How to pick the BEST toner for your skin type!

Toners are one of those confusing skincare products that I used to always ask myself, should I start using one? Then I would talk myself out of it with the all-too-familiar memories of Sea Breeze astringent. Thankfully, that is a ghost of skincare past when it comes to the new age formulas and popularity of hydration rich korean skincare. A toner may not be a cure-all but it could be the perfect addition to your current routine! Let’s discuss the best toners for dry, oily, and combo skin and other skin conditions plus how to incorporate them into your routine.

First, be sure to check out my Skincare 101 class to understand the foundation of all skincare routines before adding in a toner.

What is a Toner?

Toners are water-based skincare products that can be used to treat various skin types and conditions as well as prep the skin for the rest of your routine. In the past, a facial toner was chocked full of drying alcohols to strip away oils from our acne-prone teenage skin. Nowadays, formulas are typically much more gentle. There are also different types of toning products that should be differentiated before we dive further in:

Strong, alcohol laden astringents are definitely not popular anymore. Science and skincare professionals have educated us on the harm that these kind of products can do to our skin over time, which has caused more skin nourishing toners to pop up in the market. Some up to date astringent options typically still deeply cleanse the skin either without alcohol or a very small amount. Witch hazel is an example of an astringent best used for oily skin types. But, toners can be ultimately just as gentle as an essence, or nearly as cleansing as an astringent. It all depends on the product choice!

How to Incorporate Toners into your Routine

When it comes to any facial toner, you should apply it right after cleansing the skin. This helps to prep the skin for the remainder of your products and can balance the pH level. You can sprinkle the toner into your hands and pat into damp or dry skin, or you can gently swipe it on with a cotton round. I suggest these environmentally friendly reusable ones. Any toner will typically sink in rather quickly and then you can go into the rest of your routine.

Many toners can be used twice a day if they are hydrating and soothing. If you are opting for an exfoliating option, then remember that this will be your exfoliation step in your routine. You most likely won’t layer any other exfoliating products or use it every single day. Check out my exfoliation blog for more help on this!

I posted a poll asking my followers if they used a toner and which type they prefer:

I personally prefer a hydrating toner and an exfoliating serum, but that is just what I like and what works for my skin. If I do choose an exfoliating option, I like a gentler version so I can still alternate with my retinol. Many oily or acne prone skin types may prefer using an exfoliating toner. Your skin can also learn to tolerate different forms of exfoliants, such as a BHA toner and an azaleic acid serum. But that is more of an advanced routine that I suggest asking a professional about first.

Choosing a Toner for your Skin Type

I also asked my fellow skincare enthusiasts to send me their favorite toners so I can include them below. There are SO MANY toners to choose from, but don’t be overwhelmed. Start with some of my suggestions below at different price points:

1) Toners for Dry Skin

As I mentioned before, old school toners were predominately used for oily and acneic skin types which can cause many of those with dry skin running far away from anything called a toner. Fortunately, Korean skincare products and trends have helped so many of us to improve the hydration of our skin. These k-beauty products place a high importance on hydrating and plumping the skin. Korean skincare toners incorporate skin soothing, moisturizing, hydrating, and calming extracts and ingredients to prep the skin and calm redness before applying the rest of the routine.

$ Cosrx Propolis Synergy Toner, this delectible favorite of mine is so gentle and perfect for every day! The propolis is so soothing, and it makes the skin plump, hydrated and glowy. I talk about this one in my top 2020 korean skincare picks.

$$ First Aid Beauty Oat Hydrating , I have also recommended this toner before here on the blog! It is super gentle and uses colloidal oatmeal to soothe and calm the skin. It will add a boost of hydration but is especially good for calming sensitive skin types.

$$ Klairs Supple Preparation Toner, a favorite by many k beauty lovers, this one is great for moisturizing and prepping the skin for the rest of your routine. It is a more simple option for daily or twice daily usage that can help improve the benefits of your other products.

$$ Paula’s Choice Enriched Calming Toner, this has a milky texture that will help restore balance to the skin using antioxidants and lipids. Paula’s Choice states that it is even safe for those with eczema prone skin! I like that this includes such good key nutrients for the skin health which can take the place of a serum.

