Obagi Medical - C-Balancing Toner

An alcohol-free toner for skin that is prone to shine, but should not be dried out.

Why it works

With oily skin, the reflex is to degrease: the harsher the product, the better. That works against you. If you remove too much sebum, your skin simply produces it again, and usually more than before. This toner does the opposite. Witch hazel absorbs excess sebum and has a soothing effect, aloe vera binds moisture and has antioxidant properties, and the formula restores the pH balance of your skin after cleansing, without alcohol.

The texture is watery and fresh, and it leaves no residue on your skin.

For whom

For normal to oily skin, skin with visible pores, or combination skin that is shiny, especially in the T-zone. Also great in the summer, when your skin is more active than usual.

If your skin is more normal or tends to be dry, choose the Nu-Derm Toner from the same brand: it has a slightly gentler composition.

How to use it

Morning and evening, immediately after cleansing. Apply to a cotton pad and gently swipe over your face, neck, and décolleté. Do not rinse off. Follow with your serum while your skin is still slightly damp.

My advice

Oily skin and hydrated skin are two different things, and that distinction often makes the difference in the salon. I regularly see people with shiny skin that is simultaneously dehydrated: they are shiny and their skin feels tight. This combination almost always arises from using products that are too harsh. If you stop using those and simply provide your skin with moisture and rest, sebum production often calms down on its own, although it takes about six weeks.

So, stop trying to scrub it away. One gentle cleanser, this toner, light hydration, and sun protection in the morning. That is usually all oily skin needs.

Questions about which steps your skin really needs? Feel free to send me a message.