Benefits of Using a Toner 

Does your multi-step skincare routine include using a facial skin toner? If not, maybe it’s time to reconsider. Underrated and often overlooked, toners offer a surfeit of benefits. Applying a good toner can hydrate your skin and also balance it.

Whether you want to get an even skin tone, deep-clean your skin, or prime it for better absorption of other products - a toner can offer it all. Want to learn more about the benefits of this water-based solution?

Keep reading to know what makes toner a must-have skin care product. What’s more, we will also help you select the right toner for your skin type.

5 Benefits of Using a Facial Toner

When it comes to improving skin health, toners wear many caps. Based on the ingredients of a skin toner, it can provide a plethora of benefits. It can hydrate, cleanse, balance pH levels, and exfoliate as well! So, let’s read more about the benefits of facial toner.

Removes Excess Oil and Dirt

Typically, you apply a facial toner after using a cleanser and before applying moisturiser or makeup. The toner helps remove any leftover skincare debris or dirt your cleanser failed to pick up.

Toners are like a safety net that will make sure there are no traces of makeup, oil, dead skin, or dirt before you move on to the next product. By using a facial toner, you are essentially adding an extra layer of cleansing. Additionally, it can remove excess oil that builds up throughout the day or overnight.

Reduces and Prevents Breakouts

The dust-busting property of toners can, in turn, help keep your facial pores clean. Dirt, debris, and oil can accumulate in your pores and lead to whiteheads, blackheads, and acne. Simply by removing traces on these from your skin surface, a toner can reduce the chances of breakouts.

When the pores are clogged, they can look exaggerated. If neglected, clogged pores can lead to severe acne. Toners are especially effective for maintaining a clearer complexion for those with acne-prone and oily skin types.

Balances the pH Level of Your Skin

The skin has a barrier called the stratum corneum, which protects it from foreign pathogens. This protective barrier is naturally acidic. This means you can ensure a healthy stratum corneum (and, therefore, skin health) by maintaining a healthy acid mantle.

Your skin’s natural pH balance is 5.5. However, several factors, such as using an alkaline cleanser, can change this pH level. A good toner should be able to rebalance your skin’s pH level and bring it back to an acidic state.

Enhances the Efficacy of Other Products

Here’s another reason to use a toner. As you already know, it can free your skin from debris build-up. In addition, this makes the skin a clean canvas for other skincare products to be absorbed smoothly.

Yes, a toner can improve the efficacy of all other products - from serum to essence to lotion. All you have to do is simply prep your skin with a toner and balance its pH level.

Hydrates, Smoothens, and Brightens Skin

In addition to minimising pores and removing excess dirt and oil, toners provide much-needed hydration to your skin. Nowadays, most of these watery lotions are alcohol-free. Instead, they are made of hydrating ingredients, as alcohol has a drying effect and can irritate your skin. Therefore, it is always best to look for alcohol-free options.

Moreover, many skin toners can enhance your complexion. Depending on its ingredients, a toner can smoothen your complexion and make it brighter. That’s not all. Some toners have astringents that can help control sebum production, an oily, waxy protective layer on the skin. Too much sebum can cause blackheads and pimples, while too little can cause dry, cracked skin; hence it's a must to balance it.

Our Recommended Facial Toners

VMV Hypoallergenics SuperSkin 2 Monolaurin + Mandelic Acid Toner

Looking for a toner that can help deep-clean your skin and also manage acne? Then, the SuperSkin 2 Monolaurin + Mandelic Acid Toner by VMV Hypoallergenics is just what you need if you have combination skin.

This all-rounder skin toner contains mandelic acid, a multi-tasking alpha-hydroxy acid. Derived from coconuts, Monolaurin is another potent yet non-irritating ingredient in this toner. In addition, the antibacterial property of Monolaurin makes this toner an effective anti-acne tool, while the mandelic acid has a mattifying effect.

Moreover, the well-balanced product has a firming effect on your skin. The end result is clear, bright, and firm skin. Safe for even teens and younger kids over the age of nine, only using this toner once every other day is sufficient for the first few weeks.

Urban Veda Reviving Hydrating Toner - Rose + Botanics

The Urban Veda Reviving Hydrating Toner infused with the goodness of rose and other botanicals is ideal for replenishing your skin’s moisture. The product can remove all the remaining dirt and oil after cleansing. Not just that, the toning lotion helps lock in moisture and even rebalances the skin pH. The toner gently removes impurities with clarifying flower extracts.

It is also fortified with antioxidant complexes, vitamins, and amino acids. Its omega-content aids elasticity and maintains the suppleness of the skin. The jasmine extract in the Reviving Hydrating Toner reduces scar marks, whilst geranium reduces the drying effect on the skin. Furthermore, the aloe vera extract in this toner revitalises tired and mature skin.

Apply this toner with a cotton pad twice a day after cleansing the skin. Always allow one minute for your skin to absorb the botanicals in this toner before you move on to the next skincare product.

VMV Hypoallergenics Id Bump-Free Toner: Face + Body Clarifier

The VMV Hypoallergenics’ Id Bump-free Toner is a multi-purpose clarifier you can use on your face and body. The beta-hydroxy acid content in this toner makes it an effective anti-inflammatory and anti-acne exfoliant. In addition, it offers a brisk yet deep cleanse while also smoothing out the skin texture on your face, neck, back, chest, arms, and other skin.

Plus, this toner's coconut-derived Monolaurin enables a gentle-yet-powerful, antibacterial and antifungal treatment. This makes it the perfect product for treating acne on the face and any part of the body. As a bonus, it also contains witch hazel, which is perfect for soothing pain, itching and inflammation.

The non-drying formula of the Id Bump-free Toner makes it ideal for all skin types. Men, women, teenagers, and even children over the age of nine can use this toner. Start using it twice a week and increase the usage gradually.

Botani Soothing Facial Mist

Botani’s Soothing Facial Mist is another toner you can rely on to attain the healthy skin you always wanted. It's natural and alcohol-free, so you don’t have to worry about it stripping off moisture from your skin and making it dry. In fact, it works just the opposite; this wonder mist helps to hydrate and revitalises dull, tired skin.

The toner contains premium organic plant extracts and floral water, making it suitable for all skin types and ideal for calming irritated skin. In addition, the refreshing essence of rose floral water and chamomile rejuvenates not only your skin but all your senses. Other ingredients like betaine (an active moisturiser sourced from sugar beet), vitamin C, and aloe vera help boost skin hydration and heal sun-damaged and dry skin.

Suki Concentrated Clarifying Toner

The Concentrated Clarifying Toner by Suki is safe for sensitive skin. It takes effect slowly, but there are no concerns about its high potency. Suki proprietary complexes are made of high-performance ingredients such as salicylic acid extracted from white willow bark.

The clarifying toner does not cause any side effects like inflammation, irritation, or dryness. Instead, it balances the bacteria and oil production, enhances overall skin clarity, purifies pores and detoxifies complexion.

If you have acne scars, this product will become your best friend. Not only does the concentrated clarifying toner reduce redness and even skin tone, but it can also reduce all kinds of blemishes. On top of that, regular usage of this can prevent breakouts in the future.

Conclusion

While cleansers, moisturisers, and night creams have made a permanent spot in your skincare regime; toners are often overlooked. What looks like a mere watery lotion actually plays a crucial role in nurturing healthy skin. From maintaining the pH balance to closing pores to maintaining skin hydration - toners play many roles.

You must pick a toner that is best for your skin type and use it regularly. You can choose one of the toners recommended here as they are all-natural and highly effective in keeping your skin in check. You can never go wrong with organic natural products.