the deal with toner? Do you need to use one as part of your daily regimen?

The simple answer is no. I recall years ago interviewing the head of research and development of a major (and I mean MAJOR) beauty company who said that toner was totally unnecessary.

I was stumped ‘cos this company marketed a number of brands that included toner as part of their line-up. I was intrigued and so I researched, researched, researched and……my overall conclusion, the only thing that NEEDS toner is a printer or copy machine!

A good cleanser should work to remove makeup, dirt, impurities and bacteria. So, if your cleanser has done all that – what’s your toner meant to do?

Toners are also called astringents or clarifying lotions. These are claimed to tighten skin pores, reduce the size of enlarged pores, and 'balance' the production of oil in the skin.

Most of these products contain alcohol or natural 'astringents' that can actually be quite harsh on the skin. The alcohol can make the skin feel 'refreshed' or tight and clean (just like men's aftershave lotions, which are also alcohol-based), but they do this by removing the oils from the skin, not by changing the size of the skin's pores.

People with dry skin actually need the skin's natural oils and can damage their skin by using toners or astringents. People with oily skin simply make their problem worse with these types of products by signaling the body to over-compensate and produce more oil.

Ditch the toner and save yourself some cash and time. Invest instead in a really good 3 step system of cleanse, exfoliate, moisture. We love Bellaboo’s 3 Step System which works for all skin types to balance and make it beauty-liscious!