What Does a Toner Do?
There aren’t many skin care products as historic as toners. Evidence of using these scented waters in your skin care routine dates back to the 18th century. They used to be more commonly known as lotions and tonics, and their old formulas were high in alcohol. These often led to skin irritation and severe dryness. Luckily, thanks to modern technology and the discovery of chemical peels, there are a wider variety of toners to try. Those who prefer the original formulas need not worry, as they are still as popular and loved as ever.
Now that we’ve finished our skin care history lesson, let’s take a look at the toners available to you today, what they actually do for your skin, and whether they should be the latest addition to your skin care routine.
What is a Toner?
In short, toners may look like water, but they’re actually formulated with a rich blend of skin-nourishing acids, glycerin, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory agents. When used after cleansing, they can penetrate the upper layers of the surface to hydrate the skin and remove the buildup of dead skin cells. You’ll find that toners can restore your skin to its natural acidic state, which is often imbalanced after using overly alkaline skin care products. Your pores will be cleansed and the overall look and feel of your skin will be hydrated, radiant, and plump. When the skin surface is fully functional and hydrated, any other products you apply afterwards will be absorbed into the skin quickly and you’ll find them to be more effective.
Admittedly, many of us still have misconceptions about toners and their true purpose. This is probably a result of the use of the infamous, harsh, blemish-lightening toners that were so popular in the 90s. This led to toners being considered too astringent, extremely drying, and an unnecessary step in a skincare routine. This was a common perception for many of us until recent years, when toners made a comeback on our vanities thanks to the booming Korean beauty trend. There is now a toner for everyone that can treat a variety of skin concerns, and the best part is that almost all of them are alcohol-free. Now the question is: are they really necessary to include in your skincare routine? Let’s find out more!
Are Toners Really Necessary?
Even if there is no specific skin concern that needs to be treated, everyone would benefit from incorporating a toner into their daily skincare routine, but it wouldn’t be listed as a necessary step. Here are the main benefits of toners and how they can improve your skin.
Skincare Benefits of Toner
Minimizes the appearance of pores and keeps skin clear and smooth
Soothes skin and restores pH balance
Provides protection against free radical damage
Helps remove makeup residue and impurities from the skin
Keeps skin hydrated and helps products applied to the skin absorb effectively into the underlying layers of the skin
As you can see from the list of benefits, using a toner is a great addition to any daily routine. With effective amounts of powerful skin ingredients (like glycolic acid, hyaluronic acid, and glycerin) in a toner formula, nearly all skin concerns can be addressed and the overall health and appearance of the complexion becomes balanced, healthy, and comfortable. Deciding whether or not you should include a toner in your skincare routine is entirely up to you and how you approach your skincare routine.
What happens if you use a toner every day?
This depends primarily on your skin type, but many experts recommend that it’s best to use a toner morning and night. However, once you’ve determined that a toner is right for you and your skin, you should use it twice a day. This can be easily done by doing a 24-hour patch test on the inside of your forearm. If you find that a toner causes you dryness and irritation, you should avoid it altogether or stop using it immediately.
How to Use Toner According to Skin Type
Oily Skin – Use twice daily, morning and night after cleansing the skin.
Blemish Prone Skin – Use twice daily, morning and night. Avoid overuse as this can dry out the skin and lead to further breakouts.
Dry Skin – Use once daily, evening after cleansing and before applying a nourishing skin serum.
Combination Skin – Use twice daily if the formula does not contain skin ingredients that are too harsh on dry areas of the face.
Sensitive Skin – Talk to your primary care physician or dermatologist to find the best toner for you that will not cause skin irritation.
Hopefully this clarifies how often you should use a facial toner. Remember to consider the formula and the active ingredients it contains, as this can also help you decide how often to use it. For example, facial toners with a high percentage of niacinamide and hyaluronic acid are particularly beneficial to the skin as they support moisture supply and lock it into the skin.
Do You Wash Your Facial Toner Off?
It is absolutely not necessary to wash off a toner. If you don’t allow it to absorb into your skin, you’re preventing it from working properly. Facial toners are similar to astringents or micellar toners and should be left on your skin instead of washed off. Formulas with chemical exfoliants like salicylic, glycolic, or lactic acid must be left on the skin to remove dead skin cells and maintain the skin’s natural pH balance and overall health.
Can I leave toner on my face overnight?
It’s perfectly fine to leave toner on your skin overnight. Once you’ve completed the rest of your skincare routine, you’ll find that all the other ingredients in your serum, facial oil, and moisturizer absorb quickly through toner, providing more hydration and other skin benefits that can improve your overall complexion. However, if you notice a burning or irritated sensation on your skin in the morning, it’s best to avoid using toner at night.
Hopefully today you have a better understanding of what toners do for your skin and how they can fit into your daily routine. If you’re wondering how chemical peels work in a formula, check out our blog post on chemical peels and their skincare benefits.
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.