By Theresa Pittman
Toners are multi-purpose skin care. Toning closes the pores and seals in moisture, but it should also hydrate the skin. No matter what your skin type, good toning is essential to healthy, beautiful skin. Alcohol is too drying for most skin types, but more natural astringents can clean and close pores without the drying effects.
Hydrosols make wonderful toners that are simple to use. Hydrosols are a by-product of steam distillation, created while extracting essential oils. Their gentleness makes them an excellent way to tone, hydrate and rebalance the pH of the skin. Like the oils they are related to, different hydrosols have different properties and are suitable for different skin types.
Conventional skin care programs usually present the steps of a skin care regimen in the following order: cleanse, tone, nourish (moisturize). Some natural-care programs believe that it makes more sense to close the pores after nourishing. This is a personal preference; you will need to see which works best for you.
Here are a couple of simple, at-home toning and hydrating mask recipes from Pierre Jean Cousin’s Anti-Wrinkle Treatments for Perfect Skin.
Cucumber and Fresh Mint Mask
Ingredients:
5 fresh mint leaves
1/4 medium cucumber
1 large egg white
Place the mint in a food processor or blender and give it one short burst to chop. Peel and seed the cucumber. Add tot the mint and puree. Beat the egg white separately until it forms stiff peaks. Fold gently into the pureed cucumber mixture.
Apply evenly to face and neck and leave on for 20 minutes. Rinse off and pat dry.
The fresh mint and egg white both have a toning action, while the cucumber is hydrating and anti-inflammatory. This toning mask is good for all skin types.
Fresh Cream and Grape Lotion
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon grape juice
1/2 lemon
1 tablespoon fresh heavy cream
Beat the cream and grape juice together to obtain a light fluffy cream. Press the lemon to extract 1/2 teaspoon of juice. Add the lemon juice drop by drop to prevent curdling, stirring gently to mix
Apply to face and neck and leave on for 10 minutes. Rinse off and pat dry. If you like, finish by dabbing a little witch hazel on and allowing to dry naturally.
Grapes are rich in minerals (potassium, manganese, calcium, sodium, and iodine) and vitamins A, B, and C. The grape and lemon juices act as toners, while the nourishing cream counter-balances their astringent effect.
Moisturizing and nourishing are usually accomplished in the same step. Dry and mature skins, in particular, need extra hydration and oils, as well as minerals and vitamins, to help maintain and regenerate normal vitality.
Fresh fruits and vegetables used as masks are the best way to nourish your skin naturally. However, fruit and vegetable extracts provide the next best way to treat your skin. Many fruits have a revitalizing, nourishing, and often astringent action on the skin. It is the acids they contain and their high vitamin content that provide these benefits.
Some of the benefits derived from fruit are:
- Removal of dead skin, excess fatty deposits, and blackheads
- Helps eliminate freckles and excess pigmentation
- Erases faint lines and wrinkles
- Inhibits the growth of bacteria
- Helps regulate the secretion of sebum
- Unclogs and closes pores
- Tones and hydrates the skin
- Contributes small amounts of trace elements and minerals such as potassium, zinc and selenium
The most beneficial fruits for cleansing, toning and nourishing are apple, apricot, avocado, banana, blackcurrant, cherry, grape, grapefruit, lemon, melon, orange, raspberry, papaya, pineapple, and tomato.
Many vegetables have useful anti-inflammatory action, making effective treatment for sensitive, damaged or inflamed skin. The promote healing by giving damaged skin large amounts of vitamin A, important minerals, and trace elements.
The most beneficial vegetables for skin care are cabbage, carrot, cucumber, lettuce, potato, and watercress. Don't forget the sea vegetables like sea kelp, Irish Moss and Spirulina.
Other nourishing ingredients include barley, dairy products, eggs, honey, oats, pollen, royal jelly,
Essential oils are an excellent and safe alternative to cosmetic and conventional medical treatment of the skin. They have been used for years with great success to treat the most difficult cases of eczema and rosacea, but they are also irreplaceable for daily skin care.
Vegetable oils and oils cold pressed from seeds and nuts are great moisturizers on their own. They are also useful 'carrier' oils for essential oils. The combination of the appropriate oils and carrier oils for your skin type or condition results in a beneficial massage oil for face or body. The right oils are good for your skin, even if you have oily skin. Olive oil is one of the most versatile oils. It is good for all skin types and almost all conditions. Other premium oils to look for in the products you buy are Meadfoam Seed, Rosehip, Wheat Germ, Vitamin E, Hazelnut, Macadamia Nut.
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