What is the purpose of a toner?

Mar 14, 2012

Cassandra M.

Are toners a necessary skin care product to use? What is the purpose of it? I have oily, acne prone skin...would using a toner benefit my skin? If so which are good? Thanks :)

Mar 14, 2012

Kenya D.

It may it help mines it balances the pH of your face and help prepare it for moisturizer

Mar 15, 2012

Zoe S.

I don't really know what the purpose is, besides clearing away the last bits a facial wash didn't catch, but I do know that whenever I don't use mine for a day or two, is that my face breaks out. I have pretty oil skin too. 

Mar 15, 2012

Leslie J.

Toner removes excess dirt and oil from your skin and it is supposed to help even out your skin tone. I normally use Sea Breeze for sensitive skin or Witch Hazel. They both work really well. I switch off between these two depending on if I start to notice breakouts or not. 

Mar 17, 2012

Cassandra M.

So, since I have very oily skin that breaks out a lot and very easily, I should invest in a toner? Sorry for the stupid questions but I'm just starting to get into skin care products :)

Mar 22, 2012

Raychel C.

Hi Cassandra!

If you have very oily skin and are prone to break outs, a toner is a GREAT product to invest in. It will remove excess oil and dirt from your skin, close your pores after cleansing, and help to even out your skin tone. If you can find one, there are a few that will help control oil production, as well.

Mar 22, 2012

Michelle D.

It's really important to cleanse before you use toner. Toner pretty much closes up your pores (because they open up when you do cleanse your face from the steam of water). It takes out any excess dirt (or makeup in my case) that you missed as well as restoring the faces pH levels. There are all sorts of toners for skin types, and it's important to moisturize afterwards cause (well for me) it dries out the skin and tightens it. 

Mar 26, 2012

Jane A.

I really like Witch Hazel. I have very oily and sensitive skin (I once suffered from cystic acne.) I used WH as my toner, and it's one of the produts that saved my life.

And I noticed too, when I tend to pick a pimple and it looks like it's going to scar or what not, I put WH on a cotton ball or swab and put it on my pimple for a minute or two, and it keeps it from scaring. To me it looks like it actually helps shrink it. 

Mar 27, 2012

Bee K.

you can use lemon juice as a toner if you don't have anything else in the meantime! http://homeremediesblogger.blogspot.com/2012/03/tip-of-day-lemon-juice-as-toner.html

Mar 31, 2012

Mary Stewart W.

I second the witch hazel! Wonderful for those of us plagued with oily skin and it's also super cheap

Apr 1, 2012

Alexandria C.

Try the Clinique one! :)

Apr 3, 2012

Joi K.

ok ladies the purpose of a toner is to balance the oil in ur skin it does not prepare ur skin for moisturiser if u have oily acne prone skin moisturiser's are not ur friend if u have oliy skin it makes it worse and toners are suppose to tighten and dry the skin a little as ur skin is getting back to a normal PH balance the dryness goes away on its own it but if have overly dry skin a toner is not ur friend and moisturser is u really have to know what kind of skin u have and I think witch hazel is the best toner its not harsh 

Apr 3, 2012

Lydia T.

@Bee K. isn't lemon juice dangerous? I mean if you go into the sunlight you might get spots.

@Cassandra M. Daily use of toner has helped me clear out my skin, you need to apply them after you wash your face, before moisturizer or if oy have oily sking, you may skip the moisturizer and go directly to sunscreen,
As we age, our skin loses the skill to renew itself, and it becomes fragile after you wash or exfoliate, meaning the PH is unbalanced, when we are young, the PH restores quickly, but as we age is important to help your skin in the process, you may feel is worthless to use a toner, because they're formulated to feel lightweght and just refreshing, but your skin will be so thankfull in a few years.
Besides, I'v noticed my pores are smallr, and my makeup goes a lot smoother when I've used toner.

@Alexandria C. are you recommending the step 2 from the 3 step skin care? If so, in my opinion, that formula is too abrasive and does not work for the purpose of the toner, it can work to clear skin from impurities and acne, but I would still recommend using a toner, they just work for different purposes.

