Toners are making milky comeback to your skincare routine

In the realm of skincare products, toners have always been controversial. While some loved the pH-balancing and pore-reducing benefits they had to offer, others dismissed them as an unnecessary addition to a multi-step skincare routine. The reason for the bad rep? Alcohol-heavy formulas that were drying, dehydrating, and extremely harsh on the skin. Although the formulas were reinvented to be gentler on the skin for most skin types, toners never quite recovered from the hit… until now, all thanks to their milky approach.

Quite the opposite of their initial characteristics, milky toners gained popularity thanks to their use in Korean beauty skincare routines. They are extremely gentle, hydrating, and soothing, formulated to strengthen and support the skin’s barrier. “Characterised by its lightweight and milky consistency, a milky toner uses a blend of conventional water-based toners and viscous moisturisers,” says Dr Madhuri Agarwal, medical director and founder, YAVANA Aesthetics. They are often formulated with a blend of humectants such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin, emollients such as botanical oils and ceramides, and soothing agents such as panthenol and oat extract.

According to Dr Batul Patel, medical director, The Bombay Skin Clinic, the new-gen toners draw moisture into the skin, soften and smooth it, and also calm inflammation. “Their key purpose is to restore hydration after cleansing, support the skin’s natural moisture barrier, and prep the skin for serums and moisturisers. Some formulations may also include mild exfoliants like lactic acid to gently renew the skin.”

Traditional vs milky toners 

When you think of toners, exfoliating, acne care, and sebum control formulas immediately spring to mind. “That is because regular toners contain higher concentrations of astringents such as witch hazel, alcohol, or at times chemical exfoliants like AHAs or BHAs,” explains Dr Agarwal. “These ingredients are meant to refine pores and eliminate residual impurities.” Traditional toners are great for oil control and exfoliation.

Milky toners, on the other hand, are known to maintain your skin’s barrier health and balance pH after cleansing, while removing any residual traces of impurities, allowing for better absorption of the skincare products that are to follow. “Many milky toners are lightweight and appropriate for humid weather and can also be hydrating during dry weather,” adds the expert.

Got milk?

Contrary to their name, milky toners don’t actually contain lactose or dairy, and are christened due to their cloudy appearance and texture, similar to milk. Some milky toners, however, are formulated with milk-derived ingredients such as lactic acid or milk proteins, plant-based milk such as oat, rice, or soy milk extracts, and other synthetic ingredients that imitate the benefits of milk protein. “For those with lactose intolerance or dairy allergies, it’s always good to check ingredient labels, but generally, milky toners do not contain dairy,” warns Dr Patel.

Thanks to their hydrating, soothing, and calming properties, they are ideally suited for dry and dehydrated skin for intense moisture and nourishment, sensitive skin to soothe irritation and redness, ageing skin as they plump fine lines and strengthen the skin barrier, and finally, combination skin because they can be used on both dry and oily patches.

Those, however, with extremely oily, acne-prone skin may find certain milky toners too rich and heavy. For this, Dr Patel recommends adding lightweight versions with PHA or lactic acid to your routine. “Even skin prone to fungal acne needs to steer clear of milky toners,” she says. “Certain formulations with oils or fatty ingredients may aggravate fungal acne, so opting for oil-free versions might be best.”

If you’re looking to add this cloudy elixir to your routine, here are some of the most hydrating and nourishing milky toners you can invest in!

d’You Inbalance Soothing Milky Toner, ₹2,100

Beauty of Joseon Glow Replenishing Rice Milk, ₹1,500

The Ordinary Saccharomyces Ferment 30% Milky Toner, ₹1,500

TirTir Milk Skin Toner, ₹2,050

Laneige Cream Skin Cerapeptide Toner, ₹2,480

Rhode Skin Glazing Milk, ₹2,771 approx. 

I'm From Rice Toner, ₹1,960 approx

Lead image credit: Pexels 

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