TONE UP - TONING {BACK2BASICS}

The next phase that we use in our Back2Basics is the Toning step!

What is a toner and why must we use one? 

Toners, Toning Lotions, Refreshers and astringents all fall under the same category and basically have the same purpose in your beauty routine.The toning step always follows immediately after cleansing and generally will remove any traces of your cleansing product, help refine the pores and leave the skin prepared for the next step of our Back2Basics regime, moisturising the skin, but only once the toner has dried. Toners can be used either on cotton wool or sprayed directly onto the skin.

There are literally hundreds of cleansers and toners out there to choose from and it is just a case of finding the correct combination that is best suited to your skin type, budget and that you enjoy using....if you do not like a product you are less inclined to use it!

In the Back2Basics I do not want to recommend any of my favourite products or skincare ranges as this will be dealt with in later posts. 

However I always recommend to "everyone" and "anyone" including teenagers with spotty pubescent skin and males with oily combination skin to use a toner that is "alcohol free".Regardless of your skin type or condition an alcohol free toner will not damage your skin's natural protective Hydro Lipidic film but respect it! 

Many skincare ranges created for oily and problems skins contain ingredients such as alcohol in their astringents that aim to dry up the oiliness.

The only problem is, that the skin is designed to produce more oil or sebum to compensate for the sebum that is being removed from the surface of the skin. Hence the sebaceous glands go into "overdrive" and produce more oil when in actual fact they need to produce less oil and in turn this often makes the condition worse....

Some may suggest that the Toning step is not necessary but I strongly disagree and I would never suggest that you use a shampoo without using some light conditioner afterwards or a facial scrub/peel without following with a face mask! 

These duo's are "Husband & Wife" teams just as a cleanser and a toner are, they belong together...

So please don't cause a divorce by omitting the toning phase!!!

To be continued....