Understanding Astringents vs Toners: Key Differences for Better Skin

What Is Astringent and How Does It Differ From Toner?

Have you noticed your moisturizer no longer absorbs into your skin as quickly as it used to? Or maybe your skin feels like it’s missing something, but you can’t quite figure out what?

The answer might be astringent, a product that can truly transform your skin. Let’s explore what astringents are, how they work, and how they differ from toners.

What is Astringent?

An astringent is typically a liquid-based formula that often contains rubbing alcohol, also known as isopropyl alcohol.

It is mainly designed for people with oily skin types to help deeply cleanse the skin, tighten pores, and reduce excess sebum.

Sebum is the oily substance produced by skin glands that can sometimes cause blemishes and acne.

When you use an astringent immediately after cleansing, it clears away remaining impurities, prepping your skin to better absorb moisturizers and other treatments.

The term “astringent” originates from the Latin word adstringere, which means “to bind fast.”

This etymology hints at how quickly this product acts on your skin, producing a tightening sensation almost instantly.

Astringents come in many different formulations, often enhanced with additional ingredients to target various skin concerns.

These include redness, breakouts, and dullness, making astringents versatile and effective for improving overall skin health.

Is Astringent the Same as Toner?

If you’re already familiar with skincare, you might think astringents sound very similar to toners.

While both products are applied after cleansing and before moisturizing, there are distinct differences between the two, especially in their ingredients, purpose, and the skin types they suit best. We’ll discuss these differences in detail later.

Benefits of Using Astringent

Using an astringent provides multiple benefits for your skin. Some of the key advantages include:

Tightening the skin and giving it a firmer feel

Reducing inflammation and calming irritated skin

Decreasing blemish breakouts such as spots and blackheads

Cleansing away irritants and impurities from the skin surface

Shrinking the appearance of enlarged pores

Offering anti-bacterial effects to help fight acne-causing bacteria

Unclogging pores to prevent future breakouts

Removing excess oil or sebum that causes a greasy look

Astringents are especially useful for oily and blemish-prone skin types because of their ability to control oil and reduce shine.

However, this does not mean people with normal or dry skin should automatically avoid them.

The market today offers a wide variety of astringents and toners, some with gentler natural ingredients like witch hazel and lemon, which can suit different skin needs.

How to Use Astringent Properly

Astringents should be used as the step following cleansing and before applying serums or moisturizers.

Many astringents contain chemical exfoliants such as salicylic acid or citric acid, which penetrate deeply into the pores, clearing out bacteria, dirt, and any leftover makeup or skincare residues your cleanser might have missed.

Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to using astringent:

Step 1: Cleanse Your Skin

Choose a cleanser suitable for your skin type and always start with cleansing. This step removes makeup, dirt, oil, and dead skin cells that accumulate on your skin surface.

Without this essential step, other products may not work effectively.

Step 2: Apply Astringent or Toner

Soak a cotton pad with your chosen astringent or toner, then gently sweep it over your face, avoiding the delicate eye and mouth areas. After using the pad, you may notice it appears gray or dirty. This is dead skin cells that the astringent has lifted away, revealing fresher, glowing skin beneath.

Pro Tip: If your cotton pad still shows a lot of makeup or residue, it might be time to reconsider your makeup remover or cleanser.

Milk or lotion-based removers used with a damp flannel tend to be more effective than makeup wipes.

Always remove your makeup before cleansing to prevent clogging your pores, much like how taking a shower with your clothes on would defeat the purpose of cleaning.

Step 3: Apply Serums or Moisturizers

After using astringent, your skin is perfectly prepped to absorb serums and moisturizers quickly and efficiently.

You’ll likely notice these products work faster and give better results because they can penetrate deeply without any barriers.

When used correctly, an astringent should leave your skin feeling very clean, perhaps with a slight tingling sensation.

However, if it stings or makes your skin feel uncomfortably tight, the product may be too harsh for your skin, and switching to a gentler toner could be a better option.

What’s the Difference Between Astringent and Toner?

Although astringents and toners appear similar and are used in similar ways, their effects on the skin and the skin types they benefit are different.

Astringents are usually more drying and targeted toward oily and blemish-prone skin.

Toners are gentler and more suitable for dry or sensitive skin types, as they help balance and hydrate the skin.

This difference largely comes down to the ingredients used in each product.

Common Ingredients Found in Toners

Lactic acid, Glycolic acid,Hyaluronic acid, Salicylic acid, Rose water, Witch hazel

Toners often contain mild chemical exfoliants such as lactic or glycolic acid, which work gently on the skin’s surface, helping to exfoliate dead cells while locking in moisture.

This hydration helps dry skin feel plumper and more radiant.

Common Ingredients Found in Astringents

Alcohol (isopropyl), Witch hazel, Citric acid, Salicylic acid

Astringents frequently contain higher levels of alcohol and stronger acids like salicylic acid, a beta hydroxy acid (BHA).

Salicylic acid penetrates deeply to unclog pores and reduce acne but can be harsh on sensitive skin types.

If your skin tends to be oily or greasy with multiple active blemishes, an astringent may be the next step to include in your skincare routine.

Still, it’s advisable to consult a dermatologist before using astringents or toners to make sure you select the best products for your skin.

You can easily find many high-quality astringents and toners at pharmacies and department stores, suitable for various budgets and skin concerns.

Potential Side Effects of Using Astringents

While astringents can be powerful tools for oily skin, they can also cause dryness, irritation, redness, and peeling if used improperly. Therefore, only use astringents if you are confident they suit your skin type.

Oily skin types usually experience the best results without excessive side effects. To minimize irritation, apply the astringent only to the oiliest parts of your face, such as the T-zone, or on blemished areas.

If you have dry skin or suffer from conditions like rosacea or eczema, it’s best to avoid astringents altogether as they may worsen your symptoms.

Regardless of your skin type, always apply a high SPF sunscreen following the use of astringents or toners.

This protects your skin from harmful UV damage, which can be more intense when your skin is exfoliated or treated with acids.

Summary

Astringents and toners serve similar purposes but are tailored to different skin types.

Whether you have oily, dry, or normal skin, including a suitable astringent or toner in your skincare routine can significantly improve the way your skin looks and feels.

By incorporating these products, you help deeply cleanse your skin and remove barriers that might block serums and moisturizers from working effectively.

This allows active ingredients to target fine lines, wrinkles, uneven tone, and more with greater success.

It’s quite remarkable how such a simple bottle of liquid can play such a vital role in skin health and beauty.

Want to Learn More About Chemical Exfoliation?

Are you curious about what chemical exfoliation is and how it can benefit your skin? Check out our detailed guide on how chemical exfoliation works to perfect your complexion and keep your skin glowing.

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.

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