I have written previously about the Toner (see here). There are quite a lot of discussions among Dermatologists as to whether using a Toner is worthwhile. I can understand why some experts are doubtful about this. There are many which are mainly just water with a hint of colour and fragrance. And if you are unfortunate there is also a large amount of mint, eucalyptus or alcohol added (for that fresh clean feel). All of which aren’t very good for the skin.

A good Toner is a real multi-tasker!

BUT…..

Good, modern Toners are mild and their purpose is not degreasing or disinfecting the skin. Good products remove the last deposits of soap after the face has been washed and, with our hard water, this is definitely no luxury. There’s more, a good one can soothe, protect and hydrate the skin. A good Toner is a real multi-tasker, certainly if it is adapted to the skin condition.

A dry or oily skin?

• Someone with oily skin can use the Toner as an alternative to a cream (Moisturizer).
• People with dry or sensitive skin can use it in place of a Cleanser in the mornings.
• Applying a cream after using a Toner ensures that both moisture and the active ingredients from the toner become ‘locked’ in the skin. The Toner therefore ensures that the cream does its job more effectively. Very useful, absolutely for dry skin.
• Certain ingredients work better if added to a Toner than when they are contained in a cream.

Choosing!

Good products are difficult to find, as I have just mentioned. I have found a few, though, that are worth trying. Unfortunately, the concentrations of active ingredients are not the same in all of the products. They are all mild and soothing though. If you have any recommendations for me I would like to hear.

 

Product advice

These Toners are most suited to a (somewhat) oily and agitated skin because they have mostly soothing ingredients But they are also fine to use on skin which is dry, irritated or somewhat red. 

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Dr. Jetske Ultee – Toner normal to oily skin

Dr. Jetske Ultee Toner normal to oily skin contains no less than 3% Niacinamide, plus liquorice root extract, allantoin and evodia rutaecarpa extract. Excellent if you have agitated or red skin. If your skin is extremely oily you can also opt to use only a Toner in the daytime and apply the Moisturizer only in the evening.

INCI: Aqua, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Butylene Glycol, Methyl Gluceth-20, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Evodia Rutaecarpa Fruit Extract, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, PEG/PPG-20/6 Dimethicone, Tetrasodium EDTA.

(Last updated April 2017)

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Calm Toner by Paula’s Choice

Contains, among other things, good barrier repairing and soothing ingredients such as oats, bètaglucan (which is already in the oats by the way) and panthenol. Although this Toner is sold for normal to oily skin, the product is also suitable for dry skin, as long as you do apply a Moisturizer on top of it.

INCI: Aqua, Butylene Glycol (slip/water-binding agent), Polysorbate 20 (emulsifying agent/mild cleansing agent), Glycerin (skin-repairing ingredient), Colloidal Oatmeal (anti-irritant), Beta-Glucan (anti-inflammatory antioxidant), Sea Whip Extract (plant-based anti-irritant), Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract (plant-based anti-irritant), Panthenol (water-binding and barrier repair ingredient), Epigallocatechin Gallate (green tea-derived antioxidant), Gellan Gum (emulsifier/thickener), Phytic Acid (chelating agent), Disodium EDTA (chelating agent), Ethylhexylglycerin (skin-conditioning agent), Potassium Sorbate (preservative).

(Last updated April 2017)

 

The following Toners are most suited for normal to dry skin, due to their hydrating and repairing ingredients:

Toner (normal to dry skin) by Dr. Jetske Ultee

Contains, among other things, Niacinamide, allantoïne, shea butter and bètaglucan. The beautiful ingredients calm, hydrate and rapier the skin. This product also  mooie ingrediënten kalmeren, hydrateren en herstellen de huid. The Toner will remove the last traces of Cleanser and will also ensure effective absorption of the active substances in the Moisturizer. If your skin is very dry, you can substitute the Cleanser in the morning for this Toner.

Aqua, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Methyl Gluceth-20, Allantoin, Sodium Carboxymethyl Betaglucan, PEG-10 Olive Glycerides, Ethylhexylglycerin, PEG-75 Shea Butter Glycerides, Tetrasodium EDTA, Citric Acid.

(Last updated April 2017)

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Tonic by Decubal

Contains, among other things,  bètaglucan, allantoïn and panthenol; beautiful repairing and hydrating ingredients for dry skin.

Aqua, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan, Allantoin, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Panthenol, Galactoarabinan, Maltodextrin, Sodium Gluconate, Citric Acid, Chlorhexidine Digluconate

(Last updated April 2017)

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Liftend Serum by Rio Rosa Mosqueta 

What is a serum doing amon product advice for Toners?  To be frank, there are very few good Toners on the market.  Ultimately what you are looking for is a good product that helps to apply soothing and/or hydrating ingredients. This is easiest with a water based product such as a Toner. But it is also possible with a serum, especially if your skin is somewhat dry.  This serum contains, among other things, nice oils and hyaluronic acid.

Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Plukenetia Volubilis (Sacha Inchi) Seed Oil*,  Rosa Rubiginosa (Rosa Mosqueta) Seed Oil*, Orbignya Oleifera (Babassu)  Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol (from coconut), Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium  Stearoyl Glutamate, Caprylyl Glycol, Manilkara Multinervis (Manilkara) Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Helianthus  Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice*,  Chamomilla Recutita (Chamomile/Kamille) Flower Extract, Camellia  Sinensis (White Tea/Witte thee) Leaf Extract, Calendula Officinalis (Calendula/Goudsbloem)*, P-Anisic Acid, Glycine Soja Oil, Lactic Acid,  Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum.

(Last updated April 2017)

Regards Jetske.

(Dr. Jetske Ultee-Research Physician Cosmetic Dermatology)

You can read more about ‘The Toner’, or product advice about the Cleanser, the Exfoliant, the Moisturizer and the Sun Cream.

Read also: ‘Claims about Cosmetic Products’,
‘Anti-Oxidants’ in Cosmetic Products , and
‘Which Natural Ingredients?‘.