What Is Toner, and Do You Really Need It? We Asked Dermatologists

Glass bottle with skin toner lying on a nude background with natural light

Design by Tiana Crispino

Cleanse, tone, moisturize—these three steps have been the basics of many skincare routines for decades. While the first and last steps are non-negotiable, is toning really necessary? What even is a toner? And at what point in your skincare routine do you use it? We reached out to experts Krupa Koestline and Corey L. Hartman, who shared the pros and cons. Keep scrolling to find out when to use toner and everything else you need to know about this skincare product.

Meet the Expert

  • Krupa Koestline is a clean cosmetic chemist and founder of KKT Consultants.
  • Corey L. Hartman, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Skin Wellness Dermatology.

What Is Skin Toner?

A toner is a water-based product meant to remove whatever's left of makeup, dirt, and oil after cleansing and before any serum or moisturizer. According to Hartman, toner also helps to close pores and can help brighten skin. They fall into two main categories: an astringent toner and a balancing toner, adds Koestline.

The Benefits of Toner for Skin

The basic function of toner is to prep skin for the serums and creams applied after. Depending upon its ingredients, it may also balance the skin's pH levels, restoring it to an acidic state, which can help in preventing acne.

Balancing Toner

  • Hydrates and soothes skin: Formulated to be gentle, balancing toner keeps skin moisturized and calms any signs of irritation.
  • Balances skin's pH: It works to help skin achieve its natural, slightly acidic pH to look and function at its best.

Astringent Toner

  • Exfoliates skin: "A lot of them are exfoliating toners and are formulated with exfoliating acids like AHAs (glycolic acid, lactic acid, mandelic acid) and BHAs (salicylic acid)," says Koestline. A great exfoliating toner is formulated to gently exfoliate the skin without irritating or sensitizing the skin, she adds.
  • Improves skin's texture: "Those with acneic skin may also find a BHA and AHA toner to be very helpful in improving their skin texture faster," says Koestline.

Who They're For

According to Koestline, balancing toners work for all skin types, especially dry and sensitive skin. Those with dry skin should seek alcohol-free toners since alcohol is a drying ingredient that strips the skin of its natural oils. "Seek toners with glycerin, hyaluronic acid, rosewater, or aloe. These ingredients add moisture to the skin while balancing skin’s tone," Hartman tells us.

"Astringent toners are designed for more oily, combination, or acne-prone skin," Koestline tells us. If you have oily skin, Hartman says to look for toners that contain hydroxy acids or sulfur because these ingredients clear pores, reduce oil production, and chemically exfoliate. "Calming ingredients like niacinamide, aloe vera, and vitamin C can help to reduce inflammation and ensure that the toner doesn’t dry the skin out too much," he adds.

In general, like any other skincare product, do a patch test on your arm before applying it all over your face to see how your skin reacts to the product.

When to Use Toner

Toner should be used immediately after cleansing the face in the morning before an antioxidant and sunscreen. "One of the best ways to apply a toner is to pour some in a clean, dry hand, and then pat all around your face with your other hand. You can use a cotton pad or a microfiber reusable pad, but oftentimes a lot of the product is absorbed into the pad and it doesn’t transfer to the skin," says Hartman.

Byrdie Tip

It's best to use toner when the skin is still a little damp so it absorbs better.

While balancing toners can used twice daily after cleansing, astringent toners should only be used once or twice a week. And if have dry skin, cap use at just once a month. "[Overexfoliation] can cause a major imbalance in your skin's microbiome, disrupt your natural skin barrier, and make your skin dehydrated. All of that can lead to more pigmentation, sun damage, and inflammation," explains Koestline.

"In the winter, for example, when the weather is drier, it's nice to spritz a hydrosol onto your skin after cleansing then sealing that extra moisturize with a nice serum and moisturizer," says Koestline.

Best Toner Products

versed milk toner
Versed Baby Cheeks Hydrating Milk $19.00
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Hartman recommends Versed Baby Cheeks Hydrating Milk Toner for severely dry skin. "The formulation containing coconut water and algae provides more hydration than most toners," he says. The bonus is that it also doubles as a cleanser and makeup remover.

rose hydrosol
Mountain Rose Herbs Rose Hydrosol $6.00
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Koestline's favorite go-to toner is Rose Hydrosol. "It's a perfect toner, astringent and anti-inflammatory agent with the added benefit of a beautiful smell," she says.

alumierimd toner
AlumierMD Bright & Clear Solution $46.00
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"I like AlumierMD Bright & Clear Solution, which contains lactic acid and vitamin C, to gently exfoliate environmental debris and improve skin texture. It works well for oily skin," says Hartman.

vichy toner
Vichy Pureté Thermale Toner $20.00
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Hartman is also a fan of Vichy Pureté Thermale Toner for being "an affordable, gentle toner that removes all the residue and none of the essential oil."

good molecules toner
Good Molecules Niacinamide Brightening Toner $14.00
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"Good Molecules Niacinamide Brightening Toner is alcohol-free, but packed with niacinamide to calm irritation and remove dead skin cells that make skin look dull," says Hartman.

Fenty Skin 'Fat Water' Toner
Fenty Skin Fat Water Niacinamide Pore-Refining Toner Serum $34.00
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Fenty Skin Fat Water Pore-Refining Toner Serum is a cult favorite because it combines toner and serum to deliver a brightening and toning effect without stripping away too much oil.

Alternatives to Toners

Other products do similar jobs as toners. According to Hartman, an essence can offer similar benefits to a toner (you also use an essence after cleansing). "Like toners, essences can help further cleanse the skin and also deliver additional ingredients to benefit the skin," he says.

Micellar water is formulated specifically as a second cleansing step to remove any residual makeup, dirt, or grime. Facial mists are also a simple way to refresh skin by hydrating in an instant. Often, these types of products are infused with moisturizing, nourishing ingredients just like toners.

The Final Takeaway

If you already use the above alternatives, you can probably skip toner—that is, unless you love a routine with all the steps. In that case, carry on. "Aside from a gentle cleanser formulated without harsh surfactants, a moisturizer, and a mineral-based SPF, all the other steps of skincare, toner is not needed," says Koestline.

Article Sources
Byrdie takes every opportunity to use high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.
  1. Prakash C, Bhargava P, Tiwari S, Majumdar B, Bhargava RK. Skin surface pH in acne vulgaris: insights from an observational study and review of the literatureJ Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2017;10(7):33-39.

  2. Mukhopadhyay P. Cleansers and their role in various dermatological disordersIndian J Dermatol. 2011;56(1):2-6. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.77542

  3. Fox L, Csongradi C, Aucamp M, du Plessis J, Gerber M. Treatment modalities for acneMolecules. 2016;21(8):1063. doi:10.3390/molecules21081063

  4. Day K, Tazzioli J, Liu M, Hawkins S. Sensitive skin compatibility of micellar water. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2017;76(6). doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2017.04.904

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