Toners and serums: What you need to know

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1. What is a toner?

Toner (also known as skin balancing water), this is a water-based product that is used immediately after washing the face. Toners work to penetrate deep into the pores and remove dirt as well as excess oil that is left behind that cleansers cannot wash off. In addition, the toner also removes sebum, making it easier for the skin to absorb nutrients in the next skin care steps, helping to tighten pores, prevent acne and balance the pH of the skin.
So is toner a rose water or not? A lot of people confuse these two types of products. As mentioned, toner is a form of balancing water, often containing ingredients that soothe and hydrate the skin such as rose water, green tea, etc. And rose water is an ingredient in toner.
On the market of skin care products today, there are many toners that only contain rose water, so people call this product rose water. Thus, it can be understood that rose water is a toner with only rose water ingredients.

2. What is serum?

Serum (also known as serum), this is a liquid or gel essence that treats skin problems, usually exists in 2 popular forms: water-based serum and oil-based serum. The main ingredients of the serum usually contain micronutrients and minerals of microscopic size to help penetrate deep into the dermis and dermis to treat, repair, and nourish the skin from deep within. in. Serums are made with a concentration of nutrients 10 times higher than other surface creams.
Usually, serums are usually produced as intensive treatment for a certain skin problem. It is difficult to find a multi-use serum and if there is, the effect achieved for each use is not high. Normally serums are divided into 6 main groups of uses:
Anti-aging serum; Whitening Serum; Serum for acne treatment; Serum for moisturizing skin; Exfoliating Serums; Skin regeneration repair serum.

3. Toner and serum which is more necessary?

Toner and serum are two completely independent steps in the daily skincare routine. Each type plays a different role for the user's skin, so it is difficult to determine which toner and serum is more necessary.
For those with oily skin, toner is the right arm that is effective in controlling oil on the skin by removing dirt and excess oil. For people with dry skin, toner is the secret weapon to help balance the pH of the skin, limit flaking and make the skin softer. For sensitive skin, toner has a soothing effect on the skin after cleansing with cleansers. So toner is an essential step in your daily skin care routine.
On the other hand, due to its concentrated properties and ability to penetrate deep into the skin, serum is an extremely important step to solve existing problems of the skin such as: dullness, acne, premature aging, holes large pores ... things that toner cannot do effectively and optimally.
In addition, the skin care process including 2 steps toner and serum will support each other, toner is done first to help the skin be in the most ready state to absorb the essence from the serum.

4. Use toner properly

For toner to have the best effect, we should use it right after washing our face, before applying serum and moisturizer. After cleansing the skin with facial cleansing, users should put 2-3 drops of toner on a cotton pad and apply evenly on the face (if there is no cotton, you can use your hands and pat gently), do not rub too hard.
Choosing the right toner for your skin is also a prerequisite for the toner to work to its full potential. Toners have many types, but the most commonly found on the market include:
Moisturizing Toner: with common ingredients aloe vera (aloe vera), glycerin, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, butylene glycol, vitamin B5... Toner Moisturizer is used by patting gently in several layers or dipping cotton in toner and applying as a lotion mask. pH balance: Brings the skin's pH state to its original level after cleansing (4.2 to 5.6) to help keep skin healthy, supporting the effects of subsequent skin care steps (for example, some ingredients are only active). works well in low pH environments such as salicylic acid). However, if we are using a cleanser with a low pH (about 5.5), the skin's environment will not change too much, using a pH-balanced toner is not really necessary. Acid-based toners: toners that contain AHAs at a low concentration of less than 10% have a gentle exfoliation and natural moisturizing effect. This toner has many effects, both helping to clean, hydrate, restore pH, and be effective in treating acne thanks to its gentle exfoliation effect.

5. Use serum properly

Serums are often the most expensive in the skin care steps, serums are usually contained in a small bottle with a small tube to get the right amount each time you need to use it. Because the concentration of the serum is very high, when using only a few drops is enough for the whole face.
After cleansing and toner, the next step is serum. To use effectively, put the serum on the palm of your hand, rub it for a few seconds, then apply it to your face, massage it evenly (massage helps the skin to heat up gradually to increase absorption) so that the essence penetrates deeply. inside the skin. Do not take too much serum because excess product will clog pores causing acne.
Serum should be used twice daily, before daytime sunscreen and before bedtime lotion. After applying the serum, it is necessary to wait at least 3-5 minutes, when the serum has dried on the surface of the skin, it is most appropriate to continue applying lotion.
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