Should you be using a toner in your skincare routine? Here's what dermatologists say
You know you're supposed to wash and moisturize your face. But what about all that stuff in the middle?
Within a skincare routine, a toner goes after face wash and before any serums, eye creams and moisturizers, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Mansha Thacker tells USA TODAY. That's because it's heavier than water but lighter than all of the other stuff; this order ensures that the skin effectively absorbs everything you're adding to it.
But what actually is a toner, and how necessary is it? Here's what you need to know before adding a toner to your skincare routine.
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What does toner do for your face?
Visually, toners make your skin appear more hydrated. Think: that "glass skin" trend that emphasizes smooth, glowy skin.
How does it do that? Let's think back to the pH scale you had to study in middle school science. It spans from zero (acidic) to 14 (basic) — it's best for skin to be around 5.5, leaning toward the acidic side, Thacker explains.
"But there's a lot of things that can disrupt the pH, like cleansers or certain ingredients like salicylic acid," she notes. Toners with glycerin or alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) help to retain moisture, which in turn helps restore pH to normal levels.
By nature, many toners tend to have a high volume of alcohol, but people with dry skin should exercise caution when shopping and make sure to invest in a toner without a lot of alcohol. Some newer toners are actually created specifically to be hydrating and more soothing — those are your best bet, Thacker says.
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Is a toner necessary for skin care?
If you're feeling overwhelmed by all the different types of skincare products, toner is one you can usually skip, Thacker says.
"Toners are interesting," she adds. "Originally, toners were invented to balance the pH of our skin. But now we have a lot of other products, like face washes or serums that do the pH balancing. So toner is not 100% essential."
For those with acne, rosacea and otherwise sensitive skin, the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD) recommends you avoid toners, which can cause irritation. But even for the general public, Thacker doesn't think of toners as a must-use product.
"I'm not a huge proponent," Thacker says. "It's a step that you can eliminate if you're trying to simplify your skincare routine."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What does toner do?
