Posted: 06 February 2022

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Toners 101: Your Ultimate Guide to Toners

Be your own best self-proclaimed skin doctor, and scroll for Skin Cupids' bible on everything toner, and prescribe yourself a daily dosage matching your skin type. Toners 101: Your Ultimate Guide to Toners

Toners 101: Your Ultimate Guide to Toners

Cherubs, who here is guilty of online self-diagnosing?.
Be your own best self-proclaimed skin doctor, and scroll for Skin Cupids' bible on everything toner, and prescribe yourself a daily dosage matching your skin type.
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woman drinking
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Why are toners important?

Toners remove the leftover dirt and make-up on your face, priming your skin for maximum absorption for the rest of your products.

 
Toners also contain humectants which bind moisture to the skin and help to create a barrier from environmental impurities.


PH Balance

Cleansers are strong in alkaline levels, applying a toner will help to rebalance your pH levels to your skins healthy acidic level of 4.5-5 pH.

 An unbalanced skin barrier cause issue such as dryness, tightness, redness, irritation, sensitivity and blemishes.

skin ph scale

 

Toners for Skin Type:

Dry Skin?:

Toners are a must for dry skin! With soothing nutrients to put redness and irritation at bay, you’ll be left with hydrated skin. It also cleanses without stripping away your precious natural oils and can even help to alleviate dryness and flaking.

Check out the ingredients and opt for toners with less or zero alcohol, and calmer ingredients such as Hada Labo Gokujyuns' Lotion and/or HaruHarus' Wonder Black Rice Toner which is both made with Hyaluronic Acid which will allow your skin to retain up to 10 times of its water.
Or Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner which is nutrient rich made with the antioxidant Astragalus Root Extract. Last but not least, a K-beauty holy grail: Laneige's Cream Skin Refiner. It has an entire tub of cream melted inside with Laneige's proprietary technology which promises 12 hours of intensive moisture. 

All toners listed are essential for strengthening the skin barrier, which is especially important in these cold winter months.

 

hydration

 

Irritated Skin?:

Finding new skincare products that work for those with more delicate and sensitive skin is risky business. Irritated skin needs just as much loving in those other skin areas may it be: brightening; oil control; hydrating. Don't let the overwhelming choice of unsuitable products intimidate you into skipping toner out of your skincare routine.

Skin Cupid advises to choose products with soothing and gentle, especially alcohol free and fragrance free.

Etude House Soon Jung ph 5.5 Relief toner is a low PH derived from 97% natural ingredients and COSRX’s Centella Water Alcohol Free Toner which is also great at balancing your PH to its optimal level. On the other hand, SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Toner is gentle yet has additional exfoliating benefits. Or opt for a K-Beauty staple: Klairs Supple Preparation Toner, an unscented and hydrating formula.

 

redness sensitivity


Dull Skin?:

Add that glow back in your skin with a brightening toner. Toners help to gently exfoliate your skin, removing dead skin cells and ultimately revealing that fresh baby, dewy skin. 

Additional brightening agents also help you to radiate that inner shine out, for example;
I'm From Rice TonerAromatica's Reviving Rose TonerSome By Mi Galactomyces Pure Vitamin C Glow Toner, all made with key ingredient Niaicamide (anti aging, increasing hydration, improving uneven skin tone) and additional vitamins and natural nutrients. Hada Labo's Shirojyun Premium Lotion is made with a blend of Vitamin C, Tranexamic and Nano-Hyaluronic Acid, great for evening skin tone, fixing and preventing discolouration.

brightening 

 Acne-prone skin?:

Alleviate acne-prone skin with a toner suggestion from below. Toners are great for cleaning any lingering residue, reduces pore clogged dirt and debris caused by makeup or pollution. 

COSRX AHA BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner, Bentonn BHA Aloe Toner, Beauty of Joseon Green Plum AHA Bubble Toner and Some By Mi AHA BHA PHA 30 Day Miracle Toner,  are all made with Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHAs) and Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs), helping to simultaneously dissolve the glue that holds together dead skin cells and pore clogging impurities, minimising blackheads and blemishes - leaving you with soft, supple skin.

In short, AHAs and BHAs are your best friends.

acne-prone


Cupid Tip:

Alternate between different toner types if your skin needs extra TLC in more than one of these problem areas.

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