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What Does Facial Toner Do & Why You Should Use One
Many people skip over toner, not fully understanding what does facial toner do. However, facial toner can make a big difference in keeping your skin clean, hydrated, and looking its best. In this post, we’ll explain the key reasons why you might want to give facial toner a try.
What Is a Face Toner?
A face toner is a skincare product you use after washing your face but before putting on your moisturizer. It helps to remove any residue or impurities left after cleansing your skin, and hydrates your skin to make it look bright and fresh. Toners correct and balance the skin’s pH, which ideally preps the skin for moisturization.
Toners can also contain astringent ingredients, which means they make the appearance of pores look smaller and leave your skin feel tighter for a while after use, improving overall skin tone. When you include a toner in your daily skincare routine, it can make a big difference in how glowing, healthy, and refined your skin appears.
What Does Toner Do for Your Face?
Including a face toner in your daily skincare can be beneficial for several reasons:
Removing oil, traces of dirt, and residue from cleansing
A toner removes dirt, makeup, bacteria, and impurities that your cleanser might not have fully removed, giving your skin a deeper clean. Some facial toners also help gently remove dead skin cells, leading to a smoother skin texture and a brighter complexion. However, be sure to look for toners with ingredients that gently exfoliate the skin without stripping it of its natural oils.
Toning the skin
Using a facial toner with astringent ingredients after you wash your face, can help dramatically reduce or minimize the appearance of pore size. Astringents contract the skin tissues, which helps the skin surface to look smooth, toned. and flawless, while giving an overall firming effect to skin.
Improving the effectiveness of other skin care products
Choosing the right toner can improve the absorption of your other skin care products, which improves their effectiveness. Toners can balance your skin’s pH level, making your other skin care products absorb and work better.
Soothing and refreshing skin
A toner that is applied in spray or mist form can be a great way to refresh your skin and complexion at the start and end of your day. Opting for a toner made from soothing and hydrating natural, plant-based ingredients, such as our Huna Revitalize Hydrating Botanical Face Mist, will calm, soothe and instantly hydrate your skin upon application.
Maintaining skin hydration and setting cosmetics
Toners are water-based and help return essential moisture to your skin after cleansing or throughout the day. They often have extra hydrating ingredients such as humectants added, which bind water to skin so it stays hydrated and moisturized feeling for longer.
Mist toners can be spritzed onto the skin anytime it feels dehydrated throughout the day, and mist toners will set your mineral and natural cosmetic application.
The Difference Between a Cleanser and Toner
Cleansers and toners are two different products that play different roles. A cleanser is used to cleanse the skin of surface oil, bacteria, makeup, pollution, and dirt. It removes the impurities that can clog your pores. A toner is the next step after you’ve cleansed your face with a cleanser. It is not for cleansing, but for preparing your skin for the moisturizers or serums that come next.
How and When to Use Toner?
Using a toner should come right after you’ve cleansed your face and before you apply your moisturizer and any special skin treatments. Simply dampen a cotton ball with the toner and gently pat it over your face, or if it is a spray or mist toner, simply spritz over skin from a few inches away.
Doing this in the morning and before bedtime helps your skin stay clean and ready to soak up the benefits of moisturizers and treatments you use next. Think of it as a prep step that helps your skin get the most out of the products you apply afterward.
How to Pick The Right Face Toner For Your Skin Type?
What kind of toner you’ll pick largely depends on your skin type. Here are some simple guidelines to help you make the right choice:
Sensitive Skin
People with sensitive skin should opt for gentle toners that help soothe the skin, reduce redness, and contain anti-inflammatory ingredients to calm irritation and inflammation. Look for ingredients such as calendula, chamomile, aloe, and mild gentle floral waters or plant hydrosols, and choose products labeled “hypoallergenic” or “safe for sensitive skin”.
These ingredients are less likely to irritate sensitive skin. It’s important to avoid toners containing alcohol if you have sensitive skin.
Oily/Acne-Prone Skin
Look for toners with astringent properties that can help manage oiliness and reduce the appearance of enlarged pores. Toners with antimicrobial or antibacterial ingredients, or AHA’s and BHA’s (Alpha Hydroxy Acids, and Beta Hydroxy Acids) will work to heal and reduce acne flare-ups and blackheads.
Look for toners with astringent properties and ingredients like witch hazel, willow bark extract, salicylic acid, AHA’s, and BHA’s, as they can help balance skin’s sebum oil while healing and reducing acne flare-ups and blackheads. Try the Huna Clarify Exfoliate Fruit Extract Face Toner, which contains AHA’s, BHA’s, and salicylic acid from strawberry fruit extract, which helps fade dark spots left behind by healed acne and sun damage.
Dry Skin
Toners that lock in moisture are the best choice for dry dehydrated skin. Toners with hyaluronic acid and humectants are fantastic for dry skin because they help the skin to retain moisture, keeping it hydrated, comfortable, and plump looking.
