What Is a Toner And How Do You Use It?

Gone are the days where toner meant soaking cotton balls in witch hazel and slathering it over your pimple covered face. Not only was this one of the worst ways to strip goodness from your skin, it also stung terribly when applied. 

The toners of today offer a completely different experience for your skin. They provide many benefits catering to different skin types and should now be considered an essential part of your skincare routine. 

What is a toner?

Toner is a water based liquid that contains various extracts and oils to benefit specific skin types.  It is quickly absorbed to give skin an instant hit of hydration and depending on the ingredients can also help balance your skin’s pH level, calm sensitive skin and remove dead cells off the surface of the skin. 

Why do you need a toner?

Toner is an essential step in between cleansing and moisturising. It rehydrates your skin after cleansing and opens your pores to help your skin absorb serums and moisturisers quickly and effectively. It’s so refreshing to apply and is a great way to awaken your senses in the morning.

How do you apply it?

Toner is best applied after double cleansing and exfoliating the skin. Immediately after showering or cleansing will deliver the best results. Most toners come in spray bottles so are easy to apply by pumping a few sprays to cover the entire face. For toners that don’t come in spray form, you can sprinkle a few drops into your hands and press it into the skin or use a cotton pad to gently swipe over the face. Regardless of the application method, be sure to apply your serums and moisturisers while the toner is still wet for maximum absorption of your skincare products. 

Toners containing ingredients that focus on hydration can also be applied after makeup to settle finishing powder and to refresh and rehydrate throughout the day. Those suiting oily & blemish prone skin may not be suitable for this purpose as the ingredients may breakdown your makeup. 

Don’t forget to choose a toner based on your skin type. Oily and acne prone skin should choose a toner that assists with controlling sebum production, reducing pore size and balancing the pH of your skin without stripping it. If your skin is more on the dry or sensitive side it will benefit from toner containing antioxidants and hydrating properties to calm and soften the skin.