What is a facial toner? How do you choose the best one for your skin type/skincare routine?

For radiant, healthy-looking skin, you should do more than just cleanse your face every day. A much-debated and often overlooked step in your skincare routine is using a facial toner. These seemingly simple liquids may look and feel like water, but for some people, they play an important role in promoting skin health.

Read on to learn about the potential benefits of using a facial toner, the different types available, and common mistakes to avoid.

The Role of Facial Toner in Skin Care

Using a toner between cleansing and moisturizing helps prepare your skin for all the following steps in your skincare routine. While cleansing can remove a lot of oil or makeup from your face, using a toner ensures that no traces are left behind.

When your pores are clear enough, your face can enjoy the benefits of the following products, including serums, lotions, night creams, and other targeted treatments. In addition, toners restore pH levels, which can be disturbed by harsh cleansers.

Benefits of Using a Toner

According to experts at the Cleveland Clinic, using a toner after cleansing can increase the water content of the skin’s outer layer, making it easier to absorb more products. 1 Some proven benefits of toner include:

Clear skin: Toner helps remove oil and makeup residue after cleansing.

Extra moisture: Newer generations of toners contain soothing ingredients like hyaluronic acid and niacinamide to lock in moisture.

Shrink pores: By thoroughly cleaning pores, toners can visibly reduce impurities that make them appear larger.

Better pH: Some toners contain acids like alpha hydroxy, beta hydroxy, lactic acid, and salicylic acid to help restore pH levels.

Different types of toners

Toners come in different formulas to suit different skin types and concerns. Older toners almost always contained alcohol, as their main purpose was to remove impurities. Today, alcohol-based toners are no longer common, although some people with oily or acne-prone skin incorporate them into their daily routine. Generally speaking, alcohol can be very drying and can strip your skin of its natural oils, so these types of toners are not recommended.

Alcohol-free toners tend to be gentler and more hydrating, making them especially good for dry or sensitive skin. There are also toners that contain active ingredients, such as glycolic acid or antioxidants, that target specific skin care concerns.

You may also find a hybrid toner and moisturizer. These products support your skin barrier, protecting it from environmental stressors and water loss.

Hyaluronic Acid Lotion

• Locks in moisture and moisturizes

• Helps protect, repair, and heal the skin

• Benefits of anti-inflammatory ingredients

Regular Price $45

Add to Cart

How to Choose the Right Facial Toner for Your Skin Type

Choosing a toner based on your skin type is crucial for achieving the best results. Here are some tips for choosing the right facial toner:

Acne-prone skin: If you have oily or acne-prone skin, choose a toner with ingredients like salicylic acid to combat excess oil. Keep in mind that ingredients like salicylic acid can have a drying effect. So if you have dry skin, consider opting for a gentler solution. Toners with niacinamide can also help reduce acne by reducing inflammation.

Dry skin: If you have dry skin, choose a toner with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, a powerful humectant that draws moisture into the skin.

Sensitive skin: If you have sensitive skin, avoid toners with alcohol and opt for products with soothing ingredients like chamomile or aloe vera.

Hyperpigmentation: Some toners promise brightening effects, such as those with antioxidants like vitamin C or retinol.

Incorporate toner into your skincare routine

It’s best to think of toner as a bridge between cleansing and moisturizing. After cleansing, apply toner with a cotton pad or gently pat it into your skin. Follow with your serum and moisturizer. Using toner twice a day, morning and night, will leave your skin refreshed, balanced, and ready to take advantage of the benefits of other skincare products.

It’s also worth noting that if you’re already using skincare with the target ingredients mentioned above (hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, vitamin C, or retinoids), then toner isn’t completely necessary. In fact, you’ll probably get a more concentrated version of these ingredients if used alone, as the toner will likely dilute them too much to produce noticeable results.

Foundation Skincare offers a range of dermatological products to address a range of concerns, whether you’re battling acne, hyperpigmentation, dry skin, or signs of aging. These products are highly concentrated (20% vitamin C, 10% niacinamide, 14% azelaic acid) and rival prescription products, but are gentle enough for all skin types and can be purchased over the counter. This includes:

Azelaic Acid Cream 14%: Best for reducing acne, hyperpigmentation and enlarged pores

Niacinamide Lotion 10%: Best for soothing inflamed skin, preventing breakouts, lightening hyperpigmentation and slowing signs of aging

Hyaluronic Acid Lotion: Best for improving hydration

Vitamin C Lotion 20%: Best for brightening and reducing signs of aging

Night Cream with Granactive Retinoid 2%: Best for reducing fine lines, wrinkles and loss of elasticity

Explore the entire range here

Common Mistakes to Avoid

If you decide to use a toner, avoid the following mistakes to ensure you get the most out of the product:

Don’t use a toner too often, as this can cause dryness.

