Everything You Need To Know About Skincare Toners

Many of us think using a cleanser is enough, but a toner’s job is to refresh and nourish skin after cleansing. In the past, toners used to be more astringent in nature, sometimes containing drying-alcohols that would be harsh and stripping. But today’s toners are geared toward hydrating and refreshing the skin, with formulas that are infused with soothing, brightening, and anti-aging actives to refresh, prep, and balance the complexion.

“Modern day toners prep for products applied afterward like serum and moisturizers by evening out the porosity of the skin, allowing for optimal product absorption,” explains VP of Product, Anna De La Cruz.

“What exactly does that mean? Simply put, by providing gentle exfoliation and pH balancing, toners act as a primer for the rest of your skincare and makeup products. They boost the efficacy of everything you apply after and provide a smooth, refined surface to skin. And, that’s why we recommend them for every skin type.”

Acne-fighting formulas used to focus primarily on eradicating oil from the skin, instead of focusing on the cause of breakouts. We now know that banishing every trace of oil can actually exacerbate breakouts, and as a result the function of toners have changed for the better.

The key to successfully incorporating an effective toner in your regimen is to determine what your skin goals are. No matter your skin type or concern, there’s a wide variety of toners that can help change your skincare routine for the better.

What is a Toner?

A toner is a water-like liquid that absorbs quickly into the skin, boosting the benefits of both its own ingredients, as well as products applied afterwards. A toner can be a prep or primer for the rest of your skincare routine, or its own as a standalone treatment step depending on what type you use and the level of actives it contains.

We love toners so much we offer a variety of different formats and formulas to make application easy.

Mists can be sprayed directly onto the face without any applicator. They can be refreshing, calming, and cooling—depending on the ingredients. Simply spritz, then apply your serum and moisturizer, before toner dries down completely to lock in the beneficial ingredients properties of all products. You can also use our facial mists as hydrating or soothing spritzes throughout the day.

Toner pads are infused with liquid that can simply be swiped across the skin. They’re also incredibly travel-friendly as a one-step option. We love to put our Beta-Clarity Clear Complexion Pads in the fridge for a little post-workout cooling.

Liquid exfoliant toners tend to be some of the more active toners, sloughing away dead skin cells, clearing the way for more active ingredients to penetrate the skin. They can be used by dispensing product onto a cotton pad and swiping across skin, or onto fingertips and gently patted or pressed on the face.

How Often Do I Use Toner?

Toners are typically used morning and/or night, immediately after cleansing the skin and prior to applying your serum and moisturizer.

How Do Toners Benefit Skin?

Toners provide an additional boost to the skin, whether it’s adding in hydration, enhancing absorption of other beneficial ingredients, or even chemical exfoliation, there’s a toner for everyone.

Toner Recommendations for Skin Type and Concern

Hydrate and calm any skin type (especially sensitive)

Phyto-Calm Flower Mist: This ultra-soothing mist provides a hydrating and calming effect on the skin while helping reduce redness with rose water. Phyto-Calm Flower Mist can be used on all skin types and concerns, and is the perfect option for a midday hydration boost.

Hydrate and infuse skin with powerful anti-aging ingredients.

HA-Revive Hyaluronic Mist: This mist is powered by skin-nourishing plant stem cells to provide intense hydration, along with regenerative benefits for those concerned with aging.

Combat breakouts and balance skin with this easy, travel-friendly format

Beta-Clarity Clear Complexion Pads: These travel-friendly pads help remove excess oil while targeting the cause of breakouts without stripping or overdrying skin.

Boost your glow with gentle exfoliation

Hydra-Bright Pro 5 Liquid Exfoliant: This treatment toner utilizes a powerhouse blend of 5 alpha and poly hydroxy acids to dissolve dead skin cells and reveal brighter, clearer skin. As this is a treatment toner, we recommend using it 2-3 times per week.

Beta-Clarity Pro 5 Liquid Exfoliant: An essential one-step treatment in your blemish-fighting, clarifying, and balancing ritual, our BHA liquid exfoliant is clinically proven to refine, smooth, and brighten skin. We recommend you use this 2-3 times per week, in the morning or at night.

To reduce the appearance of pores, apply it in the morning. Or, for gentle exfoliation, deeper penetration of actives, and helping your evening skincare products absorb better, use it at night.

While there are a lot of misconceptions about the purpose, effectiveness and benefits of using a toner, these products can be incredibly beneficial. It’s time to tone it up, and take your skincare routine to the next level.