Skin Toning

Skin toning gives you a rejuvenated and youthful feel. Your skin tends to loose endurance due to aging or excessive exposure to certain factors like weather, environmental pollution, etc. and dryness, wrinkles and other skin problems start occurring. At this point of life epidermis, the outer layer of the skin covering the exterior body surface of vertebrates, fail to produce adequate amount of new cells. While dermis, the deep vascular inner layer of the skin, which also produces collagen, fail restore its elasticity. Applying skin toners regularly not only increases the blood supply of the skin but also makes it fresh and smooth.

How to tone your skin?

Among the host of toners in skin toners, alcohol and water are the prominent ones. But since alcohol causes dryness in the skin, the people having dry skin use only such toners which contain no alcohol. On the other hand, people with oily skin require toners containing alcohol as an ingredient. The biggest advantage of using a toner is its ability to take away excess oil and grime from the skin.

Homemade skin toners

1. Normal skin

A. Rose water toner: Mix half tablespoon of alum with 50gm of rose water and 100gm of glycerin and store in the refrigerator. Apply it regularly to tone your skin.

B. Cucumber toner: Take a freshly chopped cucumber and mix it well with half a cup of yoghurt. Store this mixture in the refrigerator. Apply this toner for 5-10 minutes and then rinse off.

2. Dry skin

Mint toner: First boil few mint leaves then use this mint extract to prevent perspiration. Now add few drops of mint extract and half teaspoon of alum in one cup distilled water. Store this mixture and apply to the face with cotton wool.

3. Oily skin

A. Alcohol and alum toner: Mix one teaspoon of alcohol in distilled water and add half teaspoon of alum to the mixture. Store this toner in a cool place.

B. Honey and egg Toner: Take one egg white and whisk it properly. When it becomes thick, mix it with one teaspoon of honey and one teaspoon of lemon juice. Apply this toner and let it remain for ten minutes before washing.

General tips for skin toning

Rub a piece of potato all over the face and let it remain for 15 minutes. Then wash off with cold water.

Put cotton wool moistened with skin toning lotion on cheeks, chin and neck.Never use harsh astringent lotion on normal, combination or dry skin and prefer rosewater based products.

If you have oily skin, then apply astringent lotion to the oily parts of the skin like sides of the nose, chin and forehead. This is one of the useful tips for skin toning.

Apply mashed strawberries for 5 minutes on sensitive skin and rinse off.

For dry skin vitamin E and wheat oil are also effective.Mix one tablespoon of chopped mint and two tablespoons of cider vinegar, put it in a bottle and shake it well. Store it in fridge for few days. Then add 300 ml of water to this mixture and rub it on the skin with cotton.

Skin toning herbs

Toners not only make the skin soft and promote circulation but also help restore its protective mantle. A double-strength tea made with the appropriate herbs makes a great skin toner. For more astringency, add a small amount of white or apple cider vinegar to the mixture. Some of the herbs that can be used in making effective skin toners are chamomile, rose hips and petals chervil, etc.

Herbal Bath

Mix one cup chamomile, 1/4 cup lavender, 1/4 cup lemon peel, 1/2 cup peppermint, 1/4 cup crushed rose hips, 1/4 cup rosemary and 1/4 cup sage. Place all the herbs into the bath tub and swill around the water. Soak in the bath for around 15 minutes. This herbal soak is ideal for toning the skin. This is one of the effective herbal remedies for skin toning.