Hopefully we’re all familiar with toners by now. They’re an essential post-cleansing step in your routine. They help to hydrate and rebalance your skin. They restore the skin to an ideal pH (around 5.5), and prepare your skin to receive the rest of your skincare products. If you want healthy skin, look no further than toner.
As with most products, there are lots of different toners that will accomplish different things based on your skin needs. Common toners are those which are deeply hydrating or cleansing. A less commonly known type is the acid toner. The name sounds harsh, but they work wonders on your skin. To find out more about toners and acid toners, continue reading!
What exactly are acid toners?
Acid toners are exactly how they sound—toners made with skin loving acids. They are formulated with chemical exfoliants to help smooth and clean your skin. These exfoliants go to work to clear your skin of dead skin cells and other debris to help keep your pores fresh.
All of these exfoliate but depending on the acid, the toner will do different things. For instance, if you use one with a PHA, it will be great for supplying a massive surge of hydration. If you use one with glycolic acid it will focus in on stimulating collagen production and resurfacing your skin.
Why you want them:
Using acid toners is one of the most effective ways to prepare your skin for the rest of your routine. They maintain all the same benefits of regular toners—adding hydration and balancing pH—but they also clarify your pores and sweep away debris that may be left after you cleanse. This will help clear your pores and leave your skin free of impurities, making it ready to receive the rest of your products.
On top of making your other products more effective, acid toners have many benefits of their own. They provide mild chemical exfoliation that fight fine lines, boosts collagen production, and leaves skin bright and smooth.
And for those of you with oily skin, using an acid toner will help keep your pores from becoming congested, and will regulate excess oil production. Our favorite is the Lumière de Vie Toner.
How to use them:
Keep in mind that acid toners are chemical exfoliators. That means it’s best to start by using them a few times a week to make sure they aren’t harsh on your skin. If your skin isn’t too sensitive to it, it’s safe to use them every day. They’re best to use at night, but if you use them in the morning, make sure you’re wearing sunscreen (chemical exfoliation can make your skin more sensitive to sun damage).
Acid toners are best applied using a cotton pad so that you can swipe debris off the skin. We love to use them with the Lumière de Vie Konjac Sponges because they are super soft. Simply douse the sponge or cleansing pad and sweep outwards across the face to throughly slough away impurities.
Essentially…
With acid toning, your toner step will accomplish so much more than just balancing your skin’s pH. You’ll hydrate, balance, and exfoliate your skin. An acid toner will help keep your pores clear, and work to brighten and reduce the appearance of fine lines. Give one a try.
