What exacty is a toner? Do you really need to use one?
Let's talk about toner, shall we? Basically, a toner is a watery liquid that you use after washing your face with or without a cotton pad. It was originally used to get rid of any extra oil, dirt, or leftover gunk from cleansing. Toners were pretty harsh and would strip away moisture, mainly for people with oily or acne-prone skin. They used to be loaded with alcohol, which could really dry you out. But nowadays, toners do a lot more than just clean your face. They contain soothing, brightening, hydrating, and anti-aging properties.
Toners - they can work wonders for your skin if you use them right. They actually help other skincare products do their job better. Toners can:
Cleanse your skin: That's what toners were originally made for. They give your skin a deep clean, prepping it for the next step.
Increase product effectiveness: Toners can help other products sink into your skin better.
Add extra moisture: Moisturizing toners can give your skin an extra layer of hydration before applying anything else.
Target skin issues: Toners can help tackle your skin concerns. Using the right toner for your specific skin problem can really help address those issues.
Back to the question, are toners really necessary? The answer is no. They are not necessary. A skin care routine typically consists of three key points. Other than the listed three key points, you don't really need anything else.
Cleanse your skin
Moisturize your skin
Protect your skin with sunscreen
But I can't live without them!
How to choose the right toner?
When picking out a toner, make sure to think about your skin type and any particular problems you're dealing with.
If your skin is normal: you can totally skip this step, but I would find a toner that will hydrate. Hydrating your skin will always be a positive for any skin type. (lucky you) You can try this one from Beauty of Joseon. Has ginseng to help with anti-aging and niacinamide to help with just everything. Check out the full ingredients here at INCIDecoder.com.
If your skin tends to be dry: try finding a toner that has ingredients like hyaluronic acid or niacinamide to help keep it hydrated. You can try this one from TIRTIR. It has rice extract, panthenol and allantonin. It provides a long lasting hydration. Check out the full ingredients here at INCIDecoder.com.
If your skin is sensitive: try finding a toner that has ingredients like centella asisatica or panthenol to help with your skin barrier and help calm it down. You can try this one from Numbuzin. Super clean ingredients like centella asiatica, heart leaf and licorice root extract to help soothe skin. Check out the full ingredients here at INCIDecoder.com.
If your skin is oily/combo: try finding a toner that has ingredients like niacinamide or mugwort to help control sebum, but also moisturize. You can try this one from I'm From. It has 100% mugwort which helps soothe, calm and help with sebum. Even for sensitive skin. Check out the full ingredients here at INCIDecoder.com.
If your skin is acne prone: try finding a toner that has ingredients like salicylic acid or natural anti-inflammatory/antibacterial properties like witch hazel or tea tree, but don't use everyday. Use 2-3 times a week and other days you can use products that have calming and soothing ingredients. You can try this one from Benton. It has aloe and snail mucin for hydrating and soothing along with salicylic acid to help with acne. Check out the full ingredients here at INCIDecoder.com.
Bottom line
Growing up, I always saw my mom layering on product after product on her porcelain-like skin. She'd keep patting them in, one after another. Since I have Asian roots, taking care of my skin has always been a thing for me. I've stuck to Asian toners all my life because Western ones have had a reputation for being too harsh on the skin.
So, when my mom got me into skincare back in high school, she made sure I knew the drill. Cleanse, then comes the toner (or as my Asian mom calls it, "skin"). Just a splash in my hands, then onto my face with a gentle pat pat pat. Next up, moisturizer with more pat pat pat, and top it off with sunscreen. The serums, ampoules, and eye creams? They came much later in life. Mom still swears by her toner to this day, but me being a skincare junkie, I like to take it up a notch. My skin's not always perfect, so I like to give it that extra TLC to keep it looking its best, you know what I mean?
I believe in toners. And was taught that it is a must for your skin. So even up to this day I really think they are pretty important, but hey, it's totally up to you. Just keep in mind that not every toner is not the same. Find the one that's just right for you. Personally I keep like four or five different toners on my vanity. (Not saying you gotta do the same, though.) I switch it up depending on how my skin's feeling each day. If my hormonal acne is acting up, I grab one with salicylic acid. And when I need some soothing, I go for a different one. I try to balance my pH with the toner and help my skin for the next product. It's like giving your skin a little extra boost before the next product. (And not all Western toners are terrible.) What toners do you like to use? Have you come across any new ones that are like magic potions for your skin?
Cool cool cool 😎 I love this post! It’s so me! I’m Korean and my mom has always emphasized the importance of taking care of your skin with the pat pat pat! And she always told me to never skip my toner! 🤭