When & Why was Toner Added to Skincare?
Back in the 1950’s women used extremely heavy cleansers called cold creams to remove makeup. It was the rave since soap was so harsh. Soap made with lye is inexpensive but it is extremely hard on the skin. The cold cream product while better than soap was not ideal either and would leave the face with a greasy film. For years women put up with this in lieu of using harsh soaps.
Along came the invention of toner in the 70’s. The protocol was to follow cleansing with a cotton ball drenched in an alcohol-based toner. This certainly removed the greasy film left behind from cold creams but it too was/is hard on skin. Thank goodness, the industry did not stop there because we now know alcohol strips the skin’s barrier of beneficial bacteria needed to keep the skin healthy. For years (and some still today) use an alcohol-based toner after cleansing.
We now have access to high-quality cleansers with formulas that effectively remove makeup and dirt but leave the skin PH in balance. This means we do NOT need a toner when using the cleanser right for our skin. In fact, it is my experience, when using a cleanser that is right for your skin, the skin should feel balanced immediately after cleansing.
We all know cleanser alone is not enough to keep skin in balance. Factors such as hard water, hormones, dehydration, medication, poor diet, lack of exercise, and general overall health will affect the PH balance of the skin. Still, the solution is NOT using toner. It is using an effective cleanser to create the best foundation for anti-aging and treatment serums, moisturizers, and sunscreen.
The only time I recommend following cleanser with something other than a serum, moisturizer, and then sunscreen is if you are living in an area where the water is especially hard. The PH of hard water can be quite high. It’s not always practical to use special water for washing the face so in this situation, it would merit the use of a refreshing moisturizing mist like NeoGenesis Moisturizing Mist to return the skin back to a balanced PH. This product is not alcohol-based, and it contains ingredients that immediately return the skin to a good PH leaving it feeling neither dry nor oily.
What Does a 21st Century Skincare Protocol Look Like?
The skincare regimen of the 21st century ditches the toner! Today’s skincare protocol looks like this:
- Cleanse – using a PH balanced formula right for your skin.
- Serum(s) – Special formulas to aid in the treatment of skin conditions
- Moisturize – Serums treat condition – moisturizers add moisture
- Sunscreen – finish with a makeup containing sunscreen or use sunscreen made for the face
- Devices - Using technology for anti-aging and rejuvenation
Plus, we have advancements in technology with professional and home-use devices like microcurrent, ultrasound, LED, laser and more!
There you have it – a modern skincare protocol. Have you adjusted your routine or are you still using the outdated model?
Check out these high-performance products to find the perfect formula for your skin and your age management needs:
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