Most skin care products have obvious uses—a cleanser wipes away dirt and oil, for instance, while a moisturizer provides necessary hydration to keep your skin looking soft and supple. But toner can be a bit more of a mystery. What exactly does it do for your skin, and is it really necessary? If you are unsure of the answers to these questions, then it’s worth learning more about why a high-quality cleansing toner should be a part of your daily skin care routine.
Toners are thin liquids, almost watery in substance. They can be used morning and night as an important step in cleaning your skin and prepping it for the moisturizers, serums or other specialty skin care products that you use. Unlike the toners of the past that used to make skin feel too tight and dry because they used alcohol, today’s cleansing toners support the skin with alcohol-free formulations that clean without stripping skin of moisture. In fact, much like cleansers and moisturizers, toners have been developed to address a range of skin issues, so you are sure to find a toner that works best for your skin and its particular needs.
You can apply toner after cleansing your skin with your usual face wash. The most effective way to use toner is to put some on a cotton ball and gently swipe it all over your face and neck, taking care to avoid the eye area. You could also apply it with your fingertips in a pinch, but you may find a cotton ball is an easier way to control the thin, liquid toner. If you use a scrub to exfoliate your skin as part of your routine, do so before the toner and after cleansing, as it helps prep the skin for the toner to really get to work. Whether it comes after cleansing or exfoliating, a toner should be applied to still-wet skin for best results.
Why You Need a Toner—and How to Find the Best One for You
Generally, toners can play two roles in your skin care routine: they slough away dead skin cells while also hydrating the surface of the skin for some extra cleaning and moisturizing in one fell swoop. With toner, your skin gets that extra-level clean while also priming it for your favorite moisturizer or serum.
Convinced you need a toner? Then the next step is choosing the best one for you. DERMA E has developed a range of toners that meet specific skin care needs. If you are looking for a good all-purpose toner that can nourish the skin and keep it looking dewy fresh, the Essentials Radiance Toner is perfect for you. This toner uses the power of glycolic acid to rid the surface of your skin from those dead cells that can dull your complexion, possibly clog your pores and keep you from looking radiant. The glycolic acid works in harmony with botanical extracts such as rooibos and rosehip to produce a look that is supple, soft and glowing.
If your skin care focuses on anti-aging issues, then the DERMA E Anti-Wrinkle Toner is specially developed to address the appearance of those fine lines that can start to appear as we get older. This pH-balanced toner pairs glycolic acid with Vitamin A, which is often used in anti-aging skin care products because it may support collagen health and encourage cell turnover on the surface of your skin to help it appear youthful. The Anti-Wrinkle Toner also includes marine plant extracts to help purify the skin’s surface so that skin looks more luminous and refreshed.
Perhaps you’d like to improve the texture of your skin’s surface—you’ve got oiliness or bumps, or you feel a loss of elasticity. The Firming DMAE Toner can help calm the surface of the skin with natural astringents such as witch hazel, horsetail and horse chestnut, while also soothing it with gentle lemongrass and chamomile. This toner also features C-Ester and “nature’s firming agent” DMAE, also known as alpha lipoic acid. It’s a complete package that promotes a healthy-looking complexion.
If your skin is prone to dryness, the Hydrating Mist offers replenishment with the “moisture magnet” hyaluronic acid, which draws moisture to the skin and keep it there. Both the Purifying Toner Mist and the Hydrating Mist come in spray bottles for easy application on the go, for any time you need the quick boost only a toner can bring.
With DERMA E toners, not only do you get the benefits of a toner, but also the assurance that your skin care contains only the best natural ingredients in 100 % vegan, cruelty-free formulations. If you don’t have a cleansing toner in your regular skin care rotation yet, now is the perfect time to start.
