What is a toner and why do you need one?

We frequently get asked this question at Fig & Flower when making skincare recommendations. Toners are an important step in skincare to hydrate, revitalize, soothe, and balance the pH of the skin. Toners can be used right after cleansing or sprayed on the skin throughout the day for a good dose of refreshment or rehydration. Those with more oily or combination skin might feel a toner is enough on its own after cleansing, but those with dry skin usually want to follow up with a moisturizer to help lock in the moisture. Depending on ingredients, some toners or toning mists can also be sprayed on top of makeup to give your skin a more dewy look. Here is a look at some of the toners that we sell at Fig & Flower and how to decide which one could work best for you.

Final Takeaway:

Toners are an excellent multi-use product that offer tailored benefits to the skin depending on personal hydration needs and lifestyle. We encourage you to come by Fig & Flower to test out some of these amazing products and see how adding a facial toner or mist can elevate your skincare routine.

Over the course of the summer, we've been hinting here and there about big changes happening around these parts. We've given our website a much-needed facelift, gotten pretty serious about our Instagram game, hired some amazing new staff members, and most recently, redesigned our store. Those of you who are local in Atlanta might have had a chance to see everything in person, but for those of you who haven't, we wanted to give you a tour of our store as it looks today. 

We started with this inspiration shot from House Beautiful:

Interestingly enough, the article describes the color palette as bringing nature into a space. How fitting for a shop like Fig & Flower, right? We loved the eclectic mix of elegant furnishings paired with pops of color and playful fabrics. Basically, we thought, "Hey, that's us!" We hope you'll think so, too. 

Take a tour of our space below. Oh, and just to give you an idea of where we started, here's where we were last summer. My, what a difference a year can make! 

We've honed our color palette - hello deep turquoise, smoky blues and shimmery gold...

We've installed gorgeous original art by Libby Emi and custom shelving by Woodology...

We've painted walls. We've planted plants. We've added a pretty amazing rug. In essence, we've really made our space feel like home - a home for us, for our amazing products, and for our wonderful customers. And we can't wait to show it to you in person.

Oh, and we almost forgot: we're bringing you even more Fig & Flower by opening at 10 AM Monday - Saturday. Come visit!

Look out for our blog post next month highlighting the brands we've added to go with our new updated look! Leave a comment below and tell us what you think. Much love, my beauties.

Call us late to the game, but Instagram is quickly becoming our favorite platform to post on. For one, we get to showcase some of our favorite brands and give them lots of love. For another, we have a space to show-off all of the fun things happening in our store on a daily basis. By following us on Instagram, you'll get sneak peeks at exciting changes, be the first to see new product right when it arrives, catch a glimpse of founder Sara behind the scenes, and even get a little motivation from time to time too. In sort, we're using Instagram to bring you the best of the best that Fig & Flower has to offer. Join the fun by commenting on our photos with your makeup mood of the day, showing our pets some love, or liking our latest and greatest finds. 

Don't miss a thing; follow us on Instagram.

Monday, June 20th marked the first official day of summer, but even though the days are longer, let’s admit it: we don’t always have time (or energy) to devote to a full face of makeup. If you’re looking to simplify your makeup routine, we have a step-by-step tutorial from our founder, Sara. Below, you’ll find the five (yes, only five!) products you’ll need to look fresh and clean this summer.

Step One: Apply Vapour Stratus Soft Focus Skin Perfector primer all over. Summer is a perfect time to skip heavy foundations and embrace primers and tinted moisturizers instead. This Vapour Stratus Soft Focus Skin Perfector is tinted for just a touch of color and includes light reflective technology to add a little glow wherever you go.

Step Two: Apply RMS Beauty “Un”-Cover Up concealer anywhere you want just a tiny bit of extra coverage. Using your ring finger (it’s the weakest of the bunch), apply this concealer to blemishes or other areas of redness. Sara recommends your ring finger in order to control the thickness of the product and leave a more delicate finish. To apply, dab the product, opposed to rubbing it, in order not to pull your skin. As you apply, avoid your cheek area in order to maximize natural cheek color (no need to cover up rosey cheeks only to apply blush on top).

Pro Tip: Use this concealer as “an eraser” to cover any excess color once your application is complete.

Step Three: Use Vapour’s Auro Multi-Use Blush Stick in Eros as your blush and lip color. Apply this multi-use blush stick with your fingers - two different ones to be exact. Pick-up the color with one finger and apply it with a different finger. This avoids adding too much color too quickly.  Cream blushes, like this one, are forgiving because if you find your cheeks full of too much color, you can easily rub it in. Use same product on your lips for easy application and saving time, too.

Step Four: Choose a neutral eye color like 100% Pure Eyeshadow in Star Bright. Using a neutral, but shimmery color will help your eyes look more awake. Make sure you blend the color well using an eyeshadow brush.

Pro Tip: Use your eyeshadow as a highlighter at the top of your cheekbones and bridge of your nose for an added summer glow.

Step Five: Finish your look with Alima Pure Natural Definition Mascara. We’re cutting out the middle man here (aka. eyeliner) and going straight for the drama with mascara. Use a black mascara, like the Alima Pure Natural Definition Mascara, and apply two coats. Adding an additional coat will turn up the look without any extra product.

Pro Tip: If you get mascara on your lid, don’t use a wet q-tip to clean it. Wait for the mascara to dry, and use a dry q-tip to remove the excess. Using a dry q-tip will help your mascara come off clean while a wet q-tip will spread the mascara around.

Naturally You

My favorite trend runway look is designers embracing a natural look for their models. Not just natural, but naked. Well, sort of... totally makeup free! Proenza Schouler and Marc Jacobs sent their models on the catwalk without any makeup this season, while Preen actually added freckles to the face, neck and chest of the models.

Wearing makeup is fun and can help us enhance our mood, from flirty to daring. But it shouldn't be a prerequisite to feeling beautiful. In our airbrushed, photoshopped age, it is important to remember that we are all created differently, and it's precisely those differences that make us beautiful and unique.

If you're up for the challenge, go buff this season. Okay, not totally buff. But give your skin a few days off from makeup and see how you like it. I love spritzing on a moisturizing toner before heading out, which gives me a just a hint of dewiness. Try Elizabeth Dehn for One Love Organics Vitamin D Moisture Mist, which has a super cool time-release delivery system to help supply moisture all day long!

If going truly natural makes you feel a litter, well... naked try using Vapour's Soft Focus Instant Skin Perfector, which smooths both the texture and tone of skin without adding color. It also has amazing anti-aging ingredients and can be used as a primer under makeup for the days when natural just ain't your thang. Pair it with an Alima Pure Lip Tint, and get ready to tackle spring in all your beautiful glory!

Shop these items, and other summer favorites, HERE.