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Skin toners are used after cleansing to help remove excess dirt, oil and any residual cleanser. In addition, and depending upon the ingredients included, they can also be used to hydrate the skin, exfoliate the skin, or restore the skin's natural PH balance (particularly if an alkaline cleanser such as soap is used to clean the skin beforehand).
Ingredients which crop up time and again in commercially available skin toners are parabens. British researchers have found traces of parabens in tissue taken from women with breast cancer, and although there is no evidence that parabens cause cancer, researchers have asked for the use of parabens in personal care products to be reviewed, as these studies suggest that these chemicals may accumulate within the body after having been applied on the skin. We have discussed parabens elsewhere on Scene Green and would advise people to avoid using any product containing them, particularly in the case of skin toners, which are not rinsed off the skin.
A rather bewildering range of other ingredients can also be included in commercially available skin toners, such as synthetic fragrances, colourants and preservatives. All of which make the skin toner look and smell nice, but have absolutely no beneficial effect when applied to the skin. We believe that it is better to opt for skin toners made from natural ingredients such as witch-hazel, distilled flower waters, herbal extracts and essential oils. All of which smell every bit as good as, if not better, than their synthetic counterparts.
Many skin care experts would also recommend avoiding skin toners which contain alcohol as this can be a very harsh astringent for some skin types. However, if you like the feel of a skin toner containing alcohol this is down to personal choice and whether the product feels right for your skin – alcohol is a natural product which can be obtained from organic crops and it is included in some skin toners made from natural ingredients – although of course, we'd always recommend the organically produced variety.
