Do You Really Need a Toner? Here's Our Take on It
June Javelosa
For years, we've been told that a good skincare routine relied on just three things:
Cleanse, tone, moisturize.
While we're all quite familiar with cleansing and moisturizing, chances are you've skipped toning through the years. It's likely that your point of reference for using toners was as a teen, where you dreaded the sting of the toner against your sensitive teenage skin but used it anyway in the hopes of battling shine and acne.
It didn't work, of course. Toners then were steeped in astringent and were therefore unbelievably drying your skin. It didn't sting because it was doing its job; it stung because of the high concentration of irritating ingredients like alcohol.
A New Generation of Toners
Today's toners, however, are changing the game.
Modern formulations work by giving your skin a quick dose of hydration while removing dead cells from the surface of your skin. The result is a plump, glowing complexion that helps prime the skin for serums or moisturizers.
Think of it as a primer for your pores. It brings your skin back to its natural acidic state by gently removing impurities and prepping it to absorb skincare products better.
The Second Step
Green Chemistry has always tried to simplify the skincare process with products that work. That said, following the traditional three-step skincare sequence, toning should go after cleansing—the second step.
Always start by clearing away the grime, removing makeup, and gently sloughing away dead skin cells so that all the skin-healthy, nutrient-rich benefits of your toner can seep into your skin. Make sure you apply your toner within a minute after you wash your face, as it helps penetrate the skin better when it's wet.
Applying it varies as well. Some prefer to sprinkle a few drops onto clean fingertips and tap it gently on the skin, while others prefer to soak a cotton pad and gently wipe it around the face.
Choosing the Right Toner
Toner is one of the most accessible products that you can add to your basic skincare routine that not only reaps great rewards for minimal effort but also boosts the benefits of your other skincare products.
For the ultimate brightening and anti-aging tonic, we recommend trying Phyto Glow—our toner infused with cucumber juice and fruit acids that's perfect for all skin types. It's the simplest way to maximize your beauty routine.