What Does Toner Do? And All Your Other Questions About the Product, Answered

There’s no arguing that finding a skincare routine that works is truly a personal endeavor. Admittedly, my own skincare routine is surprisingly simplistic: cleanser, serum, and moisturizer, due to lack of time. But, during a recent rough patch my skin made significant strides once I incorporated a toner. To this day, I’m loyal (and grateful) to La Prarie’s Cellular Softening and Balancing Lotion, for that reason. However, like many of us wonder, is adding a toner into your skincare regimen really worth it?

“If your skin has ever felt tight after cleansing, it’s a sign that your natural oils may have been stripped and balancing the pH level on the skin can help regulate sebum production,” explains Corey L. Hartman, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Skin Wellness Dermatology in Birmingham, AL. “[Incorporating a toner] can help balance your skin’s pH and can also reduce the risk of dry or flaky skin, irritation or inflammation, or skin sensitivity.”

What is face toner?

According to dermatologist and BTWN Skincare founder Brooke Jeffy, toners have really evolved over time. “Initially they were a necessary step to balance the pH of the skin after using the harsh alkaline cleansers of the past. Because most cleansers today are gentle and pH balanced, toners in the traditional sense are not necessary so they have morphed into products that address skin concerns like oil control, acne and dryness.”

Toners can remove residual stubborn oil and product residue to be sure the skin is prepped for next steps. The right toners can be selected to address acne, calm inflammation, hydrate, or rejuvenate depending on ingredients.

Naturally, you might wonder if a toner is interchangeable with an essence, astringent, or micellar water. The answer is not quite, and there are a few key differences between each category.

Popular within the K-Beauty community, Dr. Jeffy explains essences tend to be watery liquids that may contain antioxidants or vitamins with the goal of hydrating and boosting skin health in some way.

Like toners, astringents are also used after cleansing but designed to remove oil and water from the skin. “This can result in a temporary reduction in the appearance of pore size but they are very drying and potentially irritating to the skin,” cautions Dr. Jeffy,