Toner. What is it for?

[AtSea1979]

Impulse buy today. Desperately trying improve my skin. Use make up remover, serum, moisturiser, pore filler, then foundation so what is toner for?

[ChickadeeChick]

Closing the pores. To be used after cleansing and before serum and moisturiser

[ThenLaterWhenItGotDark]

Depends if it's traditional toner or an acid toner or a hydrating one.

[burnishedsilver]

These days they're mostly for exfoliating. Do a bit if research on acid toners to see what would suit you.

[squoosh]

What toner did you buy?

[AtSea1979]

Simple 'soothing' one. My skin has become very sensitive.

[CointreauVersial]

I've no idea, and I've made it to 48 without needing to know.

[Housewife2010]

Pores aren't doors. You can't close them.

[SquadGoals]

The good ones are for exfoliating and hydrating. One for each.

Thank God you said it, Housewife.

[specialsubject]

I also thought toner was just a thing to get people to waste money on. Love 'poors aren't doors'.

if you are buying exfoliator, make sure it doesn't have plastic beads in.

[Floisme]

If your skin is very sensitive I wouldn't touch it.

[ThenLaterWhenItGotDark]

The new "acid" ones are fine.

Be careful with Simple, they market as being kind/free of this/free of that, but like Clinique, oddly their products can be quite harsh.

I never bothered with ordinary toner (a splash of cold water does the same) but the acid ones are fantastic. Biggest difference ever made to my skin, and the first one I used was a cheap as chips Olay one for about £3.

The "exfoliator" bit of the toner is the acid (salicylic or glycolic) hence no more need for that horrific scrubby stuff we used to rip our skins off with in the 80s.

I remember even further back than Aapri etc, when my Mum had a bottle of something she called "astringent" in the bathroom cabinet.

[AtSea1979]

Ah I bought a Simple face scrub too. How do I know which toners have acid in? I don't think this one did. I used it this morning and my face was bright red and sore for about 15 mins.

[specialsubject]

Aapri was allegedly using apricot bits which at least decompose.

Here's the good scrub guide for exfoliators that won't stuff up the fish, there's product lists for UK and Australia. You will note that the 'Simple' product is not included. That's because it contains polyethylene beads. Beauty babble at its finest.

www.fauna-flora.org/initiatives/the-good-scrub-guide/

[AtSea1979]

Yikes, Clarins isn't on either, my usual brand.

[ThenLaterWhenItGotDark]

Acid toners won't be called Acid toners, they'll have salicylic (for greasier skin) or glycolic acid (for ageing skin) in the ingredients. Really low % and just help resurface and add a bit of glow.

[Floisme]

But it's not making the op's skin glow, it's making it red and sore. I would chuck it out.

[Wolpertinger]

Personally I think toner is a waste of time unless you want to acid tone. Traditional toners are high in alcohol which makes your skin feel 'tight' temporarily allowing them to sell us a load of bullshit about tightening pores when actually they do nothing of the sort. They are often full of other irritant ingredients like witch hazel which again don't do mch except sensitize some people's skin.

A quick look at the Simple Soothing toner suggests it's a poor option for sensitive skin - witch hazel, alcohol and a long winded chemical which releases formaldehyde No idea what's supposed to be toning about that or soothing. I'd chuck it.

www.paulaschoice.com/beautypedia-skin-care-reviews/by-brand/simple/Kind-to-Skin/_/Kind-to-Skin-Soothing-Facial-Toner

Face scrub sadly not a great idea either - scrubby particles don't really exfoliate your skin properly. They either do nothing or damage it. And the ones with microbeads in kill fish in the oceans. You need a boring bland cleanser that doesn't foam, doesn't scrub and just basically does it's job without pissing off your skin. Something like Cetaphil or Avene Extremely Gentle.

Finally what 'improvements' are you trying to make to your skin? Advice would vary considerably depending on what your issues are.

[HopefulAnxiety]

What Wolpertinger said. Adding some cleanser recommendations - Botanics Soothing or Organic cream cleansers are great and last ages. I personally like the Organic one best, plus it is rose-based so smells beautiful. Wilko's sensitive cream cleanser is also surprisingly good - just a basic one that gets the job done.

[burnishedsilver]

I just read the blurb about the simple toner. It serves no real purpose. Bin it.

The type of scrub that you have bought has been replaced by acid toners so they exfoliate without any 'bits' or any scrubbing. While the word acid makes it sound harsh they are much gentler than gritty scrubs. Ive been using nip+fab glycolic fix pads and find them very good.

[Leelu6]

If you use a non-rinse cleaner to remove make-up, the toner is good for removing residual cleanser, so you can moisturise a clean face.

I use La Roche-Posay cleanser and toner, it's very gentle (I have extremely sensitive, red skin).

[ThenLaterWhenItGotDark]

Dd uses LRP physiological, but it's been discontinued...I've got her some Cetaphil (on the recommendations of MN gurus!) I'm using the Body Shop Chamomile butter which is lovely, such a nice texture.

I agree re the Nip and Fab glycolic pads. That's what I have at the moment.

I remember reading, as I said upthread, that Simple products really are anything but. They're not perfumed, well hoopla, but they're still full of really harsh ingredients. Clinique is the same. A Clinique consultant actually once told me that it was originally aimed to be for people with cash to splash and problem skin.

[BlueBrightFuture]

I use rosewater instead. don't think it really does anything but it smells nice, so more for "me" than my skin...

[Leelu6]

Yeah, ThenLater, Simple eye make-up remover hurts my eyes!

[LemonRedwood]

Toner is generally for removing the remnants of the cleanser. Best tip I ever read in a teen magazine and have carried with me all my life - "Remember, you can use water as a toner!"
Doesn't stop me buying lovely-smelling Decleor toner though

[Nabootique]

Non-acid toners ideally should not contain alcohol as they should be helping hydrate your skin and alcohol can dry you out, and should contain a humectant, glycerin or hyaluronic acid, which will help the skin draw in moisture from the toner and subsequent products applied. Lots of things marketed as toners will be like the Simple one and are a waste of time, but in theory anything with water and glycerin, without alcohol can add some extra moisture. Boots do one for about £2, I think.