Women have always been skeptical about the use of toners. While some still take time out to include it in their skin care regimen, there are others who choose to skip its use altogether. This is however a serious mistake

Toning is an integral part of a skin care regimen that follows the cleansing routine and prepares the skin for the moisturization process. Here are some of the important functions of toning.

It removes the residual impurities from the skin pores that are left behind after the cleansing routine and then closes them. After cleansing, skin pores tend to open up and enlarge in size. As a result, moisture evaporates easily and makes the skin dry and dehydrated. Toners in turn close the opened skin pores and prevent the skin from becoming overly dry.

Because toners close the skin pores, dirt and debris from the environment do not settle within them and this helps to prevent skin damage. Moreover, good toners also include antiseptic properties and provide moisture and nutrients to the skin, thus preparing the skin for subsequent moisturization.

There are certain skin care products in the market that claim to have cleansing-toning-moisturizing properties all in one. However, it’s nothing more than a marketing gimmick. This is because cleansers are supposed to open the skin pores to remove the debris while toners are supposed to close the open pores. Then how can a single product perform both the functions simultaneously?

Follow an intelligent skin care routine consisting of all the 3 steps – Cleansing, Toning and Moisturizing! Also, don\’t forget to exfoliate twice a week.

Women with dry skin should avoid using astringents and alcohol based toners. They should rather stick to mild toners that contain soothing ingredients like witch hazel. Obagi Nu Derm Toner is a great product made up of a unique combination of natural ingredients and herbs that tones the skin and restores its normal pH balance. It contains a natural astringent called \’alum\’ that adjusts the skin\’s pH levels.