Toners are a seriously misunderstood skincare product. And with such a confusing history, it’s not hard to see why. Although they’ve been around for centuries, toners have been used (and misused!) for a wide variety of purposes. This has understandably led to some confusion surrounding their efficacy in skincare. While some people swear by them, others say they’re as useless as washing your car in the rain. Regardless of where you stand on the topic, I’m sure you’re here to get a little clarification. So, are toners really necessary? The answer is a little more in-depth than you may think! Let’s dive in.
What Is A Toner?
In short, a toner is used to help refresh the skin after cleansing. Their formulas can range from alcohol to water-based, and the ingredients can vary. So, why do we use them? Believe it or not, cleansers used to have subpar formulations more often than not. In the past, they were made with harsh ingredients that weren’t well-suited for the delicate skin on our faces. Many cleansers would even leave behind a film or residue that would occlude the skin and clog the pores. Yikes! Toners were then used as an extra cleansing step to help remove that layer of grime and restore the skin’s pH balance.
However, skincare products have changed a lot in recent years. The cleansers of today are made with far better ingredients. And most of them don’t disrupt our skin’s pH levels as much either. Of course, this has caused toners to evolve as well. Nowadays, we have formulas for just about every skin concern. Some can help nourish and hydrate the skin, while others may target aging and breakout concerns. Toners have essentially become a jack-of-all-trades in skincare, and anyone can benefit from adding them to their routine. If you’re still not sure where you stand on the toner debate, that’s okay. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons we use them.
Why We Use Toners
Okay, toners aren’t just a bunch of hocus pocus, but you could say they don’t have one focus. With such a wide variety of formulas available now, they can serve a wide number of purposes. Here are a few ways a well-balanced toner can help you elevate your skincare routine.
- They help boost the penetration of your other skincare products, leading to even better results. When our skin is properly cleansed, it becomes easier to absorb the ingredients in the products that follow. Who wouldn’t want to get the most out of their skincare?
- They can pick up any dirt or makeup left behind by your cleanser. I get it, sometimes you don’t want to spend a long time washing your face. Your toner can act like a safety net, making sure your skin is free of debris. (Though, I still highly encourage you to wash your face at least twice a day for two minutes each time. Read my blog to learn more about the best method for cleansing.)
- Toners will help restore your skin’s natural pH. Remember what I said earlier about cleansers? Well, sometimes when we double cleanse (even with a gentle formula) or use an active cleanser, it can still disrupt our skin’s natural pH balance. Using a toner will ensure your skin stays at an optimum pH level. Ideally, our skin should be somewhere between 4.5 and 5.5 on a scale of 0 to 14.
- They can offer an extra opportunity to incorporate beneficial ingredients. Many toners are loaded with antioxidants, vitamins, and other essential components that can help nourish the skin. Some toners even feature mild chemical exfoliants. With so many amazing ingredients, it’s like adding another potent serum to your routine!
Types Of Toners
Clearly, toners have come a long way since the early days, and they’re no longer one-size-fits-all. So how do you find the best option for your skin type? Well, most toners can be categorized into groups. There are nourishing toners, hydrating toners, active toners, and hydrosols. To simplify things, I’ve broken down each category and chosen a few of my favorite formulas for each one. Quick note: some toners will fit into more categories than one, especially in the nourishing and hydrating categories.
Nourishing Toners
Nourishing toners are loaded with ingredients that help support healthy barrier function and encourage healing. As we know, inflammation and oxidation play a huge role in premature aging. This is why it’s important to include plenty of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory ingredients in your routine. Nourishing toners can offer an extra chance to incorporate these ingredients, and they can also help boost the efficacy of the serums that follow. Here are a few of my favorites.
- Le Mieux Essence Toner helps nourish and hydrate the skin. It contains bioactive peptides, 10 botanical extracts, moisture-binding hyaluronic acid, and healthy-aging minerals to help reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation.
- Skin Script Cucumber Hydration Toner is perfect for all skin types. An array of hydrating ingredients help to reduce irritation and balance surface lipids. Despite being hydration focused, the soothing and nourishing aspects are what I love about this toner.
- Face Reality Calming Facial Toner is a gentle formula that helps soothe dry and sensitive skin types. Aloe and rose distillate help the skin stay hydrated while calming inflamed acne.
Hydrating Toners
Staying hydrated is more important than you might think. Human skin alone is made up of around 64% water, so helping our body maintain that moisture is essential. Like nourishing formulas, these toners will help feed the skin and keep it well-hydrated. If you have dry skin, try looking for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, glycerin, and aloe vera to help elevate your routine. Here are some of my favorite options.
