what is the best facial toner

Toners For Dry Skin: you might need more than one!

@bufferingbetty

We're just a little high maintenance in this dehydrated corner.

It's funny how just a year ago I wasn't even sure of what a toner does. More accurately, I was skeptical of toners even serving any skincare benefits and not just a scam to get beauty junkies to buy more of the industry's promises of perfection in a jar. Fast forward to Summer 2018 and your favorite squishy beauty blogger has got a few toners sitting in her cabinet. 

About my skin: 
I have normal skin that leans dry If i'm not careful. The seasons play a starring role in how my skin behaves. In the winter, my skin needs a wild amount of attention. The heat in the summer makes my skin a little oily but the extra SPF I apply to my skin can dry out certain areas like my forehead and cheeks. In the fall, my skin just -ugh, perfection!!! And in the spring, we cool. 

Having a few toners is more than me just being high maintenance. No, really! My skincare has always been responsive. I look at my skin and focus on how it feels. It tells me what it needs. 

At our last Meet Pepper B present's Beauty Hour event, we had skincare expert, Niambi, teach us about natural skincare. She is the creator of Pholk Beauty formally known as Bloomsbury Square. Niambi said, "my skincare is a conversation." It was one of the night's major takeaways.  Instead of doing the just same old routine, pay attention to what your skin is asking from you. 

Soothing and Hydrating Toner:

The Esteli Coco Rosa Hydrate Toner Mist has brought some balance to my life. Toners I had been using were too potent to use daily. I like to use this toner on days when I have exfoliated my skin because it feels gentle and hydrating. I spray it on a cotton round apply it to my face to ensure that I'm getting all of the goodness all over my skin. I don't like the smell. It's slightly rosy but has a spicy note to it. I've said in the past how I don't have a great sense of smell. If you blindfolded me and put a plate of strawberries in my face, I probably guess that the scent is coconut. It's just not in my skill set. That said, there is something that is zesty and just off about the scent. But I like how my skin feels when I use this toner, so I look past it. I also use this to remove excess oils from my skin before I use an epillator for my uninvited, unnecessary, ladystache. This product also claims to be makeup setting spray or a skin refresher but I don't agree. Lastly, a tip I picked up at #BeautyHour with Niambi was using a toner before a mask to prep the skin. This toner has come handy for that too!!

And not that it really matters, but I just love the color of the bottle. Deep, jewel tone-ish shades of green bring me so much zen. 

Retexturizing Toner:

United State Balancing Tonic by Origins has been a part of my life for almost a year and I'm ready to put a ring on it. There were spectacular changes to my skin with this product. On the corners of my jaw, below my ears, I have been getting rough textured skin. It was a build up of dead skin. I didn't want to use a physical exfoliator too often because that tends to break out my skin. This balancing tonic was able to remove the dead skin without damaging my skin. I just have to use it sparingly on my nose because it's more sensitive. I cannot use this toner after sun exposure or using a physical exfoliator because my skin just doesn't like it. This is more of a winter product while the Esteli toner I can use year round. 

Honorable Mention - The Gram or YT Made Me Buy

Social media doesn't always influence my purchases. I stalk the "new" or "just in" sections of Sephora, Ulta, and Beautylish so much that I am already a quarter of the way through a product when I see my fave vloggers hauling it. Which always prompts me to think "Yuh been sleeping, gurl!" It doesn't happen often, but when it does the product is usually -eh. Hype is just hype. I grabbed the mini version of the Mario Badescu  Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs, and Rosewater while standing in the checkout line at Ulta. It's a trap because it was only $5 so I didn't give it too much thought. Plus, I had been wanting to get a toner with rosewater. It gives excellent hydration that doesn't last. I've been using it this summer as a quick hydrater after being in the sun or to freshen up my face after the gym so I don't have to over use my moisturizer. She's not cheap. If you want a product like that, this can fill that need but don't expect sparks to fly when you use it. 

What toners are you using?

Detox! Get Your Green On!

By: @acevallee

Pretty much a green juice in mist form, for your face... GENIUS!

Have you ever loved a product so much that you can’t stop telling people about it? That’s how I feel about this incredible product from First Aid Beauty’s HELLO FAB line. The Vital Greens Face Mist is the perfect pick me up throughout the day. I love to spray a few spritzes while I sip on my daily Pressed Juicery Greens 3.

