Some skin care products are fairly self-explanatory—take makeup remover, face wash, and moisturizer, for example. You can pretty much put two and two together to figure out the basic gist of their function. However more ambiguous steps can make skin care a bit more confusing.

Toner removes any last traces of dirt, grime and impurities stuck in your pores after you wash your face. When added to your daily skincare routine and used regularly, it can have major positive impact on the appearance and tightness of your pores (hello, aging skin). Toner also restores your skin’s pH level, smooths skin by refining rough patches and improves skin tone. So many benefits!

As for application, you’ll want to soak a cotton ball with the toner and gently sweep it across your skin after cleansing every morning and before you go to bed at night. This should be your second step so it preps the skin to absorb your moisturizer (third step) and skin treatments (fourth step).

One prime example: toner. While you may jump to the conclusion that toner is designed to even out skin tone, it’s actually much more complex. Here, find out exactly what toner does, how to pick the best one for your skin type and a few cult favorites to browse.

What Is A Facial Toner?

“Toners can have many different functions depending on their active ingredients.

Think of the word toneras an umbrella term encompassing many different, more targeted formulas.

“Traditionally, toners have been used to remove excess makeup residue and dirt after cleansing,” Marcus explains. “Toners may be formulated with ingredients that serve to soothe, calm, exfoliate, or fight acne, for example,” she continues.

That said, putting a hard label on the term toner doesn’t exactly make sense in the vast world of modern skin care. However, if you’d like a basic definition, just know that toner typically comes in a liquid form and that you can apply it with your hands or a cotton round.

From there, each toner can have a few basic functions.

Why Use a Face Toner?.

You’ve definitely seen them in the skincare aisle at your local drugstore — those slim bottles filled with clear or lightly tinted liquid. Toner for the face is a curious product. Many people who use one don’t even realize why other than because of habit. We’re big fans of habit, but we’re even bigger fans of sharing the best reasons to use toner and what it does for your face.

Face toner is a secret skincare weapon. It comes in a water-based liquid form that may be infused with skin-soothing ingredients like eucalyptus, peppermint and aloe. You can often find different formulas made especially for your skin type. A toner’s job is meant to gently refresh your skin without stripping it of its natural moisture. This means toner won’t irritate sensitive skin or cause excessive dryness. Toner also prepares the skin to drink up your post-cleansing moisturizer and any other skin treatments that you may apply.

Now, you may have seen or heard of products that are labeled “astringent” instead of toner. Astringent is commonly mistaken for toner, but they’re two slightly different products. The main difference is that astringent typically contains alcohol, which is an ideal ingredient for those with oily skin. Astringents are especially good at helping to control oil.

Who Should Use Face Toner?.

Everyone! But if you have oily skin, are prone to acne or wear makeup, you may especially benefit, because toner goes the extra mile to clean out and close-up pores. For acne-prone skin, because it contains salicylic acid. For oily skin, try Neutrogena. This one’s designed to keep your oil production in check.

When it comes to glowing, healthy-looking skin, toner is a key step in your routine. To check out the variety and shop all of Neutrogena^®face toners, visit our Toners page and find the right one for you.

What Facial Toners Do For The Skin.

Again, the exact function of toners varies depending on the formula. Here, find a few of the most popular benefits:

• Balances pH:”Toners that are intended to balance pH most often lower the pH of the skin,” Marcus explains. See, when your skin’s pH is off, you’re more likely to develop dry, sensitive skin and inflammatory skin conditions like acne. Plus, your skin PH contributes to a healthy skin. Some toners even include pre- biotics to feed that microbiome even more.
• Exfoliates & purifies: You can also opt for an exfoliating toner., if you really want to break down buildup. “By helping to eliminate buildup and residue, using a toner can help to prime the skin for the next step in a routine and may help to enhance the penetration of subsequent products,” board-certified dermatologist Marisa Garshick explains. 
• Hydrates: Finally, some toners solely add a cushion of hydration. Everyone can benefit from focusing on moisture, which is why you can find a plethora of hydrating, antioxidant rich mists and tonics.

When Do I Use It?.

As for application, you’ll want to soak a cotton ball with the toner and gently sweep it across your skin after cleansing every morning and before you go to bed at night. This should be your second step so it preps the skin to absorb your moisturizer (third step) and skin treatments (fourth step).