What I Didn’t Know About Toner

Before working at Timeless Skin Solutions, I was somewhat clueless about skincare. I knew the basics: keep your skin clean and stay out of the sun. Anything beyond that, however, was a mystery. One of the most surprising things I learned was the importance of toner.

I always assumed toner was just some random harsh mix of chemicals to get rid of extra makeup, or soap residue, or to dry up your skin enough that no oil could form. Really though, toner is not supposed to be harsh or drying.

I now use toner every day after cleansing because it makes my skin the perfect pH for the products I use after. People tend to have different pH levels, depending on their skin condition, and toner helps to bring it back to an ideal level for the product to penetrate your skin. After all, why spend all of that money on professional products if it can’t penetrate your skin!

If you’re like I used to be and you are worried that toner is too harsh for your skin, keep in mind that you might not be using the right one. In our store, we offer a handful of toner that patients have called “soothing”. Over-the-counter toners irritate the skin because that’s what people think a toner is supposed to feel like. Medical grade toners—like ones by SkinMedica or Obagi—will feel surprisingly mild.

I now know that it’s so important to follow this step as part of my daily skincare regimen. It sets the “tone” to better prepare my face for skincare products and makeup.