My Skin Care Routine | Toners

I have learnt that it is imperative that those of us with oily or acne-prone skin use a toner. It helps to better unclog pores by removing oil, dirt and make up. By removing build up from your pores you also create the appearance of them shrinking. Bonus! Toners can help close pores and tighten cell gaps after cleansing, reducing the penetration of impurities and environmental contaminants into the skin. It can even protect and remove chlorine and minerals present in tap water. Source.

I have completely converted! I have gone from being someone who didn’t see the value in toners, to wanting to tone 2-3 times with various differnt toners! I have to hold myself back!

Here are some of my favourites:

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I have to start with my favorite. This product is my holy grail toner and I am obsessed with it. I cannot wait to whip off my make up at the end of the day and tone my skin with this, post cleansing, ofcourse!
The REN Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic is a twice-daily exfoliating toner that works to brighten the complexion and smooth the skin. Gentle enough for daily use, Ren Ready Steady Glow utilises the power of AHAs to stimulate the skin’s natural resurfacing. A potent blend of lactic acid and willow bark helps to tone the skin, smoothing it so that lines appear reduced and pores smaller. I cannot begin to explain to you how much this product has brought the GLOW to my skin.

How I use this product:
Post cleansing I apply a 4-8 drops of tonic onto a cotton round and I swipe or pat it around my face and swipe along my neck in an upward motion.

Overall Thoughts:
I don’t think I need to say more about this product.. It is spectacular and if I were you I would take advantage of the 500ml value size on REN website – Value R1130 – current price: R865

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This product is ranked the #1 toner in Korea, and although I already loved it, it has since been reformulated for better absorption and longer lasting hydration. Formulated with 50% Hyaluronic Acid (a concentration of 1% Sodium Hyaluronate), this toner quenches your skin by acting as a moisture magnet, drawing moisture to the outer layers of your skin. The result is visible plumping and a hydrated glow.

Key Ingredients:
50% Hyaluronic Acid
Panthenol and Birch Sap to help strengthen and repair the moisture barrier 
Trehalose to prevent moisture evaporation from the skin
Aloe Vera for soothing and healing.

How I use this product:
After using the REN AHA toner, I swipe a few drops of this over my face. I just pop a few drops onto my fingers, and pat into my skin.

Overall Thoughts:
A brilliant toner and I have no doubt I am going to love it even more going into winter to help keep my skin hydrated. I love how it leaves my skin feeling plumped out and healthy. The texture is lovely – thicker than water (unlike most toners), but not sticky or greasy at all, and it rapidly absorbs into the skin.
R245 on Glow Theory website

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A friend brought this toner back from the UK for me, and it has a special little place in my heart, because it is the first toner I ever owned that got me to understand the benefit of toners. Whilst I no longer use it daily I still love having it in my arsenal for when my skin is feeling sensitive after an in-salon peel or invasive treatment, or overdoing it with actives like Vit A or C. The rose water tonic is very soothing and refreshing, and can help calm inflamed skin. It rehydrates, replenishes and refreshes the skin.

Key Ingredients:
Rosa Damascena Flower Water:Soothing, hydrating, scent
Aloe Barbadensis Juice: Antiinflammatory, soothing
Sodium PCA:Humectant, naturally occurring in skin (drop with age)
Rose Extract: Soothing, hydrating, scent
Rosa Canina Extract: Hydrating, antioxidant
Camelia Sinensis Leaf:green tea extract, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory
Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract: Rich in bioflavonoids, antioxidants and Vitamin A
Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract: Soothing
Sodium Hyaluronate: Hydrating, smaller form of hyaluronic acid with deeper penetration

How I use this product:
On days when my skin is feeling sensitive after a treatment, peel or overuse of actives I love using this tonic because of it’s gentle nature and calming & soothing properties. I apply a few drops to a cotton round and swipe over my face.

These are some of the products I have used and enjoyed. I am not a trained skin therapist so please do take guidance from a professional. This post contains my unbiased opinion on products that have worked for me. I have a combination to oily skin, so if you have a a dry skin you may not enjoy these products the way I have.