What is a Skin Toner?

Back to Basics: What is a Skin Toner?

Skincare toners have come a long way in recent years. While some still contain alcohol, today’s formulations are far more balanced—moving away from the astringent-heavy approach of the past. These products were traditionally meant to combat excessive oil and enlarged pores but often left skin feeling dried out.

Nowadays, toners have a much gentler format and have taken on a whole new role. As part of the Prep stage in a daily regimen (more on this below), toners help prepare the skin for additional products like serums, face oils, and moisturizers.

Still, toners are often overlooked, and many wonder if they’re essential to their skincare toolkit. To find out, let’s examine what a skin toner is used for and the benefits of using one.