Astringent & toner..

[Anonymous]

Are they the same thing? If not.which does first? 

[Anonymous]

@Anonymous,

Toners and astringents are not the same thing - they generally have different formulations and are used for different purposes.  Toners can be used to remove excess dirt that may not have been taken off by your cleanser, hydrate the skin and/or prep the skin for serums and moisturizers.  Some toners are used to balance the skin's pH levels.  Astringents are used to remove any excess oil or bacteria and helps to unclog pores.  Astringents are usually alcohol based (some toners also have alcohol in them but typically not nearly as much in volume as astringents and typically contain glycerin as a primary ingredient).  Because of the alcohol volume in astringents, they can dry out the skin. 

In terms of skin care, astringents are generally used to treat oilier complexions; whereas toners can be used by most skin types and are great for those who have dry or dehydrated skin. 

[Anonymous]

well i have combo skin which is prone to breakouts. n budget wise i like to stick drugstore brands

[Anonymous]

@Anonymous,

I would recommend checking out Thayers Witch Hazel.  Witch Hazel has both astringent and toner properties - like a hybrid of the two.  Thayers has several different types of astringent and toners in their line.  I'm more familiar with their toners.

I have combo sensitive skin (oily T-zone, dry elsewhere and periodic breakouts) and I prefer the Thayers Alcohol-Free Rose Petal Witch Hazel Toner.  If you prefer an astringent, they have a Witch Hazel Astringent in different scents (original, lemon, peach, lavender mint, etc.) - they also have a jar of pre-soaked astringent pads.  Their astringents contain aloe vera which is hydrating.  The toner and astringent will generally run around $11-12 at Target or the drugstore, though you may find it for less on amazon.  The astringent pads are under $10. 

Other options and very good "astringent toner" are - La Roche-Posay Effaclar Lotion Astringente Toner.  You can find it at Target; it's more expensive than the Thayers products, but should be under $25.  The La Roche-Posay website often has sales or discount codes (% off) so you might want to check there as well.  Also, Pixi Glow Tonic (or the Glow Tonic To-Go Pads - 5% glycolic), which you can find at Target also.  If you go with one of these options, I would suggest that you use these more like you would an astringent than a toner (i.e., 1-3 times per week versus daily) since these contain acids.  Also, start slowly - 1x per week to see how your skin responds, for a couple of weeks, then 2x per week, etc.

Oh, I forgot to mention that toners you can use everyday, but with astringents, I recommend you adjust your usage based on how it performs on your skin - the parts of your face that are oilier will be able to withstand having it applied more frequently than the drier parts of your face - you can also just use it on the oilier parts or where you are breaking out.

[Anonymous]

hi! thanks fo the reply! so i can definitely use both or either or. thanks what brand of toner do you recommend?

[Anonymous]

@Anonymous,

What kind of skin do you have or what are you aiming to treat?  Oily? Dry? Sensitive? Combo? Acne? Dehydration?  Also, what is your budget?