You've heard that using a toner is an important step in your skin care routine, but what does it do? If you're confused about toners, you've come to the right place. We break down exactly what different types of toners do for your skin. Read on to learn what a toner is, why you need to use it, and which toner is right for you.
What is a toner anyway?
Toners are usually associated with drying, alcohol-based formulas that remove oil from your skin – along with every last bit of moisture. Fortunately, toners have come a long way. In addition to astringent properties, the latest generation of toners and facial sprays moisturize, rebalance, and treat a variety of skin problems and conditions.
The benefits of toner: what does it do?
Balances the pH
Toner is often applied after the cleansing step to ensure that the skin's pH is balanced. The pH of a skin relates to the acidity of the protective acid mantle of your skin. If your skin is too acidic, you can break out. This is where the toner comes in as it is there to help balance your skin. As Healthline notes, “… some soaps and detergents are alkaline. Using a product with a very different pH than your skin can disrupt its normal functions and possibly lead to dryness, greasiness or irritation. "
Addressed concerns
Some toners help restore and balance your skin's pH levels, while others nourish the skin and focus on treating specific problems.
"In the past, toners were used to balance the pH of the skin after using an alkaline soap product to cleanse it." Rebecca Kazin, MD, a dermatologist in Washington, DC, told Women & # 39; s Health magazine. Nowadays, however, toners can also nourish the skin with ingredients like chamomile, lavender, and comfrey root.
Helps to absorb upcoming products
Whether a toner balances the skin's pH level or provides nutrients, the toner step prepares your skin to absorb products that you apply afterwards. Eminence Organics Senior skin care trainer Natalie Pergar refers to toning as the "conditioning step" of your skin care routine. The right toner evens out your complexion and provides a moisturizing base layer to prepare your skin for the following steps.
Provides extra thorough cleaning
Even after using a detergent, you may still need to remove any residual sebum, makeup, or dirt, and a toner can help with this. Toners complete the cleaning process by removing any last trace of makeup that your cleaner was unable to remove. These quickly absorbed liquids remove stubborn impurities and provide the skin with the moisture it needs.
The different types of toners
There are hundreds of toners out there and it can be daunting figuring out whether you pick the right one for you. That's why we're here to help!
Toners can be categorized as moisturizing, exfoliating, or astringent based on their purpose. Different toners are suitable for different skin types, so this should be taken into account when deciding which toner to use.
Moisturizing
It's no surprise that moisturizing toners contain moisturizing (water-attracting) ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid. Moisturizing ingredients hold water well and make it difficult for water to evaporate. You can usually find this type of toner in the form of a refreshing mist or spray. One example is our Stone Crop Hydrating Mist, which was developed for dry skin. This gentle face spray is formulated with lavender and nourishing stone harvest juice to improve the skin's moisture levels.
peeling
Exfoliating toners contain a small amount of AHA or BHA ingredients to brighten the complexion and improve a dull skin tone. Typically, these toners help remove dead cells from the surface of the skin, making the skin look softer and smoother.
Astringent
Astringents are better described as a toner’s cousin. If you have oily skin, astringents can also be helpful in getting rid of excess oil. The main difference is that an astringent typically contains solvent alcohols or has a higher alcohol content than a regular toner. Today, however, toners have come a long way since the 1990s. Fortunately for us, astringent toners don't contain high amounts of alcohol like they used to. You are more likely to see formulations with ingredients like witch hazel that are gentler on the skin. Eminence Organics' toners fall into the modern toners category, which means they focus on nourishing the skin with moisturizing ingredients or providing gentle exfoliating benefits.
When should I use a toner?
In addition to using toners as part of your daily and nightly skin care routine, Eminence Organics offers International Trainers Jude Herrera Toners can also be used throughout the day to moisturize the skin, soothe dryness, or set your makeup in place.
If you're wondering when to apply a toner during your skin care routine, apply it right after you cleanse your skin, morning and night. For application, toner is typically applied by brushing on with a cotton pad. You can also apply and apply a toner with clean hands. Applying a toner when the skin is still slightly damp enables the active ingredients to be absorbed more efficiently. This should help prepare your skin for the rest of the products.
To find the right toner or ingredient for your needs, use our Spa Locator to find a spa for in-person or virtual professional advice to find the best toners for you. And let us know in the comments below or on social media which product you think is best for your skin type.
This post was originally written by Alisha Whitley in June 2019 and has been updated for accuracy and completeness.