Do I Need to Use a Facial Toner | When to Put on Skin Toner?

Facial toners are one of the most divisive products in the skincare world. For years, they had a bad reputation for having alcohol-based formulas. Thanks to the rise of k-beauty skin care products, face toners are back on our radar with water-based formulas. Toner is a misunderstood skincare product that is often seen as an unnecessary extra step. Even if you’re a ‘skinimalist’, it’s worth looking into the benefits of using facial toner. Read on to find out everything you need to know about facial toners and the benefits they have for your skin.

IS TONER NECESSARY?

While toner won’t make or break your skin care routine, it can boost the performance of your cleanser and help with the absorption of active ingredients. It’s all about finding a toner that is packed full of natural ingredients. The benefits of using a toner include reducing breakouts, balancing your pH levels, and removing dead skin cells.

WHY DO PEOPLE HAVE A NEGATIVE VIEW OF TONERS?

Toner has a bad reputation because of its former alcohol-based formulas. These older toners were infamous for causing dehydration and irritation in your skin. This unfortunate history of the product is the reason for people avoiding it. The first thing to note is that toner should not make you feel like your skin is burning. Regardless of what toner you’re using, it shouldn’t irritate your skin. 

Thankfully, K beauty has stepped in to redeem the humble toner. With the rise of water-based formulas (bye, bye alcohol toners!), the product is back on everyone’s radar.

WHAT IS THE MAIN BENEFIT OF USING A TONER?

When you see the benefits of using a toner, you’ll quickly realize that you shouldn’t be skipping it. It’s a multi-tasking product that picks up where your cleanser leaves off and helps to rebalance your pH levels. Whatever skin type you have, a toner has the potential to step up your skincare game and help you get the most out of your other products. 

You can find facial toners packed full of hydrating ingredients such as green tea, salicylic acid, tea tree, glycolic acid, and rose water to give your skin an extra moisture boost to prevent premature aging and soothe your skin. We’re rounding up a few of the main benefits of using a toner to help you reconsider the product.

1. BALANCES YOUR PH LEVELS

The main purpose of a toner is to help balance your pH levels in your skin. If you have oily skin, this a must-have step to help control excess sebum production and get your skin under control.

2. REMOVES EXCESS OILS AND DEAD SKIN CELLS

Toner acts as the second step of your cleansing routine. Your face sheds thousands of dead skin cells every day. Your cleanser needs a little help in exfoliating your skin to catch them all. A toner will remove dead skin cells and excess oil that is still clinging to your skin after you cleanse.

3. DIMINISHES THE APPEARANCE OF ENLARGED PORES

As your toner helps to remove dead skin cells, it unclogs your pores and leaves them looking visibly refined and smaller. You can wave goodbye to enlarged pores and say hello to a clearer complexion.

4. EXFOLIATES YOUR SKIN

By exfoliating your skin, your toner will help boost the performance and efficiency of the active ingredients in your other skincare products. When your skin is freshly cleansed and exfoliated, it’s better able to absorb these active ingredients. Your products will be able to penetrate deeper into your skin as a result.

5. REDUCES BREAKOUTS

Using a toner for acne prone skin can help reduce potential pimples as it closes any gaps in your skin cells, reducing the potential for dirt and impurities to get under your skin. This process also helps to prevent enlarged pores and keeps your complexion clear.

HOW OFTEN TO USE TONER + HOW TO USE THEM

Apply a hydrating toner immediately after you wash your face with a cleanser. You should always make sure to apply face toner by using a clean cotton pad in the morning which should help remove oils that were built up from the previous night. Make sure to gently wipe it outwards from your T-zone and cheeks.

Use the same steps in the evening so that the toner can remove any makeup or bacteria that your cleanser may have missed.

IS TONER SUITABLE FOR ALL SKIN TYPES?

There is a toner out there for every skin type. Due to the variety of toners on the market, you’re guaranteed to be able to find one that will help you address your specific skin concerns. If you have dry skin, you want to look for a toner with extra hydration, while sensitive skin can benefit from ingredients like aloe vera to soothe your skin. For best results, wet a cotton pad or pad with your toner then gently pat your face from the inside out.

Thanks to Korean beauty, toner is one product we’re all adding back into our skincare routine. It’s worth shopping around and keeping an eye out for a toner that matches your skincare concerns. With a toner, you can balance your pH levels, remove dead skin cells, and reduce breakouts. It’s a win-win in our books