 

Jam Packed with glorious green superfoods like Kale, Cucumber and Spinach to name a few, this green concoction combats against environmental aggressors while hydrating and soothing your skin.

This spray has been essential during the colder days in NYC when my face tends to tighten and dry up the most. Using this mid day has not only help refresh and hydrate when needed but it also helps improve the overall tone and texture of my skin. It simply just feels good. The scent is pleasant and fresh which caught me by surprise because I honestly thought that it would smell… well, kinda gross. 

What also caught me by surprise was how it actually set my makeup. My creamy tinted moisturizer, concealer and gloss highlighter combo did not budge or even transfer on to my phone. 

I would recommend this to anyone and everyone as this is suitable for all skin types including sensitive. Especially if you’re someone which severely parched skin in the upcoming cold, winter months (like myself) as well as someone who travels a lot via airplane, because we know the toll that can take on the skin. 

For $18 this little 2 oz spritzer is an affordable hidden gem that does wonders and goes the distance. Perfect Stocking Stuffer this season. This product can be purchased at Sephora online and in stores as well as FIRSTAIDBEAUTY.com

Hello FAB Vital Greens Face Mist, Welcome to my Holy Grail lineup.

This Hydrating Mist Will Revive Your Skin and Your Life

By: Amanda V.

This spray is infused with Coconut Water, Hibiscus Flower, Rose Petals, and which hazel to hydrate, soothe, balance, reduce discoloration and firm your skin naturally. 

Face Mists have become the new thing for me. I enjoy a good refreshing spritz session in the  sweltering heat and humidity of New York City's Summer days. I must say that that I am VERY VERY picky because some face sprays can smell a bit foul (Sorry Glossier I love you so much but your soothing face mist smells like breath) and I am not here for it. I am also pretty picky with what I put on my face in general and the all natural ingredients infused in this ROSE HIBISCUS COCONUT WATER HYDRATING FACE MIST by cult beauty brand HERBIVORE reassured me that this was safe enough to give a try.

I love to use this delicately refreshing mostly as a facial toner and also as a mist to wake up and recharge my face needed. 

As a toner, this has been the most super gentle on my skin. It is ABSOLUTELY PERFECT. I spritz a cotton round and wipe all around my face and it doesn't dry out my skin. it feels super soft and firm but not uncomfortably tight and dried out, like most basic toners will leave you feeling.I love to use this before and after I apply my serum and moisturizer as well so my skin can chug all of that moisturizing goodness. After using this for a couple of weeks, consistently toning my face with it as part of my routine, I did notice the texture in my skin is MUCH smoother. This product can replace Thayer's Rose Petal Witch Hazel Toner (as cool as it is, it can be a bit drying for me).

As a refreshing mist, my skin loves to drink this stuff up. On a no makeup day I will drench my face in this spray and add a serum and them my moisturizer and then spray again on top of that (I'm totally insane, I know... but have you met my parched skin? It's like the Sahara Desert) and if I'm wearing makeup and mid way through the day I feel like I need a pick me up, I just spritz this and it not only revives my entire face and life, it also leaves a natural dewy glow. I would prefer a much finer mist because it is a bit much, more of a splash and thats not what anyone wants on top of their makeup, but I just make sure not to spray too close to my face. 

I'm not sure how this would work alone for keeping your makeup completely set from budging, especially a full coverage foundation and contour. If going heavier with makeup I wouldn't go for this, I'd just stick to an actual makeup setting spray, like one from Urban Decay or NYX rather than this. 

I totally recommend this spray to anyone who needs a hydration boost, especially if you have sensitive, dry/combo skin because this stuff is incredibly soothing and gentle and leaves absolutely no irritation whatsoever. I prefer this 110% over my smelly Glossier soothing face mist, and the fact that I said I choose this over something from my holy grail brand says a lot. This mist has the most subtle rose scent, and is not overpoweringly botanical whatsoever. 

You can purchase this spray at Sephora, where the full size, 4oz bottle is $32 as well as HerbivoreBotanicals.com and Urban Outfitters where they sell the Full Size and a 2oz mini spray for half the price at $16 which will be better for a trial run before you give in to the full size. 

 

 

Note: I did read on multiple sites that the scent and color varies and for some people the scent was a bit too potent for them. For me, my bottle smelled similar to the Herbivore Coco Rose Body Polish and I didn't experience and foul fragrance to my spray whatsoever.