If you’re just starting to build your skincare routine, then you might have already heard of facial toners before. Dermatologists praise this product as a way to provide necessary hydration after cleansing, but what do they really do? You’ve probably seen a few of them in local drugstores, but they’re clear and thin, almost like water. Surely a product like that can’t do much for your skin, right? Well, keep reading, and you’ll understand what facial toners are and why they can do so much more for your skin than you think.

What are Facial Toners?

Facial toners are applied after cleansing and before moisturizing. Although cleansers are a must to clean your skin, they also dry your skin of necessary oils. Facial toners give back hydration to your skin. Not only that, but they also act as a primer for the rest of your skincare products, allowing them to absorb better into your skin. Additionally, facial toners help to minimize the appearance of pores, temporarily tighten your skin, and naturally remove excess dirt and oil that your cleanser didn’t catch, giving you a refreshed, radiant look.

1. Hydration

You can probably already tell by looking at facial toners due to their clear and watery texture, but they are water-based. This makes them aimed at restoring your skin’s hydration after cleansing. If you’ve ever washed your face without adding product afterwards, you’ve probably noticed that your skin felt tight or too dry. Toners counteract this by restoring balance to your skin. Facial toners are especially helpful during wintertime, where dry and flaky skin tends to be most prevalent.

2. Helps Remove Oil and Makeup

Facial toners are not only great for adding necessary hydration back to your skin, but they also help to break down excess dirt and other impurities left after cleansing. Even after using a cleanser, grime and oil could still be left in your pores, causing them to clog and potentially create acne. Washing your face again and again to get rid of that dirt can definitely cause your skin to dry out and be flaky. Facial toners are a great way to combat that extra dirt without the risk of getting flaky skin due to their hydrating properties, leaving your skin feeling even cleaner after cleansing.

3. Skincare Primer

Toners are also a great way to prep your skin for products you use after cleansing, such as serums, moisturizers, or creams. Because facial toners increase the water content of your outer skin layer, they also help additional products to be better absorbed, making these products more effective. If your skin isn’t prepared to absorb these different products, you might not see or feel its effects as well.

4. Protection

Facial toners also offer your skin a layer of protection from environmental stressors and debris. After washing your face, your skin not only feels dry, but it’s also vulnerable to outside factors, which can cause your skin to become damaged. All great skin care products should protect your skin, and facial toners are partially made for that. Because facial toners protect you from these stressors, they can also decrease chances of dull or damaged skin.

5. Long-Lasting Effects

Just like any skin care product, you might not see or feel the effects of facial toners right away. It takes time for your skin to improve. However, after some time, facial toners create a major positive impact on the appearance and tightness of your pores. Facial toners also help to restore your skin’s natural pH level. You might also notice that your skin feels smoother because facial toners refine rough patches, which helps to improve your skin’s texture.

Which Facial Toner Should You Choose?

We all have different skin types, which means that we’ll all need to look for different ingredients to help our skin in the long run.

Dry Skin:

If you have dry skin, be on the lookout for hydrating ingredients like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, lecithin, aloe vera, and rosewaters. These ingredients are easy to find for most skin care products, but especially for facial toners, no matter your budget.

Oily or Acne-prone Skin:

For those with oily or acne-prone skin, try using a toner that has alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) such as glycolic or lactic acid. Gentle AHAs are great at controlling excess oil, making them a great addition to your daily facial toner.

Sensitive Skin:

If you have sensitive skin, try ingredients such as aloe vera and rose water. Be sure to look for hypoallergenic formulas to reduce the chances of breakouts or other negative reactions. If you have rosacea or mature skin, it’s best to avoid swiping on the toner with a cotton pad. Instead, try lightly tapping the product into your skin.

Ingredients to Avoid:

No matter your skin type, it’s best to avoid toners with alcohol, which is not only very drying, but it can also inflame or irritate sensitive skin. It also depletes vital substances needed for healthy skin. Fragrances are also a no-go when searching for a great facial toner. On any skin care product, the word “fragrance” represents an undisclosed mixture of various scents and chemicals, meaning you won’t know exactly what you’re putting on your skin. Fragrances are often associated with allergies, respiratory distress, and dermatitis. Lastly, avoid phthalates and parabens, which are low-cost preservatives that are used to extend shelf life and allow ingredients to penetrate the skin. These chemicals are not only too harsh for healthy skin to thrive, but they are also linked to infertility, reproductive malformation, and cardiovascular events.

Although facial toners might not look like much in their packaging, they are hydrating, protective, and nourishing. They are not only great for prepping your skin for other products, but they also have long-lasting effects such as minimized appearances of pores and improved skin texture. If you’re not using a facial toner already, try a few out and see what works best for you.

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