toner

[lenajam]

hi! what do toners do for your face? also please recommend good ones that arent too harsh on skin, thx 🙂

[SportyGirly125]

@lenajam  fresh Rose & Hyaluronic Acid Deep Hydration Toner  fresh Rose Floral Toner  

[jozeyah]

I use Thayers with aloe vera,rose petal, and witch hazel. I don't know if sephora sells but I'm in desperate need myself for advice as for quick story I'm 40 can't find anything as I'm not aware if I'm warm tone or what my undertones are so I know where ur at for advice need.. I tried ysl tint LOVED IT but this toner made me feel so refreshing. Smells light wonderful and refreshed totally. Nice smell worth price was 12.50 for fair size bttle alcohol free and I'll never change. In short period almost feels I no need chemicals. in one day I was astonished it even clean off makeup left from after makeup remover I totally?recommend it. I have fair skin and no whatsoeverreaction. Its like scent eater. I know how it feels for advice I been seeking myself . already been spending too much . But I absolutely give this 100. Another toner that's good is proactive I really lo ed it too but it's pricy if ur looking g for decent price a quality

Spoiler

Spoiler

[WinglessOne]

Hi @lenajam !  Most of today's toners are really just watery delivery vehicles for hydrating, antioxidant, or exfoliating ingredients. "Toner" and "essence" are interchangeable, as far as I'm concerned. Back in my day, toners used to be alcohol-heavy astringents designed to remove excess dirt/oil/makeup and lower skin's pH after use of highly alkaline cleansers. Since today's cleansers aren't so alkaline anymore, there's not much need for pH-adjusting toners—and thank goodness, because those toners were super stripping and drying. Today's toners aren't like that, for the most part. 

You might not need a toner, but here's what many of them do for your skin: 

Hydrate your skin after washing - these toners contain ingredients like hyaluronic acid (often sodium hyaluronate), PCA/sodium PCA, carrageenan, trehalose, polyglutamic acid, birch sap, honey, peptides, various forms of sucrose, and other hydrating ingredients I'm forgetting right now. They're great for dehydrated skin. My favorite hydrating toner has been discontinued, unfortunately. But there are plenty of other options on the market. An "essence" can also be used for this purpose: I currently use and love Neogen Dermalogy Real Ferment Micro Essence each night. There's also a "toner" version of that product, if you're interested. COSRX Hydrium Watery Toner is another option: it contains 6 forms of hyaluronic acid. Or consider COSRX Full Fit Propolis Synergy Toner, which contains panthenol, propolis, and honey extract. 

Exfoliate your skin - there are AHA and PHA toners that can remove dead skin cells from the top layer of your face, revealing newer skin. If you already use a leave-on chemical exfoliant product or a physical exfoliant (like a cleansing scrub or spin brush), then you don't need an exfoliating toner. In fact, that might be overkill for your face: it's easy to over-exfoliate, which leads to painfully damaged skin. If you choose an exfoliating toner, especially an AHA toner, use it just 1-3 times a week (never twice on the same day) to avoid over-exfoliation. A good gentle option is The INKEY List Polyhydroxy Acid (PHA) Gentle Exfoliating Toner 3.4 oz/ 100 mL  . Some folks love The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toner 8 oz/ 240 mL  . When I first started using chemical exfoliants, I used First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads 28 Pads as an exfoliating toner. 

Deliver antioxidants/active ingredients to your skin - this includes vitamin C toners, niacinamide toners, etc. I've used and enjoyed the Good Molecules Niacinamide Brightening Toner: it contains niacinamide and a stable vitamin C derivative (3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid). 

Remove traces of makeup left after washing - not necessary if you already double-cleanse (oil cleanser/cleansing balm/micellar water, followed by a more traditional gel/cream/foaming cleanser). But, eh, it’s another reason to use a toner. Any of the exfoliating toners I mentioned can work for this purpose. Some folks use 100% witch hazel as a toner; if your skin's not sensitive to witch hazel, you could try that. (I used to do this but had to stop because it was wrecking my skin over time. Your results may vary.) 

[WiscyKristi]

hi, @lenajam , a toner is usually used after cleansing to remove any residual dirt, impurities, etc. after cleansing. They typically help with skin tone and texture, as well. Some that I've tolerated well are OLEHENRIKSEN Glow2OH 7% AHA Exfoliating Dark Spot Toner  , and  OLEHENRIKSEN Balancing Force™ Oil Control Toner 6.5 oz/ 193 mL  . If you're looking for something at a lower price-point, Neutrogena's Alcohol-Free toner is less than $10. you can get that at ULTA, Walgreens, Wal-Mart, and the like.