They can also help reduce skin flakiness throughout the day, especially with a mist-on formula, such as Huna Revitalize Hydrating Botanical Face Mist, which contains vegan Hyaluronic acid and plant-based Humectants to lock in moisture.
Normal/Combination Skin
For normal or combination skin, choose a toner that balances the skin’s pH and removes dirt and impurities. Your needs might change with the seasons, so you may need something more hydrating and moisturizing in the winter months such as Huna Revitalize Hydrating Botanical Face Mist, and something to control oil and acne breakouts in the summer, like Huna Clarify Exfoliate Fruit Extract Face Toner.
Mature Skin
For age-defying care, look for toners with extra hydration, and ingredients which support skin health. Ingredients like peptides, antioxidants, panthenol, and astringents can help firm and smooth the skin which will reduce the appearance of wrinkles. A good mature skin toner will refresh your skin and work to protect its youthful look and glow, such as Huna Revitalize Hydrating Botanical Face Mist.
What to Look for in Your Facial Toner?
Picking the right facial toner can be hard because there are so many options available. To make it easier for you, here are some key things to consider that will help you find a toner that’s effective yet gentle for your skin:
Alcohol-Free
Toners with harsh ingredients, including alcohols, can dehydrate and remove moisture from your skin. This might cause dryness, redness, irritation, or discomfort. That’s why it is better to pick a mild and hydrating toner without alcohols or synthetic ingredients such as artificial fragrances. Using an alcohol-free toner will help your skin stay soft, clean, hydrated, and comfortable with daily use.
pH-Balanced
Our skin’s pH can change due to the environment, which might lead to issues like dryness or itching. That’s why it’s important to choose a toner that balances the pH of your skin. Balancing your skin’s pH is crucial after you wash your face since cleansers might make your skin more alkaline.
Ideally, your skin should have a pH level of around 4.7, which is mildly acidic. Using the right toner can help return your skin’s pH balance, ensuring a happy skin microbiome and a respected protective moisture barrier. Your skin will also be ideally prepped and ready for the next steps in your skincare routine.
Non-Comedogenic
When shopping for a toner, aim for products marked as “non-comedogenic.” This label means the toner is made with ingredients that will not clog or block your pores. Products that are non-comedogenic are free of pore-clogging ingredients and are good for all skin types but are particularly great for those with oily skin.
Developed With Dermatologists and Clinically Tested
Doctors which specialize in skin health, known as Dermatologists, are experts at keeping skin healthy. For this reason, it’s a good idea to use toners and other skin products that have been created with the help of Dermatologists, or are verified through Clinical Testing to use claims such as Dermatologist Tested, Dermatologist Approved, Hypoallergenic, and Safe for Sensitive Skin.
FAQ’S
Do you wash toner off?
No, you don’t wash toner off after applying it to your face. Think of toner as a part of your skincare routine that helps prepare your skin for moisturizing. After cleaning your face, apply toner with a cotton pad or your hands.
It’s meant to stay on your skin to help it get ready for moisturizing. Don’t rinse it off because it helps with the next steps in your skincare process.
Can I sleep with toner on my face?
Yes, you can sleep with toner on your face. It’s common for many skincare routines to include applying toner before bed. Toner helps clean your skin, can make it feel fresher, and over time, may improve its tone, making your.
Just make sure your skin agrees well to the toner you’re using before making it a nightly habit. You might want to try a different product or use it less frequently if you notice any irritation.
How long should I leave toner on my face?
The length of time you should leave toner on your face depends on the type of toner you’re using and what your skin can handle. Generally, you don’t need to wash it off after applying it with a cotton pad or your hands. Toner is designed to be a quick step that preps your skin for moisturizer, so it isn’t rinsed off.
Most toners should sit on your skin for a few minutes before applying your serums or moisturizers, giving it enough time to work and fully absorb. Always check the label of your specific product for the best advice, and if your skin starts feeling uncomfortable, rinse the toner off with cool water and pat skin dry.
Botanist, Herbalist, Natural Cosmetic Formulator, Founder & CEO at Huna Skin at Huna Skin
Hi, I’m Heather Urquhart!I’m a Botanist, Herbalist, Natural Cosmetic Formulator, Holistic Skin Health Expert, and Founder & CEO of Huna Skin.
My passion is helping people with problematic skin heal & resolve their skin issues and achieve their best skin ever, using natural, organic, clean, holistic, and sustainable methods.
I founded Huna in 2014 after suffering a variety of challenging skin issues from two autoimmune diseases.
I became an Herbalist, Skincare Formulator, and Skin Health Expert and healed my own skin issues along the way.
My skin has never been healthier, and now I help others heal and visibly improve their skin, from the inside out.
My passion is helping people with problematic skin heal & resolve their skin issues and achieve their best skin ever, using natural, organic, clean, holistic, and sustainable methods.
I founded Huna in 2014 after suffering a variety of challenging skin issues from two autoimmune diseases.
I became an Herbalist, Skincare Formulator, and Skin Health Expert and healed my own skin issues along the way.
My skin has never been healthier, and now I help others heal and visibly improve their skin, from the inside out.
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