Apr 4, 2012

Landrey S.

Witch Hazel is an amazing toner for balancing the skin. Some other natural based toners are lime juice (acne prone/oily skin.) And green tea with antioxidants for healing purposes.

Apr 4, 2012

Marian H.

Toners help you get the ph of ur skin back to its original state. There are toners for oily skin like the one from Jafra which comes in a cute blue bottle and its also mattifying

Apr 4, 2012

Sabrina P.

a good toner is the Bobbi Brown toner and it has lavender and chamomile good for the skin i have acne prone skin i don't any drugstores that are good maybe tea tree toner

Apr 4, 2012

Sherry W.

You should try Clinique. Just go to to there website and they have a little test where you can find out what 3 step skin care you can use. I have been using the 3 step skin care in #3 and I really like it. I like clinique because they are fragrance free which is important to me, and they are gentle not harsh, you don't wanna damage your skin while trying to fix it. Any time I have a break out, I try not to mess with it, I do the routine morning and night, and it's really not that hard, just cleanse in the shower, use the toner and rub on an awesome moisturizer. I have seen a difference in the overall appearance of my skin and I haven't even been using it that long, I bought a "trial" version which comes with a large toner and a smaller cleanser and moisturizer and it was 10.00 for the trial set. Clinique is awesome because they have make up that fits your skin type as well. Try it out! If you happen to have access to the military base you should purchase it there because its way cheaper!

Apr 4, 2012

Jen C.

A toner balances the ph level in your skin, as many have said above, as well as remove any other makeup, oils, and dirt your cleanser missed. But a toner has moisturizing properties so it also puts moisture back into your skin from when you cleansed. That isn't to say you shouldn't use one because you have oily skin. I do too but when you don't tone or moisturize, the oil glands in your face want to produce more oil. So when you moisturize and hydrate your oil glands won't produce as much oil because your pH level is balanced. Unfortunately I couldn't recommend any toners for you, since I'm using one my esthetics instructor makes himself. I do want to try witch hazel though. I hope this informed you!

Apr 4, 2012

Jen C.

Btw don't confuse a toner with an astringent. Astringents are more recommended for oily skinned people but they are also harsher and contain a lot of alcohol and may even dry out your skin. Toners are suitable for everyone and much gentler. 

Apr 6, 2012

Jessica R.

As Kenya D. said before, it helps to balance the pH of your skin after cleansing or exfoliation and prepares your skin for moisturizer. When you cleanse your skin you strip it of moisture and imbalance your skin's pH levels. My #1 recommendation for a toner is the Aveda Enbrightenment toner. It's amazing!! 

Apr 7, 2012

LeeAnn B.

i am breaking out allover my t zone right now! Would a toner be something that would help with this problem? I usually have clear skin not sure where these pimples are coming from either =/

Apr 9, 2012

Olivia G.

Aaaaah thank you Cassandra for asking that haha, I have always wanted to know :)

Apr 11, 2012

Raychel C.

LeeAnn B - Have you recently changed your skin routine? Maybe a new make-up product or skin care? Changes in your routine could be causing break outs or a change in climate. A toner will help with break outs! I would recommend using a toner everyday whether you're broken out or not. Witch Hazel might be a good option for you :)

Apr 11, 2012

Bee K.

@Lydia I'm not sure if you read the entire post (link I attached under it or not..) but, no, it's great for your face! It's an astringent but once you use it, you have to wash it off with cool water and then apply your moisturizer, primer, makeup etc.
Please don't leave it on your face and go out in the sun!

Apr 11, 2012

Bee K.

@Jennifer C. I believe you may be confused... an astringent is just a substance that contracts your body tissues. that's all it is. It can be ANY substance that does it. That said, an astringent is not necessarily harsher and it doesn't necessarily contain alcohol because lemon juice (which also helps to balance the pH level thus acting as a toner) and tomatoes are both astringents and they are 100% natural!