Finding An Effective Acne Toner
The use of an acne toner is definately a personal choice. Some swear by using a toner, while others disagree saying it further irritates skin and makes acne worse.
It really all depends on which skin type you have and the severity of your acne. If you suffer from acne and battle dry skin at the same time, a toner may not be a good idea for you. By further stripping your skin of oil you can start a viscious cycle that will only make your acne worse.
If on the other hand you have oily skin this could be the answer to your prayers. A gentle acne toner can balance out your skin, even your skin tone and help heal and prevent more acne from appearing.
What exactly is a toner and what does it do for your skin?
An acne toner commonly will have tea tree oil, witch hazel or another ingredient that balance your skin's natural oils and ph balance and can help even out skin tone.
A toner is applied after you cleanse your skin and before you apply moisturizer. Using a cotton ball it is wiped over the face removing any left over makeup residue, excess oil and dirt left behind from your cleanser.
Still don't know whether to try an acne toner or not?
If you still are not certain if a toner is good choice for you or not, try the following. Purchase or make a gentle toner (small bottle of course in case you can't use it) but do not apply to entire face. Choose a small area on your face that has acne and apply toner only to that spot. If no irritation occurs right away do the same for the next couple of days. (still only one small area on your face) After a few days you will know for sure whether you can use a toner or not. This is actually a good idea to do with any new skin products you use.
Another option is to use a toner only on the problemed areas of your face ensuring you do not needlessly dry your skin. A small cotton ball or cotton swab works great.
How to choose an acne toner
If you decide to give an acne toner a shot the first thing to do is find which natural ingredients are best suited for acne prone skin and which are not. If you are going to make your own, you obviously will know exactly what is in your toner, but for those of you purchasing a toner, it is very, very important that you read the ingredients label carefully.
A rule of thumb is usually the shorter the ingredient list the better. You want gentle, cleansing natural ingredients that will not dry or irritate your skin. Look for the following ingredients when choosing your toner.
Natural ingredients to look for in your toner
- Apple cider Vinegar This is a very economical and easily accessible natural ingredient that is very helpful in treating acne. It kills bacteria, removes excess oil and balances skin. Many people report that drinking 1-2 Tablespoons of apple cider vinegar a day provides amazing results as well. The only draw back of this natural toner is the smell. The smell can get pretty sickening, pretty fast, at least that is what I found. If you have no objection to the smell you can simply mix 1 part vinegar to 4 parts water and your good to go!
- Chamomile Oil This essential oil has antiseptic, antibacterial and anti inflammatory properties. It can relieve dry itchy skin and calms and soothes acne.
- Geranium Oil A gentle oil that has antibacterial and anti inflammatory properties
- Lavender Oil Lavender balances oil production and can help clear acne and improve skin tone. It has antiseptic and antifungal properties.
- Patchouli Oil Patchouli is a very effective anti inflammatory and can prevent or reduce breakouts.
- Sandalwood Oil Especially good for oily skin. It balances and soothes skin and can also be helpul in treating acne scars.
- Tea Tree Oil This essential oil is very well known for its treatment of acne. It has powerful antibacterial, antiseptic and healing properties makin it ideal to use in a toner.
- Witch Hazel Witch hazel has antibacterial and anti inflammatory properties and is very good at reducing swelling and redness.
Common ingredients found in toners that you should steer clear of.
There are many more synthetic ingredients found in facial toners but there really is no need to list them all. These are the ones that you will find closer to the top of the labels so you will know fairly quickly which products will be bad for your skin. Like I said earlier if the ingredients list is as long as your arm you pretty much know right away to put it down.
- Benzoyl Peroxide
- Salicylic Acis
- Benzoyl Alcohol
- Sopropyl Alcohol
- Parabens
- Sodium Laureth Sulfate
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
- 1,4 Dioxine
- Ethanolamine
- Formaldehyde
- Glycolic Acid
- Lactic Acid
- Synthetic Fragrances And Dyes
- Any kind of Alcohol
Follow these guidelines and be one step closer to having beautiful, naturally clear skin!
Return from Acne Toner to Acne Home Treatments
Privacy Policy
