What Does a Toner Do?
There aren’t many skincare products that have such a long history as toners with evidence of these scented waters being used in everyday skincare routines dating back to the 1700s.
Previously more commonly known as lotions and tonics with old formulas containing high levels of alcohol.
These can often lead to the skin becoming irritated and suffering from severe dryness, luckily for us, with modern technology and the discovery of chemical exfoliants toners have increased in the variety available to try.
For those of you who prefer the original formulas you don’t need to worry as they are still as loved and popular as ever before.
Now we have finished with the skincare history lesson, we are going to look into the toners available for you today and determine what is actually does for the skin and whether or not it should be the latest addition to your skincare regime.
What is a toner?
To put it in a simple way, toners may look the same as water, but are in fact formulated to contain a rich cocktail of skin benefiting acids, glycerin, antioxidants and anti-inflammatories to name just a few.
When used after cleansing they are able penetrate the top layers of the surface and give the skin a boost in hydration, remove the build-up of dead skin cells.
You will find that a toner can bring the skin back to its natural acidic state which often suffers from regular imbalance after using skincare products that are too alkaline.
Your pores are cleared and the overall look and feel of the skin is hydrated, glowing and plumped.
With the skin surface fully functioning and moisturised any other products you apply afterwards will absorb quickly into the skin and you will find them to be more effective.
There is no denying that many of us still carry with us the misconception of toners and their true purpose.
This is probably a result of using those infamous, stinging anti-blemish toners that had a huge amount of popularity during the 90s.
This then lead to toners being considered as too astringent, extremely drying and an unnecessary step in your skincare routine.
This was the general thought of many of us until toners making their way back onto our dressing tables in the most recent years thanks to the boom in K-beauty trend.
Now there is a toner for everyone that addresses all manner of skin concerns and best part is almost all of them are alcohol-free, the question now is- are they truly necessary to include in your skincare routine? Let’s find out more!
Are toners really necessary?
Everyone would benefit from adding toners to their skincare routine, even if there are no specific skin concern they are wanting to address, but it wouldn’t be classed as a necessary step.
Here are the main benefits of toners and how they can improve the skin.
Skincare benefits of toners
Minimizes the appearance of pores keeping the skin clean and smooth
Soothes the skin and restores balance to the pH levels
Provides protection from exposure to free radical damage
Helps to rid the skin of any remaining traces of makeup and impurities
Allows the skin to retain moisture and help products applied on top to absorb effectively into the lower layers of the skin
As you can see from the list of benefits using a toner would be a great addition to any routine.
With the formulations of toners containing active levels of powerhouse skin ingredients
(such as glycolic acid, hyaluronic acid and glycerin) almost every skin concern are targeted and the overall health and appearance of the complexion becomes balanced, healthy and feeling comfortable.
Deciding on whether you should add toner to your routine is totally up to you and how you perform your skincare routine.
What happens if you use toner every day?
This depends mostly on your skin type, but many experts suggest that the ideal usage for toner should be during your morning and evening routines.
Having said this, using a toner twice a day should happen once you have established that it is the right product for you and your skin, this is easily done with a 24-hour patch test on the inside of the forearm.
If you find the toner results with you experiencing dryness and irritation you should avoid using it completely or discontinue using it straight away.
How to use toner depending on your skin type
Oily skin- Twice a day during your morning and evening routines after cleansing the skin.
Blemish-prone skin- Twice a day in the morning and evening, avoid using it too much as this can strip the skin resulting in more blemishes
Dry skin- Once a day during the evening routine after you have double cleansed and before applying a nourishing skin serum
Combination skin- Twice a day if the formula doesn’t contain skin ingredients that will be too harsh for the dry areas of the face
Sensitive skin- Consult your GP or a dermatologist to help find the best toner for you that won’t cause skin irritation
That has hopefully cleared up how often you should use a toner, remember to keep in mind the formulation and the active ingredients it contains as this can also help you decide on how often you can apply it.
Toners containing high levels of niacinamide and hyaluronic acid for example would benefit the skin most of all by aiding hydration and locking moisture into the skin.
Do you wash toner off?
There is absolutely no need to wash off your toner, if anything, you are preventing it from being able to perform properly if you don’t allow it to absorb into the skin.
Picture toners to be similar to an astringent or micellar water that should remain on the skin and not washed off.
Formulas containing chemical exfoliants, such as salicylic acid, glycolic acid or lactic acid need to remain on the skin to slough away dead skin cells and maintaining balance to the natural pH levels and general health of the skin.
Can I leave toner on my face overnight?
It is perfectly fine to leave toner on the skin overnight, once the rest of your skincare routine is finished you will find all the other ingredients found in your serums,
face oils and moisturisers will absorb rapidly thanks to the toner and deliver a boost in hydration and other skin benefits to improve the entire complexion.
If you find there is a burning or irritated feeling to the skin come the morning however it is probably best to avoid using a toner in the evening.
So hopefully today you have a better understanding of what toners do for the skin and how it can work in your routine.
If you are wondering how the chemical exfoliants in the formulas work check out our blog post about chemical exfoliants and their skincare benefits in our blog post.
DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek.
“Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more.
Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals.
Sunscreen
“We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.”
Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen
An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup.
Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand.
Vitamin C Serum
“A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum
The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum
This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants.
Peptides
Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.”
Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream
This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively.
This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek.
At-Home Peel Pads
Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate.
“The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.”
According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says.
Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad
A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection.
KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads
These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids.
Emollient Night Cream
“In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.”
“Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products.
Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream
One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme
“The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.
