Six hydrating toners to try for different budgets (starts at P100!)
One of the more obvious skincare misconceptions that frustrates me the most is when people think that toner is supposed to be "matapang" and have astringent properties in order for it to be effective. Sure, clarifying toners can come in handy for those with oily/acne-prone skin or for those who occasionally want to do some deep cleansing. But unless you have extreme skin issues, you won’t need to go hard with the heavy-duty toners on the daily! In fact, overdoing it could ruin your skin’s moisture barrier and cause breakouts to worsen.
Oil Control Week: VMV Hypoallergenics Fine Finish Pore Minimizing Skin Mattifier
Everybody is oily. If your skin does not oil up you're probably dead! Oil is a natural expression of our skin as it keeps the surface of our body lubricated and elastic. Some people have more of it than others and this causes problems like acne and unflattering shine. Now there isn't much you can do about your body's oil secretion levels (causes are gentic or hormonal), but there are ways to manage it - that's where beauty products come in.
Lately, I've discovered a few nifty things that can help with the oil, so this week will be dedicated to them. Allow me to bring you Oil Control Week!
I'll kick it off with a super effective product that I've been loving lately: the VMV Hypoallergenics Fine Finish Pore Minimizing Skin Mattifier (P700). This is a toner meant to be used like any other toner, but what makes it different is its main ingredients, Aluminum Chlorhydrate and Sodium Bicarbonate. These two are usually found in anti-perspirants and deodorants.
You're probably thinking, yuck. But I swear that this is a pretty effective toner! I've been using it for about three weeks now and I have noticed that my skin is much less oily, even when I've been out for like six hours. I didn't change anything about my skincare regimen except for this toner.
This toner is matapang. It lets off a fume-like smell that can sting your eyes if you apply it too near that area; the toner itself also has high alcohol content. My skin feels super dry and tight after I use it! However it feels okay after I apply my moisturizer.
I'll be completely honest with you, this isn't a pleasant product to use.
Do you really need toners?
We've been taught that a basic skincare regimen includes these three steps: cleanse, tone, and moisturize. We cleanse twice a day because we need to get rid of the dirt our face accumulates during the day. We moisturize because we need to maintain our skin's moisture barrier, thus preventing dry, flaky skin. But why do we need to use toners?
Toners are used after cleansing to remove leftover makeup, dirt, and oil which your facial wash may have missed. They're also good for disinfecting and calming the skin due to their alcohol content and added ingredients (such as rosewater and tomato extracts, for example).
But the fact is, you don't need to use toner all the time.