Understanding The Role Of Toners In Skincare

Depending on who you ask, toner is either a vital step in their skincare routine or it's not essential at all. While toners aren't usually celebrated like serums and moisturizers, their importance should not be underestimated. Let's break down how toners work, what benefits they provide and how they can transform your skin. Read on to find out whether toner deserves a spot in your routine.

What Is Toner
A toner is a liquid skincare product typically applied after cleansing and before moisturizing. Traditionally, toners were used to remove any remaining traces of makeup or cleanser residue. Modern formulations, however, can provide a plethora of benefits tailored to address various skin types and concerns.

The Benefits Of Using A Toner

1. Balancing pH Levels
Our skin has a natural pH level of around 5.5, which is slightly acidic. Cleansers, especially those that are alkaline, can disrupt this balance, leading to dryness, irritation, and breakouts. Toners help restore the skin's natural pH, creating an optimal environment for the subsequent skincare steps.
2. Boost Hydration
Many toners are infused with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and aloe vera. These ingredients help to lock in moisture, ensuring your skin stays plump and hydrated throughout the day. This is particularly beneficial for those with dry or dehydrated skin.
3. Enhance Absorption
Applying a toner can enhance the absorption of your serums and moisturizers. By prepping the skin, toners ensure that the active ingredients in your other skincare products penetrate more deeply and work more effectively.
4. Minimize Pores
Toners containing exfoliating ingredients like glycolic, lactic or salicylic acid can help to exfoliate, tighten and minimize the appearance of pores. This can lead to a smoother, more refined complexion, especially for those with oily or acne-prone skin.
5. Soothe and Calm
For sensitive or irritated skin, toners with soothing ingredients like chamomile, rose water, or green tea can provide immediate relief. These ingredients help to calm redness and inflammation, making your skin feel more comfortable.

Choosing The Right Toner
Selecting the right toner depends on your skin type and specific concerns:

Dry Skin: Look for hydrating toners with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and ceramides.
Oily/Acne-Prone Skin: Opt for toners with salicylic acid, glycolic acid, or tea tree oil to control excess oil and prevent breakouts.
Sensitive Skin: Choose alcohol-free toners with soothing ingredients like centella asiatica, rose water, or green tea.
Combination Skin: A balancing toner with a mix of hydrating and astringent ingredients can work wonders.

Dull Skin: Toners with ingredients like vitamin C, niacinamide or rice extracts can help to brighten skin.

How To Use A Toner In Your Skincare Routine
Using a toner is simple and can be seamlessly integrated into your skincare routine.

Cleanse: Start with a gentle cleanser to remove dirt, oil, and makeup.
Tone: Apply the toner using a cotton pad or your hands. Gently pat it onto your face and neck.
Treat: Follow up with your serums and treatments.
Moisturize: Finish with a moisturizer to lock in all the benefits.

Incorporating a toner into your skincare routine is a personal preference and choosing to use one can make a significant difference in the health and appearance of your skin depending on your skin concerns. Toners can be both a versatile and an indispensable step towards achieving a radiant complexion. So the next time you consider skipping this step, remember the myriad benefits it can bring to your skin. 

Personally I'm a toner advocate because I've seen the difference it can make in my skin. I still practice the 7 skin method for this reason. My skin tends to be dry and the use of hydrating toners help to immediately replenish the moisture in my skin after washing my face as well as boost the efficacy of the skincare products I apply afterwards. My favorite types of toners are milky ones and I recently tried out 2 new ones from TIRTIR.

TIRTIR Milk Skin Toner

$25 (150 mL / 5.07 fl. oz.)

Infused with a nourishing blend of 2% niacinamide, rice bran extract, ceramide, and panthenol, TIRTIR Milk Skin Toner is a  highly concentrated multi-tasking toner specifically designed to hydrate, brighten, and strengthen skin. The vegan formula delivers long-lasting, soothing moisture while fortifying the skin barrier and enhancing it's natural glow. This toner is designed to be appropriate for  all skin types, making it ideal for daily use, both day and night, for a radiant, nourished complexion.

True to it's name, this toner is milky in appearance with a silky, watery texture and no discernible scent. It feels light and fresh upon application, instantly replenishing moisture to my skin. I absolutely love the way it makes my face feel while prepping it for my other skincare. It absorbs well without feeling heavy or sticky. After using it every day/ night for a little over a month, I've noticed that my skin is definitely softer, smoother and more hydrated. I haven't tried it but I think this milky toner would be perfect for the 7 skin method. I will say that using less is more with this product as it can take a little  time to dry. All in all, a luxurious feeling toner that supports glass skin.

TIRTIR Milk Skin Toner Light

$25 (150 mL / 5.07 fl. oz.)

TIRTIR Milk Skin Toner Light is a lightweight version of TIRTIR Milk Skin Toner that is designed to balance, soothe, and revitalize acne-prone, sensitive, and oily skin. Formulated with a blend of skin-soothing and hydrating ingredients including 4% niacinamide, panthenol, allantoin, and rice bran extract, it provides instant hydration while helping to refine pores and maintain a radiant complexion.

This product stands out as a skincare essential for those looking to simplify and elevate their daily routine with an innovative formula that delivers the perfect combination of hydration, pore care, and skin-soothing benefits, making it a go-to toner for anyone with sensitive or acne-prone skin. 

This toner also looks milky with a silky yet watery feel. It is a little more lightweight and absorbs effortlessly without any stickiness or heaviness. I slipped into my husband's skincare routine and he has been using it in place of his usual toner for the past month in his am/pm routines. He says that it feels soothing and likes that it dries down and absorbs quickly since he's not a fan of having to wait to apply his other skincare. It preps his skin well without any irritation wears nicely under his other skincare. The only thing he doesn't love is the glass bottle which feels a little precarious but with all the concerns surrounding  microplastics these days, I actually prefer glass. Plus it make the product feel more luxurious. 

If you're looking to try a new toner, I would highly recommend either of these depending on your skin type and concerns. They're both such lovely toners that are gentle yet effective, hydrating, work without any irritation and layer well with other products. The fact that they are affordable, alcohol-free, fragrance-free, and cruelty-free is also a plus. And as someone who is trying to stay away from plastic as much as possible these days, I can appreciate the glass bottle and that is another factor that would actually encourage me to repurchase this product.

These two toners can be purchased from Amazon.  

Do you use a toner in your skincare routine? Do you have a favorite?

Disclosure: This post features complimentary products received for editorial consideration and may contain affiliate or referral links. For more details about my product review policy, copyright, and information about affiliate links, please refer to the Policies page of this blog.