Toners, sprays, hydrosols, and mists. Whatever you call them, you probably didn’t know how powerful they can be and also how they can make your serum work so much better. Here are 3 I recommend along with how to get the most out of those expensive serums we all seem to collect.
The Soap Market’s Soothing Skin Mist feels like I’m cleaning my skin and giving it a shot of vitamins all at once. It casts a wide spray so my whole face feels evenly misted, and the aloe, cucumber, witch hazel, and coconut and lemon oils smell like a relaxing spa. I use tons of it on my face and even my arms and legs when I’m fresh out of the shower before adding serums and body oil. That’s the thing about a $19 investment, you can afford to use the hell out of it and get all the great benefits without feeling like you paid so much it needs to be locked up in a museum somewhere.
Kat Burki’s Balancing Elixir was the first facial mist I used where I really ‘got it’ in terms of why I should add a toner to my routine. It’s so refreshing with aloe, lavender, vitamin c, and other fruit extracts. It’s great for dull, lifeless skin because it revs it up like a shot of expresso with a sparkly effervescent sort of feel. It doesn’t absorb too quickly so I usually add a serum and pat in both at the same time.
I’m such a fan of Enessa– the way they craft each product is so special. I use their serums and sprays as a benchmark against which all others are measured. Their Neroli HydraTone mist smells citrusy and bright with bitter orange and soothes using calendula and olive leaf extracts. And don’t get me started on the potent Pinus Pinaster and Carya Ovata extracts they use (from pine and shagbark trees, respectively.) Trees, flowers, and plants known for their super healing powers are what the line is all about, and this toner is such a decadent, uplifting treat to use.
But their real power is how they make your serums go from eh to the powerhouse potions you were promised when you bought them.
Think about a sponge- just a regular ol sponge you use to clean that’s maybe under your kitchen sink. Now imagine you’re wiping up some water that spilled. You wouldn’t use it dry without running it under some water first would you? No because using it dry wouldn’t absorb liquid like a damp one would and the same rule applies to our porous sponge-like skin. Dampening it with a toning mist before adding your serum helps it to absorb and work better than just using it alone. A lot better. If your serum leaves you feeling like a big greasy mess, chances are your skin isn’t primed to take in the oils as it would be with a little mist.
They’re basically added vitamins and skin benefits while promoting better serum penetration which makes your face feel more balanced. Amazing right? There was a time when I didn’t understand the purpose of sprays, but now they’re one of my most favorite things to use.