- NeoGenesis Moisturizing Mist is a light spritz that helps hydrate the skin and protect against free radical damage. It also contains patented S2RM technology to boost healing and soothe irritation.
- Sorella Apothecary Watermelon Mint Hydrating Mist is a versatile toner that hydrates the skin and provides gentle exfoliation. Plus, it smells delicious!
- Michele Corley Plump Me Up Hydrating Mist uses algae, panthenol, glycerin, and sodium PCA to help hydrate the skin and restore a healthy, youthful glow.
- Botnia Rose Water Toner will help calm redness and sensitivity. This pH-balancing mist targets inflammation and helps to hydrate dry or irritated skin.
A lot of acne products will cause dryness which can lead to excess oil production. This is why I encourage my acne clients to use gentle cleansers and hydrating toners when treating breakouts.
Active Toners
Active toners are used to target a variety of specific concerns, from breakouts and oiliness to aging and pigmentation. For problematic skin, these toners can help remove dead skin cells and buildup that lead to impurities. If you have dull or uneven skin, some toners may help minimize dark spots and brighten your complexion. Here are a few of my favorite active toners.
- Rhonda Allison Pigment Brightening Tonic is an illuminating toner loaded with bellis perennis to help fade dark spots and uneven pigmentation.
- Rhonda Allison Mandelic Purifying Tonic is an antioxidant-packed, purifying toner that gently reduces bacteria, rejuvenates the skin, and cleanses the pores. L-Mandelic acid provides antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and brightening support for problematic skin.
- Skin Script Glycolic And Retinol Pads are easy-to-use exfoliating toner pads with corrective ingredients like glycolic acid, arbutin, kojic acid, and retinol. These top sellers are convenient to use and help address a multitude of skin concerns like large pores, hyperpigmentation, and breakouts.
- Rhonda Allison Fruit Acid Tonic is a potent toner with corrective ingredients like glycolic and salicylic acid to help combat oily skin and congested pores.
Pro Tip: Fruit Acid Tonic is a highly active formula that can cause a stinging feeling for some folks. If your skin is having a hard time adjusting, try diluting it. Wet your toner pad with water first then apply the toner. Do this until your skin has had time to adjust.
Hydrosols
Of course, I can’t talk about toners without also mentioning hydrosols. Made of plant-infused water vapor, Botnia hydrosols are a fun way to add a little aromatherapy to your skincare regimen without the negative side effects you might find with essential oils. Similar to toners, they can help hydrate and refresh the skin after cleansing, or they can be misted on throughout the day. I love keeping a bottle at my desk and spritzing my face whenever my skin is feeling a little dry.
Fun Fact: Hydrosols are self-preserving. For this reason, you’ll see them used in many of Botnia’s products as a natural preservative!
How To Use Your Toner
Generally, you’ll want to use your toner immediately after cleansing, and before any of your other skincare steps. While there are a variety of ways to apply your toner, I highly recommend ditching the cotton pads. Regular cotton balls and cotton pads soak up more product than they deposit onto your skin, which means you’re wasting a lot of toner with every use. I don’t know about you, but I want as much of my toner to end up on my skin as possible! This is why I recommend using our 2″ Gauze Toner Pads. These woven pads won’t soak up as much product as a regular cotton ball, and the rough texture provides gentle exfoliation. They’re medical grade as well, so they are high quality and sanitary.
If you want to take it a step further, you can use your MBK Wave to help drive all these great ingredients further into the skin. This all-in-one skincare device comes with a toner pad attachment to help boost product penetration and ensure you’re getting the most out of your toner. I highly recommend adding this step to your routine, because these toners are made with some really amazing ingredients. While it might be tempting to swipe the toner pad over your face once and be done with it, your skin will really benefit from the extra time taken to apply these formulas.
Are Toners Necessary?
Given that toners have had such a rocky history, I can’t blame you for feeling skeptical of their legitimacy. However, just as our cleansers and night creams have evolved, so too have our toners. Now they can offer an extra chance for us to introduce nourishing ingredients to our routine. Additionally, they can ensure our skin is properly cleansed and ready to take on the rest of our skincare products, which means better results in the long run. If you ask me, toners are as necessary as our SPF. So, if you want your skin to look its best, adding a toner to your routine is an amazing idea.
Still have questions? Feel free to reach out to us any time via live chat or email, we love talking all things skincare! 🙂
