Can anyone explain simply what a toner does in skincare?

[agingforgold]

I understand what my cleanser does, as well as my moisturiser, my spf, my eye cream, simple.
But this toner I find myself using every day, why?? What does it actually do?

I think ( from my extensive knowledge watching QVC) it resets the pH of your skin ( skin has an acid mantle which is ine reason soap is frowned upon) and also removes the residue of oil from the cleanser

I’ve been using toner for about 50 years and back in the day via Jackie magazine we were told it tightens your pores so that your moisturise goes on your skin and not in your open pores. Probably a much more scientific answer now though

I don't think its the same now as it was, modern toners are chemical exfoliate.

Try not using it, and see what happens. I've not used it since my teens, and my skin looks fine. In fact, I'd say my skin looks great for my age. Whether that has anything to do with toner or lack of, I'll never know.

Can anyone remember Ten Oh Six? Christ that shit stung like a mother fucker!

Yes the was the thing in the very early 80s ( maybe late 70s)
The advert was always some fresh faced , glowing completely spot/blackhead free all American girls
But it stung like billy-o !

Different toners do different things so it depends what you want it to do!

I’ve never figured out what it’s for so stopped using it years ago. My skin is lovely (for my age). It tends to be dry so I use oil and moisturiser. Toner makes it feel more tight and dry. Maybe that’s good if you have oily skin?

You can get different ones
milky toners are popular at the minute, they’re hydrating
Korean skincare does thicker ones that are more like essences/light hydration if you’ve got oily skin
ones with ceramides and peptides
exfoliating toners - as it says!

originally I think they were to remove the last traces of cleanser

This is a good site, you can click each one for a description of what it does and what skin type it’s for

https://koreanskincare.co.uk/collections/toner

What toner? You should be using an acidic toner because skin is acidic, and water unbalances it.

Exactly
Some basic ones just remove all remnants of cleanser and some others may have AHAs/ BHAs in them and help exfoliate, others may have minuscule amounts of Vit C in them

I personally never bother with toner

I have oily skin, I use liz earle instant boost skin tonic in a spray bottle and just spritz a couple of squirts on every night, let it dry off and then apply a gel moisteriser. I enjoy using it, it feels nice after cleansing but I figured I wasn’t sure what it’s doing!

Thats a good shout re pore tightening and ph balancing. I have noticed it soothes my skin and my pores are definitely less visible. I think I will continue to buy it!