A Complete Guide to Using Skin Toner

Cleanse, tone and moisturise, this three-step skincare routine has been instilled in us ever since we picked up our first issue of Cosmo or watched our first beauty tutorial. While cleansing and moisturising are pretty self-explanatory, it is the crucial middle step of toning that sometimes evades our understanding and is most often skipped or ignored. In order to understand exactly what a face toner does, why it is important and what kind of toner you should be used for every skin type, we spoke to celebrity dermatologist Rashmi Shetty who tells us everything we need to know about using skin toner correctly and effectively. 

What Exactly does a skin toner do? 

Face toners prep the skin for moisturizers and serums while getting rid of excess oil and stubborn dirt or makeup leftover on your face after you wash it. They're not a replacement for washing your face. Just think of facial toners as the extra credit rather than the shortcut of your skin-care routine. "There are different types of toners that you can use," shares Rashmi. "It basically tones down or tones up the skin ie. rebalances your skin according to your skin type."

What toner should you use according to your skin type?

According to Rashmi, these are the different types of toners that you should use, according to your skin type:

1. Oily Skin: "If you have oily skin, you can use a toner which contains AHAs or BHAs to take away the excess oil."

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2. Sensitive Skin: " For those with irritable, sensitive or reddened skin, its advisable to use calming and soothing agents as a toner."

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3. Dry Skin: "If you have dry skin, then you may use a toner (or even a mist that doubles up as a toner) that contains vitamins like B3, B5 and B6. Even a product with hydrating liquorice or hydraulic acid would work well." 

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4. Acne-prone skin: "If you do have an acne-prone skin, then you can use a product containing salicylic acid and glycolic acid."

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5. Normal to slightly dry skin: "If you want your skin to get hydrated before you use a moisturiser, you can use a toner that contains lactic acid. As a plus, it removes and exfoliates your dead skin, facilitating the better absorption of your skincare products."

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So there you have it, a list of the kind of toner your should use for every skin type. As long as you are mindful not to skip this essential step in your skincare routine, you will be on your way to flawless-looking skin in no time.