Toner - what is it supposed to do?

[didireallysaythat]

In my 20s I bought the Clinique three - the toner didn't seem to do anything. I stopped bothering with it

In my 40s I started using Liz Earle so got the toner as part of the kit. It didn't appear to anything other than smell synthetically like baby lotion. So I stopped buying it.

A couple of years ago I tried alpha gold (maybe I've got that wrong) - and then I remember why I stopped - it did nothing.

And now I'm about to finish up a bottle of Elemis toner and unless someone tells me what it's supposed to do, I won't buy again.

Gimick or useful? If useful which one works and what does it do?

I'm using L'Oréal Age Perfect cleanser and toner at the moment. I always use toner if I'm using a cream cleanser and cotton wool pads (as opposed to a wash off soapy thing). The cleanser gets rid of the dirt, the toner gets rid of the remains of the cleanser. Then moisturise.

You'll find lots of proper dermatologists on Youtube. A popular topic is Skincare Products You don't need. They all say you don't need toner. You should rinse off any cleanser really thoroughly with water.

If I was going to do that, I'd just use a wash off cleanser in the first place. Water doesn't get rid of the last of the cream cleanser by itself, that needs a flannel or else it ends up on my towel, I've tried. So I may as well use toner on a cotton wool pad and not get my fringe wet, which is why I'm using a cream cleanser and not a wash off soapy one in the first place. I guess the scientists wisdom just doesn't fit with my beauty regime. Toner feels somehow fresher afterwards than water too.

Traditional toners dont do anything much unless like a PP you use them to remove a cream cleanser rather than water and a flannel. The 'toner' stage now is generally replaced by an acid (exfoliating - different acids for different problems) or an extra hydrating layer like a hyuloronic acid with a watery consistency. I prefer cleanse, serum, moisturiser/SPF as the serum step has active ingredients that do something.

I should have added I use some kind of face wash that is washed off with water (normally a flannel in the shower) and I don't used cotton wool but washable cotton pads for wiping makeup/eye makeup, or instead of the flannel.

Sounds like it's useful to remove cleanser if that's not washed off (still not sure why it's part of the Clinique or Liz Earle routine).

I'll use it up and move on. I expect I'll post the same question again in 10 years time....

Thanks all who responded!