If you have dry skin, avoid using toners that contain alcohol.

Pay attention to the ingredients in your toner to make sure they are appropriate for your skin’s needs.

Don’t use toner on the delicate skin around your eyes, as this area requires special care.

If you like the idea of using a toner and are looking forward to this part of your skincare routine, make sure you use a quality product that’s tailored to your skin type and specific concerns. If you’re curious about alternative ways to bridge the gap between basic skincare steps like cleansing, moisturizing, and applying sunscreen, check out FS Journal for more science-backed, dermatologist-approved tips.

DQH Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? It’s easy to create a skincare routine, but knowing how to use it is another thing entirely. In most cases, if you’re not getting the desired skin results, it could be due to the layering of conflicting ingredients. So, is it possible that salicylic acid and vitamin C are such ingredients? Or are these active ingredients the duo that’s been missing from your skincare routine? If you want answers, stick around because today we are going to explain the benefits of salicylic acid and vitamin C and how they can be used in your daily life. What are the benefits of salicylic acid for skin? Salicylic acid is one of the most commonly used beta hydroxy acids and is favored by many people with oily, acne-prone skin. This acid is derived from willow bark, and unlike its water-soluble relatives (called alpha-hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble, which means it can penetrate deeper into the lower layers of the skin. Once it reaches the lower layers, it can help unclog pores of excess sebum, dirt, bacteria, debris, and impurities. This results in clearer skin tones and greater definition. Not only does salicylic acid benefit the underlying layers, but the outer surface of the skin benefits as well. When applied to the skin, salicylic acid removes the buildup of dead skin cells. This is accomplished by breaking the bonds that hold dead cells to the surface. Over time, this can cause the complexion to look dull and prone to acne, blackheads, and other blemishes. If you’d like to learn more about salicylic acid and how it can improve your skin, check out this dedicated blog post from a beauty insider. What are the benefits of vitamin C for skin? Vitamin C is considered one of the most powerful antioxidants, which means it is very effective at fighting free radicals and preventing them from causing further skin damage. Examples of free radicals include pollution, central heating, UV rays and harsh climate. They attack proteins, fats and cell membranes as soon as they come into contact with the skin, causing signs of premature aging such as fine lines and wrinkles as well as hyperpigmentation, flaky patches of skin and loss of elasticity. Many people usually prefer to use vitamin C in their morning routine as this ingredient gives the complexion a radiant glow. You’ll also find that vitamin C can target areas of hyperpigmentation, plumping the skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The thing about vitamin C is that there are a lot of outdated studies going back to the 1950s that describe vitamin C as an unstable skin component. Thanks to improvements in modern technology, this is no longer the case as all products now contain a stable form of vitamin C. Visit The Beauty Insider to learn more about vitamin C. So please check out our blog post. Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? Yes, you absolutely can. In fact, it’s thought that using salicylic acid before using vitamin C ensures it penetrates faster and works faster. This is an efficient way to utilize two power sources, and the reason has to do with pH. For example, the skin’s natural pH is about 4.7, making it slightly acidic. Salicylic acid and vitamin C are also both acidic, and you’ll find that vitamin C is absorbed quickly into the skin. Therefore, using salicylic acid beforehand can increase the acidity of the skin and allow vitamin C to penetrate into the skin faster. While this is considered an effective way to combine two powerful ingredients, you need to be aware of your skin type and how it reacts to certain active ingredients. Even people with perfect, normal skin can experience skin sensitivity and irritation. Therefore, always consult a doctor or dermatologist before using any new products on your skin. It’s also important to follow skin application rules. In this case, you need to use the product correctly to ensure you get the best results for your skin. If you’re not sure what I mean, the basic rule for skin is to start with the thinnest consistency and work your way up to the thickest consistency. This prevents a barrier from forming on the surface, preventing other active ingredients from penetrating the skin. Can I use salicylic acid at night and vitamin C in the morning? Yes, absolutely, this is considered the most effective way to get returns without any adverse side effects. This is because there is enough time between applications to ensure that the skin’s pH levels return to balance. You’ll also find that Vitamin C is rich in antioxidants and is perfect for use in the morning to ensure your skin is protected and looking its healthiest. Due to the small size of salicylic acid molecules, it is an acid that is able to reach the deepest parts of the skin. While this is effective at keeping skin clear, it also increases the risk of irritation and photosensitivity. Therefore, many people prefer to use powerful BHAs in their evening routine without exposure to UV rays, pollution, or harsh weather. Warning: If you avoid using sunscreen every day, none of these ingredients will do what your skin needs. The combination of chemical peels and powerful ingredients increases the risk of further damage to the skin’s surface. Use SPF 50 every day to keep your skin protected and your lipid barrier healthy, even on cloudy days, keeping your skin in top condition.

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