Our top natural skincare toners
Toners are light liquids that are applied to the face and neck directly or applied to a recyclable cotton pad (or ideally a reusable washable pad) to gently remove the last traces of a cleanser or any remaining make up before moisturising. Toners should always be applied directly after thoroughly cleansing the skin which together form the basis of all good skincare routines. Light coconut oil makes an ideal cleanser for most skin types, even oily skin. Using a gently scented toner is also great way to remove a facemask or face pack leaving your face feeling super clean and radiant. However, they can also be used to simply freshen up your face at any time during the day and to help rehydrate the skin.
The benefits of using natural toners
Natural toners also help to restore the skin’s protective acid mantle if they are left to dry naturally and are ideally suited for reviving dull or lack-lustre skin due to either spending too much time indoors exposed to the drying effects of central heating or exposed to the dehydrating effects of the sun. Most commercial toners use alcohol in their formulations, which is very astringent by nature and further dries out the skin. Our bespoke range of pure flower waters, by contrast, contain nothing but botanical ingredients and spring water and are handmade in our artisan laboratory in the Cotswolds. I recommend that you select a flower water that suits your skin type – choosing a scent which you adore – then use it daily, both as a toner and as a refreshing light perfume and hydrating spritz!
Create your own toner using just flower waters
Flower waters also form the perfect base for making personalised natural toners suited to your specific skin type. Rose, jasmine and frankincense, for example, are powerful antioxidants so they are perfect for the care of mature and ageing complexions. Greasy, blemished and congested skin on the other hand benefit especially from the application of anti-septic toners such as those containing fragonia, tea tree and witch hazel, which also help remove any remaining oily residue. Witch hazel is a time-tested astringent and antioxidant, which can help soothe any skin inflammation and reduce visible pore size or blackheads. Dry and sensitive skin benefits from gentle flower waters such as camomile, melissa (lemon balm) and neroli. In this case, a little vegetable glycerine added to the formulation is good for very dry skin, as it is naturally moisturizing and helps make the complexion feel soft and smooth. Different flower waters can be blended for different skin types according to your preferences – here below is a recipe for a normal / combination skin type, but you can also experiment for yourself with different combinations.
A natural rehydrating toner for normal/combination skin
Ingredients
- 20ml rose water
- 20ml lavender water
- 20ml jasmine water
- 20ml geranium water
- 20ml vegetable glycerine
Method
Measure the flower waters and glycerine using a glass beaker. Pour all the ingredients one by one into a clean, tinted 100ml glass bottle using a funnel. Seal the bottle with a lid or aqua-spray top and shake well. Don’t forget to label the bottle and store in the fridge or in a cool place – shelf-life 3 months. Spritz onto the face and neck directly or apply to a recyclable cotton pad. This is a good travel mist to use when you are on the move, during hot weather or simply as a light perfume.