Why using a face cleanser and toner is more important than you think

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CLEANSER AND A TONER?

The difference between a cleanser and toner is firstly what they’re made of. Cleansers come in all forms from gel to cream to balm. Their job is to get rid of all the day’s grime, makeup and dead skin cells from your face. They’re designed to do this without stripping it of essential oils, keeping skin hydrated, happy and looking fresh. Toners on the other hand are absorbing liquids with a specific pH level, they help refine your skin after you’ve cleansed. They help usher away any last remaining dead skin cells, unblock pores and get your skin ready for moisturising and hydrating. They’re particularly useful for tricky oily or blemish-prone skin, as they’re an extra level of cleanse and balance that helps reduce the appearance of pores. They help skin feel fresh and look its radiant best.

SHOULD YOU USE A CLEANSER OR A TONER FIRST?

You can see the satisfying evidence of all the grime and dead skin cells you’ve removed on the pad. But as tempting as it is, never dive in there for a quick win without cleansing first. Toners don’t have the same heavy-duty muck removal skills and hydrating action as cleansers. Especially if you live in built-up cities or wear makeup every day, you need to send your cleanser in first to do all the hard work of helping to grab grime and whoosh it down the plug hole. Only then is it toner time to finish things off. It’s these final swipes of toner that remove any stubborn dead skin cells and balance your skin ready to receive hydration. You’ll get the best out of all your products and your skin this way – it’s a sure path to enlightenment of the face cleansing kind.