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If we're being honest, toners are often forgotten in skincare routines—the focus is usually on steps like serums or spot treatments, which can target specific skin concerns like hyperpigmentation, dullness, and acne breakouts. But, hear us out: Toners are the unsung heroes of skincare products, as they also do their part in keeping your complexion clear and healthy.
Toners aren't just fancy-smelling water; they're also packed with ingredients that can transform your skin. Think of toners as that extra—but much needed step—in your routine between cleansing and moisturizing. It ensures that your skin is thoroughly prepped for the rest of your skincare products while also zeroing in on any skin concerns you might have.
If you're ready to incorporate toner into your routine, we'll give you the 411 on this skincare product and help you find the best one for your skin. Keep on reading to learn more:
What is a toner?
A toner is a skincare product that's designed to remove leftover dirt and impurities on your face after cleansing. It's also meant to prep your skin and get it ready for the next steps of your routine.
Toners of the past were usually formulated with alcohol and were targeted towards people with oily or acne-prone skin. Nowadays, there are a ton of toner formulas in the market meant for all kinds of skin types and concerns. Dealing with redness? Pick up a toner with centella asiatica as the main ingredient. Stuck with post-acne hyperpigmentation and dark spots? A toner loaded with niacinamide is your best bet.
What are the benefits of using a toner on the skin?
- Removes residual dirt from the face. Just cleansing isn't enough to rid your face of all the gunk and impurities that got lodged in there throughout the day—this is where a toner comes in handy. A toner acts as an extra cleansing step to ensure your face is squeaky clean.
- Minimizes the appearance of pores. While you can't really get rid of pores—that's a total myth, btdubs—a toner can help reduce their appearance and give your complexion a smoother look.
- Preps the skin for the next steps of your routine. Your skincare products, such as serums, essences, and emulsions, work best when your skin is still slightly damp, so we recommend applying them after your toner.
- Target specific skin concerns. Whether you're dealing with dark spots and active acne or you're in need of oil control or brightening, there's definitely a toner out there that will suit your needs. Keep on scrolling for our recos!
SHOP: The best toners to try according to your skin type and concerns
1. Best toner for acne-prone skin: Oxecure Blackhead Clearing BHA PHA Toner
If you're dealing with breakouts—especially during that time of the month—we recommend adding this toner from Oxecure to your rotation. It contains 2% salicylic acid that helps to decongest your skin, 4% PHA for gentle exfoliation, tea tree extract to reduce inflammation, and witch hazel extract to soothe any redness.
Oxecure Blackhead Clearing BHA PHA Toner, P599, Shopee and Lazada
2. Best toner for dry skin: Hada Labo Hydrating Lotion
Dry skin doesn't stand a chance against this Internet-famous hydrating toner from Japanese skincare brand Hada Labo. It contains four (!) types of hyaluronic acid to deeply moisturize and hydrate your complexion—your skin will thank you, fr.
Hada Labo Hydrating Lotion, P699, Shopee and Lazada
3. Best toner for oily skin: Céleteque Acne Solutions Oil Control Toner
One of the most common skincare myths out there is that you have to "dry" out your skin if it's oily, when in reality, your skin just needs more hydration! This affordable toner from Celeteque is formulated with aloe vera and chamomile extracts that will both moisturize and soothe your skin while also keeping sebum production in check.
Céleteque Acne Solutions Oil Control Toner, P154, Shopee and Lazada
4. Best toner for sensitive skin: Kiehl's Calendula Toner
Navigating new skincare products can be tricky if you have sensitive skin, but the Internet has high praises for this calming toner from Kiehl's. Its alcohol-free formula contains calendula flower petals, burdock root extract, and allantoin, which can soothe your skin and lessen inflammation and irritation.
Kiehl's Calendula Toner, P1,700, Shopee and Lazada
5. Best toner for combination skin: Naturie Hatomugi Skin Conditioner
For combination skin, you want something that can work with both the dry and oily parts of your face. This toner from Japanese brand Naturie contains a mix of Vitamin B and amino acids that can moisturize TF out of your skin while also keeping your oil levels in check. P.S. If your skin feels extra dry, the brand recommends doing a "moisture sandwich," a.k.a. applying three layers of this toner!
Naturie Hatomugi Skin Toner, P379, Shopee and Lazada
6. Best toner for redness and irritation: Mediheal Madecassoside Blemish Pad
If you find yourself suffering from inflamed pimples and redness, go ahead and add these toner pads from Mediheal to your cart rn. Its star ingredient is madecassoside, the primary component in centella asiatica, which can work wonders in soothing and calming your skin down.
Mediheal Madecassoside Blemish Pad, P957, Shopee
7. Best toner for exfoliating: Pixi Glow Tonic
Beauty girls swear by this exfoliating toner from Pixi, and for good reason, too. It contains 5% glycolic acid that can slough away dead skin cells to reveal a bouncy, glowing complexion! Plus, it's also formulated with aloe vera extract and ginseng that can ward off any irritation that comes with using exfoliating products.
Pixi Glow Tonic, P1,050, Shopee and Lazada
8. Best toner for hyperpigmentation: Good Molecules Niacinamide Brightening Toner
As if dealing with acne isn't hard enough, you also have to face the dark spots and hyperpigmentation it leaves in its wake. To counteract this, we recommend using a toner with brightening and exfoliating ingredients to help with shedding dead skin cells and speeding up the cell turnover rate. This one from Good Molecules has niacinamide as its main ingredient, which will deal with texture and uneven skin tone.
Good Molecules Niacinamide Brightening Toner, P395, Shopee and Lazada
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