The skincare industry is so confusing. Some days people will go crazy over a ten-step Korean skincare routine and the next day they will only talk about CTM (cleanse, tone, moisturize) routine. Some days people will say how important a Toner is and the other day they are skeptical about it.
At Foxtale, we have decided to put an end to the discussion of whether or not you need a toner, once and for all. Here’s everything you need to know about Toners.
What’s a Toner & What qualifies as a Toner?
A toner is a product that is completely water-based but isn’t exactly water. It is meant to be used as the first step right after cleansing the skin and hence, they have a fast-absorbing formula. Depending on the ingredients and formulation, toners serve different purposes such as hydration, exfoliation, freshness, brightness, etc.
A little back story…
Earlier in the days, a toner was just another skincare product that was meant for cleansing the last few traces of your makeup and dirt. Fast forward to the present, we have the best thing for removing makeup effectively, which is Double cleansing. It includes using an oil-based cleanser as the first step and following it up with another gel/foam-based cleanser. With this, the entire purpose of a toner is defeated.
Moreover, a toner was used to maintain the pH level of your skin which was disrupted due to the usage of soap bars. But nowadays, you can easily get cleansers that are already pH balanced and are gentle enough on the skin. This again puts the whole purpose of using a toner into question.
So, do you even need a toner?
The answer is, not really, if we are living a decade ago. But now the time has changed and the skincare industry has evolved a lot. Considering the benefits of toner and its different types, there are in the market, we say, the need for a toner completely depends on YOU & your skin needs. There are some that help get your skin necessary actives while some hydrate deeply. All of them guarantee that your skin soaks up every other layer of your skincare!
If you are a boujee and you can spare a few extra minutes for your skincare and want a toner for brightening, soothing, exfoliating, or hydrating your skin. Go ahead and buy a toner! However, if you want a minimal skincare routine, that’s great too, don’t buy a toner. You can do just as fine with your basics: Cleanser, Serum, Moisturizer, and Sunscreen.
A skincare routine without a toner
- Double cleanse your skin to make sure all the makeup, excess oil, and dirt is cleared
- Use a Vitamin C serum to brighten up, treat, and protect your skin from free radicals
- Apply a moisturizer to hydrate your skin and seal in everything
- Slather sunscreen in the daytime to protect your skin from sun damage