When used the right way, toner can help clean, refresh, and nourish your skin without taking away its natural moisture. Despite several common myths, not all toners are harsh or drying. In fact, a good toner can actually improve your skincare routine by adding hydration, strengthening your skin barrier, and removing leftover dirt, oil, makeup, and other impurities.
For many people, toner is a must-have in their daily skincare. But what does face toner do exactly? What ingredients does it contain? When should you use it, and how does it work? Lucky for you, we have the answers to all those questions and more.
What is Toner?
Toner is a lightweight liquid skincare product that works as a powerful multitasker for your face. Modern toners are infused with essential vitamins, antioxidants, anti-inflammatory agents, and acids like salicylic acid, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide. Together, these ingredients help hydrate, soothe, and nourish the skin, leaving it looking refreshed & radiant.
Toners help tighten pores, remove any residual dirt, oil, and makeup, and restore the natural pH of the skin after cleansing. Depending on the formula, toners can be hydrating, calming, or oil-controlling.
Toners in the past targeted oily and acne-prone skin. Most contained alcohol to help dry up excess oil, but science has evolved the way that toners are formulated, making them suitable for all skin types, whether dry or sensitive. In addition to a clearer complexion, the application of toner will also strengthen the skin's natural barrier, making the skin feel healthy and fresh.
What Does A Toner Do for Your Face?
Toner can be a great addition to your skincare routine. It will make your skin look and feel great. Here’s what it does:
1. Provides a Deeper Cleanse
Toners act as a second step in your cleansing process. They help remove any leftover makeup, oil, or dirt that your cleanser might miss. Whether it’s dirt from a busy day or excess oils from overnight, toners ensure your skin is thoroughly clean and refreshed.
2. Restores and Balances Your Complexion
Toners do more than just clean. They add back nutrients that regular cleansers can remove. This leads to softer, smoother skin that feels better. A good toner can also help reduce redness and other skin issues.
3. Balances Your Skin’s pH Levels
Your skin naturally has an acidic pH of around 4.7. Some cleansers, especially those with alkaline ingredients, can throw this balance off, leading to dryness, oiliness, or irritation. Toners quickly restore your skin’s pH levels, keeping it healthy and comfortable.
4. Preps Skin for Better Absorption
Hydrated skin absorbs skincare products better. Toners help prepare your skin, ensuring that serums, moisturisers, and other treatments penetrate more effectively for maximum results. For example, after toning, you can apply an eye serum for wrinkles, which targets fine lines and dark circles around the eyes, offering smoother, more youthful-looking skin.
5. Controls Oil and Tightens Pores
Sebum, the natural oil your skin produces, is essential, but too much can lead to oily or combination skin. Toners help remove excess sebum, tighten pores, and balance oil production, strengthening your skin’s natural barrier.
6. Addresses Various Skin Concerns
Toners aren’t just for oily skin—they’re tailored for all skin types. Mature skin benefits from antioxidants that fight ageing, while dry or normal skin types can enjoy added hydration and a refreshed, dewy look.
7. Enhances Skin’s Natural Glow
A well-formulated toner boosts radiance by evening out your skin tone and brightening your complexion. It helps combat dullness, giving your face a healthy, glowing appearance.
What is a Good Toner?
A good toner is one that suits your skin type and addresses your specific concerns. Look for toners with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid for dry skin or salicylic acid to combat acne. Toners containing niacinamide work well for brightening and improving uneven skin tone, while those with chamomile or aloe vera are excellent for calming sensitive skin.
How to Apply Toner?
Once you’ve cleansed your face, toner is the next step, and there’s no need to wash it off. Follow these easy steps to get the best results:
Cleanse Your Skin: Start by washing your face with a cleanser to remove dirt, oil, and makeup.
Prepare the Toner: Add a few drops of toner onto two cotton pads. You don’t need to use a lot of product—just enough to cover your skin lightly without soaking the cotton pads.
Apply the Toner: Start under your chin, gently dabbing and massaging the toner upwards. Work your way up through your temples and across your forehead, using light pressure.
Focus on Key Areas: Move to the centre of your brows and massage down the sides of your nose. Then, lightly pat under your eyes and along your cheekbones, avoiding your lips and eyelids, as these areas are more sensitive.
Target Problem Spots: Go over areas prone to dead skin buildup, like the sides of your eyes, under your brows, and on your forehead. Use light dabbing motions for an extra cleanse in these spots.
Let It Absorb: Allow the toner to fully absorb into your skin for a couple of minutes before moving on to the next step in your skincare routine. No need to rinse—just let the toner do its job.
Final Thoughts
Incorporating a well-chosen toner into your skincare routine can enhance your skin's health and appearance. Toning can have several benefits—from deep cleaning to balancing the pH and hydrating. However, you must make sure to opt for a toner suitable for your skin type and concerns.
As skincare formulations continue to evolve, toners remain a valuable tool in achieving and maintaining radiant, healthy skin. To discover how ingredients like niacinamide can benefit your skin, check out our blog on niacinamide benefits for the skin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it okay to use toner on your face every day?
Yes, using toner daily can be beneficial for most skin types. Apply it after cleansing, both in the morning and at night. Using toner helps balance pH and get rid of any dirt, oil, makeup, or impurities that your cleanser missed. A gentle hydrating toner can be a good addition to your routine.
Do you actually need to use a toner?
Toner is not required for everyone but can be beneficial based on what your skin needs. Toner can restore balance to your skin if the cleanser used disturbs the natural pH level. While not necessarily required, it can help make your skin healthier and appear better.
What does a toner do for your face?
Toner is an aspect of skin cleaning and helps in making your skin cleaner. Toners help in closing pores, eliminating leftover dirt, oil, and makeup, and re-establishing the skin's natural pH balance after cleansing. It eliminates the dirt, bacteria, makeup, and impurities left by the cleanser that the latter might not be able to remove. Hence, it protects your skin while maintaining freshness and balance in your skin.
Are there any side effects of using toner?
If used incorrectly, toner can cause side effects like dryness, irritation, or acne breakouts. To avoid these issues, choose a toner that matches your skin type and contains ingredients that work well with your skin.
Can I use rose water as a toner?
Yes, rose water is a natural and gentle option that works well as a toner. It helps hydrate, soothe, and balance your skin’s pH, making it ideal for most skin types, especially sensitive skin.
Should I moisturise after using toner?
Yes, always follow toner with a moisturiser or serum. Applying them when your skin is still a little wet from the toner helps seal in moisture and improves the way the products absorb.
