Let's Get Toned!

There's a good reason we've never discussed toner before. It's the "clean feeling." I love the clean feeling too. That oil-free, squeeky, total wiped away feeling that comes only with...irritating ingredients. In toner especially, alcohol above all else is responsible for that illusion of the perfect finish--every drop of dirt gone from your pores. But unfortunately, alcohol irritates. Pretty badly. And your skin never, ever wants to be irritated. Even if you don't feel it, your skin does.

Check your favorite toner for alcohol, and if it's there--(and alas, this is why I can't recommend Burt's Bees tomato toner, Christina, I'm sorry!)--in any form but cetyl or stearyl alcohol, which are gentle, then you may be doing your skin more harm than good.

Enter Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Toner. This is my favorite in her toner line, although you may find one better suited to your needs if you search around. The ingredients in this toner are just splendid. Instead of irritating (and potentially aging!) your skin, you'll be calming it with anti-irritants, and taming both the oils and the flakes of combination skin. In addition to anti-irritants, this product also contains antioxidants, niacinamide--one of the active ingredients in the Olay Regenerist line--and completely non-oily water binding agents that can provide minimal moisturization for the summer months.

But in addition to being stock-piled with impressive ingredients, this toner just feels cool and lovely, like water on the skin. I'm always looking for a light, non-goopy or sticky product that can provide the biggest boost while leaving the least residue. This toner provides exactly that.

Apply liberally on a cotton ball or pad and wipe or pat gently on the skin, being sure not to rub. You'll feel cool and clean, but not stripped like you would with alcohol. You should have no break outs to worry about, and the toner goes wonderfully under sunscreen!

A great way to give your skin what it needs.

And you know how I like to make your skin happy!
xx
Real Girl