Toner is a lesser-known skin care product with many benefits—but what does toner do to promote healthy skin? While you probably already know the importance of cleanser and moisturizer, you're in good company if you've ever wondered whether toner's worth adding to your routine. Using the right formula on your skin can transform its health and appearance. By the end of this article, you'll understand the benefits of toner and how this product can help you meet your skin's needs and feel your best.
What Is Toner?
Toner is designed to refresh and prep your skin after cleansing. Typically water-based, toners may have a similar consistency to plain water, but they're so much more. While cleansers focus on removing surface impurities, like oil, dirt, and impurities, toners go deeper. Depending on their ingredients, they can hydrate, smooth, and nourish your skin to create the perfect foundation for the rest of your routine.
What Does Toner Do for Your Face?
Toner can elevate your skin care routine with a range of transformative benefits, including balancing your skin's pH, removing traces of impurities, hydrating and prepping the skin, and targeting specific skin concerns.
Balances Your Skin's pH
Have you noticed your skin feels tight or itchy after you wash your face? Cleansing can disrupt your skin's natural pH, particularly if you're not using a gentle cleanser suited for your skin type. Toner helps calm your skin and restore its ideal pH balance.
Removes Traces of Impurities
Even the best cleansers can leave behind remnants of makeup, oil, or daily buildup. Toner supports your cleansing process to ensure your skin is thoroughly clean. This prepares it to absorb your subsequent skin care products' active ingredients as efficiently as possible, maximizing their benefits.
Hydrates the Skin
Many modern toners include ingredients to hydrate the skin and improve moisture retention.
Targets Specific Skin Concerns
The benefits of toner can range widely with the ability to meet your unique skin care needs. A toner with alpha-hydroxy acids, for example, can gently exfoliate the skin, while a toner infused with antioxidants can combat environmental stressors and prevent oxidative stress, which can lead to signs of skin aging.
Should You Use Toner?
Toner is generally beneficial for everyone—with a caveat. Choose a toner that aligns with your skin type and goals. Here's how toner can support your skin routine to help you achieve your best skin depending on its needs.
For Oily or Acne-Prone Skin
Toners with gentle exfoliants can help smooth your skin and clarify pores. Try PCA SKIN Smoothing Toner, formulated with Lactic and Citric Acids to improve skin texture and reduce the appearance of pores all while calming the skin with Aloe Vera Leaf Juice.
For Dry or Sensitive Skin
Look for deeply hydrating toners with noncomedogenic moisturizing oils and antioxidant protection like PCA SKIN Hydrating Toner.
For Combination Skin
Combination skin's opposing needs can be tricky. The key is to balance the skin with hydrating and clarifying properties. PCA SKIN Nutrient Toner is suitable for combination skin, with a blend of vitamins, amino acids, and enzymes to exfoliate, nourish, and soften the skin.
Supporting Your Best Skin
Toner is more than just an extra step—it's a bridge between cleansing and treatment. Choosing the right toner for your skin type can unlock many benefits, from improving moisture retention to preventing free radical damage, while creating the perfect foundation for curated serums and moisturizers. PCA SKIN's toners are pioneered and perfected to deliver benefits that align with your skin type and concerns. Start your journey today and experience the transformative power of science-backed skin care.
Author: Daisy Brumby
Daisy Brumby is a journalist turned beauty writer who specializes in all things skincare. She has written for West Dermatology, the Skin and Cancer Institute, and The Aesthetic Guide. What’s her skin care secret? She swears by the power of sunscreen to protect skin and Retinol to rejuvenate it.