The use of toner, yes, does tighten your pores, but chemically, it does more than that.

You see, whatever cleaning product you use before your toner will have a high pH level, i.e. it will be acidic. That's how it gets rid of all the dirt! And ideally, your skin should be pH 5.5-6, which is about, ib a scale between 0-14 (14 being acidic). So after you wash your face, with foam or exfoliator, the pH level will go up. The toner brings the pH level much closer to the ideal. As such, toners help to restore your skin's balance.

Try to avoid toners with alcohol. This can be too drying and strip your skin of natural oils. Remember, it's good to drink, but not good to put on your face!

Daily exfoliation does not always help, especially if you are already prone to combination or oily skin. It actually exacerbates those oil-production cells and you could wind up shinier than you want to be. Depending on your skin type, you exfoliate between 1-3 times a week.

As for cheap products, I could go on and on about that... there are some good products out there that don't cost an arm and a leg, but it's hard to say. What works for one person may not work for you.

Don't believe it when consultants tell you that you NEED to have all the products from the same range. What works for YOU may be any combination of items from the cheap end of the scale to the expensive.

Will be happy to talk more about this.

And when do you want your manga?!?!