Posted on 1st Apr 2011 @ 12:51 AM

Sensitive skin requires very gentle, irritant-free cleansing. Toners help to remove all traces of a cleanser, be it a foaming or a non-foaming cleanser formulated specifically to cleanse without stripping. Toners also soak up quickly leaving a fine layer of soothing botanicals on the skin. Water evaporates quickly, too, providing a soothing, cooling effect on sensitive, easily irritated skin.

Toners for sensitive skin must be free from alcohol, petrochemicals (any penetration enhancers and emulsifiers with PEG, PG and similar must be avoided, even if the cosmetic label says they come from natural sources), and of course conventional preservatives which are known to irritate sensitive skin. Toners for sensitive skin must be free from any added fragrance. Avoid products that have a word “perfume” on the label. Even if the perfume is derived from essential oil, it may still irritate sensitive skin.

The best toner for sensitive skin is mineral water. Ideally, mineral water for sensitive skin must be rich in selenium which is a known antioxidant and magnesium for its soothing properties. Some of the best mineral water spays are Roche-Posay and Avene (in fact, mineral water sprays are the only products from these lines that I would ever buy). You can easily make your own mineral water spray by pouring some mineral water (still, not sparkly) in a small bottle with a mist dispenser. Some of the best mineral waters for sensitive skin include Evian and Volvic.

You can prepare your own toner for sensitive skin at home. You can splash it on your sensitive, irritated skin or add to the bathwater. All you need is filtered or mineral water and some herbs – you can buy them as teas or dried in bulk in most health food stores.

Sensitive Skin Herbal Infusion Recipe

Ingredients

1 tablespoon dried nettle or 2 nettle tea bags

1 tablespoon dried melissa (lemon balm) or 2 melissa tea bags

1 tablespoon dried chamomile flowers or 2 chamomile tea bags

3 cups filtered water

Method

Combine the herbs in a bowl and cover with water. Bring to boil and simmer on low heat for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and strain.

Storage

Store in a glass bottle in a refrigerator for 1 week. Decant in a smaller bottle for daily use.