Most of us are a little OCD when it comes to being clean. Everything needs to be squeaky clean including our faces, but is over cleaning making you dry or causing breakouts? It’s all about balance. The main reason I usually use a toner is to “test” to see if my cleanser actually did its job. If my cotton squab is clean, I’m happy. If it’s dirty, there’s a problem with my cleanser. 

Sometimes to make our skin so clean we might be using astringents that strip the skin. Let’s figure out the right toner for you. Sometimes a toner can even change the appearance of your make up: yes, that little bottle of liquid collecting dust in your bathroom is the culprit!

Toners also help moisturizers and serums do their job, by retaining moisture.

I recently tried the Clinique Acne Solutions Clarifying Lotion. It’s called a lotion, but it’s really more like a toner with little specks of powder. The powder helps control the oil. The oily parts of your skin will thank you! It does contain alcohol, but it doesn’t dry out your skin and it’s pretty gentle. 

Bobbi Brown Hydrating Face Tonic is a soothing toner that is great for sensitive skin. Besides your skin type, the climate also has to do with what type of toner to use. In the cooler and drier season use a hydrating toner and an oil free one in the summer. It may seem like it doesn’t do much and just feels good, but it’s a crucial step to having balanced healthy skin.

The easiest way to figure out what your toner does is to flip it around and read the ingredients; if it doesn’t contain alcohol, it’s probably for dryer skin, and if it has alcohol, it’s more for normal to oily or combination skin. 

Aline Agopian