2) Toners for Oily Skin

Oily skin can benefit from toners that help with balancing oil production or also serve as a potent treatment in your routine. These can help with preventing breakouts and keeping the skin clear.

$ Good molecules Niacinamide Brightening Toner, this toner works to brighten dull skin using ascorbic acid and licorice root. It is beneficial to oily skin as a replacement for a heavier vitamin c serum that can be too much for oily skin types, and it also uses niacinamide to balance oil production.

$ Q+A Niacinamide Daily Toner, this toner option also incorporates niacinamide into the formula to help balance oil production and reduce pore size. It also has hyaluronic acid and aloe vera for light weight hydration!

$ The Ordinary Glycolic Acid Solution, this is an exfoliating option for those that want a glycolic toner instead of a serum formula. It is a bit strong, so start slow and work your way up to using more frequently. I love how straight forward this is and how glycolic acid helps with several skin conditions.

$$ Skin & Co Truffle Therapy Toner, I used to love this refreshing toner when my skin was super oily. It uses witch hazel, which has astringent properties that can be drying for some skin types, but also can work perfectly for those pesky, shiny t-zones. It uses other natural extracts to remove bacteria from the skin.

3) Toners for Combination Skin

Combo skin can be very difficult to treat. A routine needs to be well balanced in order to find relief for your dry patches and reduce the shiny, more oily areas. The main tip I can give those with combination skin is to utilize a toner as your treatment in the routine, instead of a stand-alone serum. It can be a bit more gentle and then you can follow with your fave soothing moisturizer!

$$ Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Pore-Tight Toner, the entire watermelon line from Glow Recipe has been a favorite of mine for quite awhile. This uses gentle PHAs + BHAs to reduce pore size and help prevent breakouts, but is also skin soothing for drier areas of the face. This is gentle enough for sensitive skin, if you are not bothered by fragrance.

$$ Epionce Balancing Toner, this mist can be sprayed directly on the face as a way to remove impurities and hydrate. It has gentle cucumber and marshmallow extract, but also skin clarifying willow bark that works to balance combination skin types.

$$ Ren Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Toner, I love this option to help brighten and smooth uneven skin. It uses more gentle lactic and azelaic acid options to exfoliate the skin and help balance while also improving the signs of dark spots. This should be used a few times a week, and can slowly move up to every other day.

4) Toners for Acne and Breakouts

When it comes to breakouts, you definitely need to be careful with strong toners. It definitely depends on the type of acne you have for what toner to choose. I am giving you three options based on what the rest of your routine looks like:

$ Cosrx AHA/BHA Toner, the combination of AHAs and BHAs in this toner works as a powerhouse for acne and breakout-prone skin. It also can be directly sprayed onto the face or applied with a cotton round. By using glycolic and willow bark, this is pretty potent but is also still gentle enough for most. Incorporate this as a treatment for whiteheads, blackheads and under the skin bumps.

$ Hero Cosmetics Clear Balancing Toner, this toner uses witch hazel and zinc pca to balance oilier skin types prone to breakouts. It also has hydrating green tea water, hyaluronic acid, and tiny oil capsules to soothe stressed and irritated skin. Yes- acneic skin types need hydration and skin loving ingredients! This would work well in combination with another acne treatment but be sure to alternate them (don’t use at same time).

$ Rovectin Activating Treatment Lotion, this is a gentle and hydrating option to help soothe and repair angry, irritated skin. Really, it can be used by all skin types! I love the inclusion of niacinamide to balance oil production as well as the hyaluronic acid to plump and hydrate. This is perfect as an add-on to a more potent acne treatment and can be used daily.

Wrap-up

Are we all ready to start using toners without the worry about over-stripping our skin? Luckily, there are so many amazing products to choose from! I will follow up this post with a dedicated blog on essences in the coming weeks as well. Thank you for reading and let me know what toner sounds good for your skin type in the comments!