Why ‘toner pad’ is better than normal toner

Before we get to the “toner pad,” do we actually know what a toner is? We see it in the skin care section of every store, but what does it do? And is it really needed?

We’re going to answer these questions very briefly, so we can get to star of the show: toner pad

The purpose of a normal toner is:

First of all, a toner can also come under different names and styles but they do pretty much the same job, only with minor differences. Micellar water, astringent, and lotion are some of them. To determine if a product is a “toner,” it should have one or more of these characteristics:

1. Remove extra dirt that wasn’t removed during cleansing- micellar water and astringent are perfect examples. The difference is: micellar water is more gentle and known to remove oil better due to a component that captures the oil that normal water won’t. On the other hand, astringent is alcohol-based and so can be quite strong. Witch hazel, is an example of an astringent.
2. Helps to unclog and tighten the pores- this is a bit of a debatable topic. This article explains in simple terms why toners cannot tighten pores. Although by removing oil and extra dirt, it may result in reduced the appearance of pores.
3. Restores pH balance and hydrates the skin- Cleansers, especially soap, mostly are alkaline in nature. The acid in the toner, helps balance that. While essence (lotion) is known to be good for hydration.

These characteristics combined will result in one main purpose for a toner: a cleaner skin, with less oil helps the skin absorb the moisturizer and other treatment that you put on your face.

In other words, a toner is intended to clean the skin delicately while retaining natural moisture. This is why applying a toner is normally the “Step 2” in recommended skincare routines–after washing with a cleanser and before the moisturizer cream.

Essentially, a toner can be used morning and evening, however, in any case that your skin gets dry or irritated, it is advisable to try to use it once a day or alternate days.

How to apply a toner

The most common way is to put some toner on a cotton and apply it all over your face. Or it can also be sprayed all over the face and neck area.

But now there is another way to apply a toner: using a toner pad.

Toner pads are literally cotton pads soaked in toners. Like normal toners, these help in hydrating, moisturizing, removing dead skin and clearing pores. And here’s why toner pads are better than a normal toner:

1. It’s very convenient to use. Simply pull out a pad, and apply it to the skin. No need to worry about putting too much or too little on the cotton when doing it manually. And it’s quicker, especially in the morning when we rush to prepare for work.
2. Toner pads can be more effective in removing makeupas they are pre-soaked pads and so the toner in them can be more concentrated. Using a toner pad also makes skin softer as it gently peels and grabs extra oil that may cause acne.
3. You can also take it with you on the go. Having a toner pad in your purse is good and you don’t have to worry about carrying liquids or cotton separately. And so during those days when you forgot to set the alarm and are running late, you can apply it in the car.

There you go, I think those are enough reasons to get yourself a toner pad.

Skincare routine reminder:

Although toner helps in cleaning the skin, it is still crucial to use a cleanser as the first step in every skincare routine.

As the name suggests, the primary and main purpose of a cleanser is to thoroughly clean the outer layer of the skin while toner takes care of the leftover grime, at the same time balances the pH level and moisture of the skin.

Cleansers can be in the form of liquid, gel, foam or exfoliator. There are different varieties of a cleanser but they all have the same purpose and that is to clean the skin of any impurities and to open pores for perfect cleaning. Despite the fact that both toner and cleanser may do almost the same thing, they should not be interchanged, as each has its own unique benefits to the skin.

It is recommended that before you use any product, the first thing you need to know is your own skin type and what your skin needs to avoid breakouts or irritation.

Step 3: Moisturizer cream

After cleansing and applying our recommended toner pads, you need to follow up with a moisturizer. The universal rule for moisturizer is to use gel type for oily skin; lotion or cream for combination of oily & dry skin; and cream or oil for dry skin. You should apply moisturizer right after you use a toner, this is because the skin is still wet, making it more absorbent and able to lock in the moisture, keeping skin hydrated longer.

For any instances that you think your skin is very oily and you that you already have enough moisture from using a toner, you may omit the moisturizer.

Step 4: Sunscreen

Finally, the last step for the morning skincare routine is using sunscreen. This is normally applied a few minutes after the moisturizer, giving the skin more time to soak up the product.

The sunscreen serves as a shield from the sun’s dangerous rays which can cause severe damage to the skin. It also lessens premature aging and reduces the risk of skin cancer. Gel sunscreens are recommended for oily skin because it is lightweight and non-sticky. Preferably, you must use sunscreen with SPF 30 and above to be applied all over the exposed area of the face and neck yet for the best result.