I honestly love a good toner. Some people use them and some don't which is ok because like I said before skincare is personal. Toners in the past were heavily relied on because soaps and cleansers for our face were very stripping and drying but now because of new cleanser formulas some feel it is not needed, yet they provide great benefits.
A toner, astringent, or sometimes called skin refiners help to further cleanse skin while properly balancing the pH*. They provide essential ingredients, hydrate & replenish. Toners work in conjunction with cleansers, so they should be selected based on skin type as well as the cleanser type and your skincare goals. If you have dry skin, choose one with a host of hydrating ingredients (hyaluronic acid is your friend), if you have oilier skin, it's best to seek out those formulas that provide benefits in a lightweight formula.
Since toners stay on your skin and there is no need to rinse it off like a cleanser, be cautious of fragrant extracts such as rosewater, citrus fruits, and even essential oils that are used for fragrance purposes. Such overly fragrant toners are a common cause of reactions that have a negative impact on the skin. In the end, toners are great boosters for the skin and can show fantastic results. I always suggest to my clients to use one.
Additional notes
pH: stands for potential hydrogen and is a measure of how acidic or alkaline a substance is. This range is from 0 (very acidic) to 14 (very alkaline).1 When it comes to the pH of your skin, it's reliant on the skin's acid mantle. This acid mantle protects the skin against external influences like bacteria, allergens, and pollution while maintaining moisture. For your skin to remain balanced, your acid mantle will naturally stay slightly acidic with a pH of around 4.5-5.5. This can be thrown off by anything from UV rays, humidity, and skincare products.2
Client Favorite: Cucumber Hydrating Toner by Skin Script
The cucumber hydration rehydrates the skin while improving cellular functions and absorptions of ingredients. The cucumber soothes and cools irritated skin. It also helps to reduce discomfort and irritation, balances surface lipids, assists in boosting hydration levels and provides probiotic support to the skin's acid mantle to support acneic skin.