Toner is one of the most popular and recommended skincare products for use in a facial regimen. Toners have evolved to be water-based rather than alcohol-based, providing a refreshing and light sensation to the skin. These water-based formulations are gentler on the skin and less likely to cause dryness and irritation.

Tones from the past versus today

Toners, like other skincare products, play an important role in the facial cleansing process. This liquid or lotion-like product is typically applied before moisturizer.

Toner was previously used to remove any dirt, excess oil, or cleanser residue that remained after washing your face. However, with that mode of action, toners frequently contained alcohol that was extremely dry.

Now, the concept of toner is changing. Toners in Korean beauty are designed to provide a broader range of benefits, such as moisturizing, soothing, and preparing the skin for the next step in skincare. Toner is no longer used to remove oil and impurities, and the formula has become lighter, similar to water, and alcohol-free.

Read more: Know the Difference Between Astringent and Toner: Which Is the Best for Your Skin?

Benefits of using toner

Using a toner as part of your regular facial treatments has several advantages, including:

• It helps to remove any remaining dirt, excess oil, and residue. This step is important to keep pores clean and prevent clogging
• It helps prepare the skin to better absorb the next skincare product applied, such as serum, moisturizer or night cream
• Toners with ingredients like hyaluronic acid can help moisturize your skin
• Toners do not permanently shrink pore size, but regular use can help make pores appear smaller
• Some toners are designed to restore the skin's pH balance, making it less susceptible to infection and irritation
• Some toners contain alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA) or beta-hydroxy acids (BHA), which help slough off dead skin cells, making them suitable for acne-prone skin

Read more: How Hyaluronic Acid Treats The Skin

Choosing toner according to skin type

To get the best results, use a toner that is right for your skin type. Here are some guidelines for selecting a toner depending on your skin type:

For oily skin

Because oily skin produces excess oil, the best toner for it is one that can help deal with excess oil, such as salicylic acid and glycolic acid, which exfoliate the skin and reduce pore clogging, or niacinamide, which shrinks the appearance of pores.

For acne-prone skin

To prevent further irritation, acne-prone skin should use a mild and gentle toner. Avoid using toners that contain alcohol. Choose a toner with alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs), which can help remove dead skin and reduce oil.

For dry skin

Dry skin should avoid alcohol-based toners, which can irritate and dry out the skin. Toners should contain humectants that moisturise the skin, such as hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, and glycerin.

For combination skin

Combination skin has a mix of oily and dry skin, and it is recommended to use a toner with hyaluronic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, and vitamin C as an antioxidant. Avoid using toners with alcohol.

Are you having trouble deciding which toner is best for your skin type?

If you need medical advice or consultation, you can either visit a doctor or make use of the consultation features that are available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.

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