A good acidic toner and its place in your skin care routine

An acidic facial toner is an important element of skin care that helps maintain pH balance, cleans pores, and exfoliates dead skin cells. In this article, we will look at how to choose and use the right acidic toner, as well as its benefits for different skin types.

What is sour tonic and why do you need it?

An acidic facial toner is a product that contains acids (such as alpha hydroxy acids (AHA) and beta hydroxy acids (BHA)). These acids gently exfoliate the skin to help remove dead skin cells, stimulate skin renewal, and improve facial texture. It also helps combat problems such as acne, clogged pores, and uneven skin tone.

Benefits of acidic skin toner

1. Pore Cleansing. Acids such as salicylic acid effectively penetrate the pores, cleansing them of excess sebum and preventing the formation of black spots.
2. Skin texture softening. Acids help to even out skin texture, making it smoother and softer.
3. Improved complexion. Acids help to exfoliate dead cells, which makes the complexion more even and radiant.
4. Preventing inflammation. Acid toners fight acne and inflammation by helping to eliminate bacteria and reduce redness.

How to choose an acidic toner for your skin type?

For oily skin

Acids such as salicylic acid are ideal for oily skin. They penetrate the pores, cleanse them and prevent rashes. Using an acidic toner for oily skin helps control sebum production and prevents black spots.

For dry skin

For dry skin, it is recommended to use toners with alpha hydroxy acids (AHA) such as glycolic acid or lactic acid. These acids gently exfoliate the skin without drying it out and help to maintain a moisture balance.

For sensitive skin

For sensitive skin, it's important to choose an acidic toner with minimal acid concentration and avoid aggressive formulas. It is best to start with mild AHAs such as lactic acid and test the product on a small area of skin.

What is the right way to use sour tonic?

1. Skin Cleansing. Before applying an acidic toner, it is important to cleanse your facial skin to remove makeup, dirt and excess oil.
2. Toner application. Apply toner on a cotton pad and gently wipe the skin, avoiding the eye area. Use acidic toner no more than 2-3 times a week to avoid drying out the skin.
3. Extra Care. After using the acidic toner, be sure to apply a moisturizing cream or serum to restore the skin's hydrolipidic barrier.

Important points when using an acidic tonic

1. Sunscreens. Using acids makes the skin more sensitive to the sun, so it is important to use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30.
2. Gradual introduction. The introduction of acidic tonic in care should be started with the lowest concentration and frequency of use to avoid irritation.
3. Skin testing. Before first use, apply a small amount of toner to an area of the skin to make sure there is no allergic reaction.

Acidic facial toner is an effective remedy to improve skin condition. It helps to get rid of acne, even out skin texture and improve your complexion. Choosing the right acidic toner according to your skin type and using it properly will help you achieve perfect skin care.

Tonics should have a slightly acidic environment. Their pH should not be lower than pH5. Tonic should not be left on the face for a long time. It should be rinsed off after each use.

Cosmetics, being a chemical solution, necessarily has its own pH. Its index can fluctuate along the entire length of the scale. For example, hair removal products have a very high alkaline pH - up to 11-12. Peelings, on the contrary, are very acidic and their pH can fall to 2.0 and even lower.

At the same time, our skin also has its own pH or acid-alkaline balance. The normal pH of our skin is pH 7.0-7.5. When we cleanse our skin with an alkaline cleanser, we disturb the normal pH and it deviates towards alkalinity. Only an acid can bring the skin back to its normal, natural pH. It is acids that can neutralize alkaline. This is the reason for the rule of skin toning. In other words, between cleansing and moisturizing, we have to introduce acidic toners into the care regimen.

How do you tell the difference between a regular tonic and a sour tonic?

There are many cosmetics on the market with the name "tonics". However, the vast majority of this type of cosmetics not only have no pH indication, but even in terms of composition cannot be classified as acidic tonics. Why are they produced in such quantity? Simply take advantage of our cosmetic illiteracy and lack of awareness. Therefore, buying cosmetics just because it has the word "tonic" in its name is a waste of money.
Acidic toners appeared on the cosmetics market about 50 years ago. Their main purpose is to protect the skin after alkaline washes. As we can see, manufacturers used to care about our skin and tried to reduce the risk of skin damage from the use of alkaline cosmetics. However, over time, the original meaning of "tonics" has been lost. Now tonics are referred to as any form of cosmetics. Various "mists", thermal waters, tonics on herbs, etc. are invented. But all of them are not acidic in their composition.

True sour tonics should be chosen based on two main characteristics
- AHA acids as active ingredients: primarily glycolic acid and lactic acid, as well as other AHA acids, which are also called "fruit" acids.
- mandatory pH indication on the label

As we can see, the process of skin toning we are forced to include due to the fault of cosmetics manufacturers who produce alkaline washes. However, on the cosmetics market there are more and more often appear "acidic" cleansers, which have an indication of pH, below pH 7.0. If you manage to buy such a cleanser, the toning process can be excluded from the skin care regimen.

A collection of good sour tonics from The Beauty Shop

This is an intermediary store that does not sell anything. But if you follow the link of the product, you will get to the seller's store site. Some stores do not send cosmetics to Russia. In this case, you can use the services of intermediaries.

Glycolic Acid Toner. Sour tonic with glycolic acid

Glycolic Acid Facial Toner. A mild acidic tonic with glycolik.

Glyco Creamy Cleanser. Cream cleanser with 15% glycolic acid. Can serve as both a cleanser and tinting agent

Acidic tonics with pH indication
Alpha Hydrox Enhanced Lotion. Acidic cleansing lotion-tonic with AHA acids. pH4.

Perfection Facial Gel. Gel with AHA and salicylic acid. pH3.8. Acidic cleanser with AHA acids and salicylic acid. For problem skin. For acne treatment program. For the fight against black spots. Can also be used as an acidic toner and exfoliator.

Sour tonic with lactic acid
Natural 40% Lactic Acid Peel. Peel with 40% lactic acid. If it is difficult to find cosmetics with lactic acid and with an indication of pH, then you can buy this cheap composition and dilute it with water. In this case, it is necessary to measure the acidity of the resulting solution with litmus papers.

How to choose a powder we'll tell you later.

What is the best tonic to choose video