Over here at the Happy Shed we’ve been doing some asking around, and found out that only about 1 in 5 people use a tonic or toner (they’re the same thing by the way).
We’re complete tonic devotees so we were totally surprised by this.
How about you? Are you with us? Or are you in the majority who are not on the tonic bandwagon? (And if you’re not, read on, these tonics are good stuff!).
Gone are the toners of old
A long, long time ago, in a land far, far away toners were quite different to what they are now. We used to cleanse with mineral-oil based cleansers and a toner’s job was to help with removing the oily residue left behind and re-balancing your skin’s pH.
They were full of alcohol, and that meant they could be drying and cause irksome irritation.
Not anymore.
Tonics = happy skin
Fast forward to right now,tonics are a different kettle of fish. They cleverly multi-task and (depending on which active ingredients they have) can benefit your skin in oh-so-many ways.
You apply your tonic straight after cleansing, before you apply your serum and moisturiser, and you can either spritz it on or soak a (reusable please!) makeup pad and wipe it over your skin.
6 reasons to tone your skin
#1 Rebalance your skin’s pH
Your skin is protected by its acid mantle, which is made up of oils - it keeps germs out and moisture in, and ideally has a slightly acidic pH of 5.5. Lots of cleansers (not ours of course) can strip all of your skin’s natural oils away and upset your skin’s pH levels (the balance between acidic and alkaline). This means your acid mantle will be damaged and skin issues start popping up. Not cool.
Woohoo Skincaretonics help restore your skin’s pH to 5.5 after cleansing and keep your skin in optimal health.
#2 Make your moisturiser go the extra mile
By making your skin damp just before you moisturise, you actually need less moisturiser. It’s true!
Your skin is like a sponge, so to understand this better have a think about your regular old kitchen sponge. When it’s wet it can soak up more water than when it has dried up and gone all hard. Your skin is the same. When it’s wet it can soak more up.
So by toning you’re allowing your skin to absorb more, plus your moisturiser, serum or facial oil will be much easier to spread.
#3 Moisture boost, stat
After cleansing you’ll want to get a quick shot of moisture back into your skin and a good tonic (like theRaindrops on Roses Hydrating Tonic) will give you that in spades. Look for ingredients like glycerin or hyaluronic acid to work some moisture-boosting magic.
#4 It’s a sports drink for your skin
More than just moisture, a tonic can be incredibly nourishing and deliver active ingredients when your skin is wanting to drink them up. Every tonic is different in this department, and you’ll want to choose your tonic based on your unique skin needs and which one suits your skin type best.
TheRaindrops on Roses Hydrating Tonic is for those of us with normal, dry, or sensitive skin and has a delicate blend of aloe vera, rose, pomegranate, kakadu plum and MSM to purify, calm, soothe and rebalance your skin.
TheTickled Pink Perfecting Tonic is for our oily and combination-skinned friends and is filled with MSM, witch hazel, black willow bark and pore refining probiotics to help control redness and blemishes.
#5 Double cleanse
If you are using an oil-based cleanser and feeling like you might need some extra assistance removing it all, theTickled Pink Perfecting Tonic makes for a sensational 2nd cleanse. Simply spray it on and wipe it off (along with your cleanser residue)! Simple as that.
#6 Recycled plastic rocks
OK, this one doesn’t apply to all toners and tonics, but it DOES apply to our Woohoo Skincare creations. We’ve packaged these beauties up in a bottle made from 100% post-consumer-recycled plastic so that you’re being kind to the earth while you’re doing something special for your skin too :)
