Cleansing water vs Toner

I thought it was wise to do a post on the difference between toner and cleansing water as a few weeks ago I didn't actually know myself. I've always accepted toner as part of my 3 step skincare routine and never actually known what it is for. Being a massive fan of Clinique £45 for all my skincare was strating to make a hefty dent in my poor student bank account, so in a bid to reduce cost I wondered what toner was for and whether it was entirely necessary. I'd always assumed it was to clear away any missed make-up or left over facial wash, preparing the skin for moisturiser like many other people i had spoken to or had written reviews online but oh how so WRONG we all were!

Toner is supposed to restore the natural PH balance of our skin after  the cleanser has stripped it. Although with some toners I have previously used I find are heavy with alcohol leading to my skin feeling tight and later dry. So what does cleansing water do? When washing off a facial wash or cleanser we don't actaully know what is in the tap water and whether our skin is reacting to the minerals in it so the whole cleansing process becomes useless. Cleansing water is supposed to be a clean substance to wash away your cleanser without any worry of inpurity's or about the source. Some cleansing waters contain flower and fruit extracts to make your skin soft and bright. But is this essentually flavoured water in a fancy bottle with a fake promise? After being impressed by NUDE skincare company i found a bottle of their Clarifying Water for half price at just £6 and it is on it's way to me as i type for testing! Only time will tell whether the hype surrounding cleansing water is something to get excited about or whether it is all a myth?
Gemma