Hey hey! Tonight we are going to talk about toning the skin and why EVERYONE should be toning especially after cleansing. So let us take a look at toning ...but before we look at toning. I would like to formally introduce you to my first #BlyssomEsTEA which is essentially Blyssom Esty but like Est-TEA because I am spilling all the good skin care tea...literally.
Toning consists of taking a liquid based product that quickly dissolves and absorbs to remove excess dirt and elements such as oil, makeup, grime and etc. Yes way! It is faulty thinking you can just cleanse and go about your business. No! Toning also helps to balance and correct the skin's pH and close the pores. Now these two facts are especially important for proper skincare health.
Now a lot of experts will tell you toning is not necessary unless you have acne prone or oily skin. As a Licensed Esthetician, I do not agree. I actually stand on the side that ALL skin types benefit from utilizing toners. Why you ask? Well... Let's talk about the cleansing process. Not to go too much into detail but let us say you cleansed your skin or even double cleansed your skin. You take toner and apply it to a wet cotton pad or ball, preferably and you gently swipe it across your skin. To your surprise you see that the cotton ball/pad is in fact still dirty. How can that be? I mean you did just cleanse, you even double cleansed! Well cleansing just allows the skin to loosen dirt and impure particles, it helps break up dirt and grime and thus enlarging the pores. Now you can't really open or close your pores but you can clog them and unclog them. When your pores are clogged the pore is enlarged and stretched from being filled with congestion. When they are clean and clear, they keep their size and you lower the risk of stretch and premature aging.
So yes I think you would agree that no matter your skin type you want to remove excess dirt and grime and close the pore. You may think that closing the pore will be detrimental if you have dry skin or you are experiencing dehydration. No. You are toning in between cleansing and moisturizing. Toning is like the scale for the skin helping you keep that 5.5 or darn near close. Okay wait Shapel! You are doing and saying a lot. What is 5.5? What are you talking about?
Okay so to keep it simple. The pH of healthy skin is 5.5 on a scale from acidic to alkaline. Your skin is somewhat acidic in order to protect you from harmful irritants and pollutants in the environment. This is what we want and need to keep up! Over toning and using harsh skin care products can confuse the skin and cause it to be imbalanced. This may show up as acne, dehydration, uneven skin tones and other impurities.
So yes I want you to cleanse and then I want you to tone. Your skin wants you to tone. There are several different kinds of toners I have linked below to get you started:
Blyssombyshapel Facial Tea Mist ($15)
Or try some of these, I have used them all and have had great results. They are not harsh on the skin and really ensure a hydrating clean.
xoxo,
Blyssombyshapel
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