Toners are a highly debated product in the skincare world. People argue about the usefulness of toners, if they are actually causing more harm than good, and if toners are even worth the price that they cost. I hear it all, and my opinion on toners is that they are not essential, but they are a nice step to add a little bit of hydration. Hear me out though!
Look at that watery goodness!
My nighttime routine involves a shower facial cleanse (I prefer it for reasons of messiness, more thorough clean, and I actually like it better that my pores are more opened, contrary to the popular believe that it is bad to open your pores so much in the shower during a cleanse). Usually, I follow this up with brushing my teeth, so by the time I get to my skincare step, my skin is a little bit drier than fresh out of the shower. The best time to put on your skincare products is actually when the skin is damp because that helps trap some of that moisture onto your skin, rehydrating it. However, since I no longer have that water layer, I like to add a toner to give that extra bit of moisture (with the added benefit of making it easier for other products to glide on).
I used to use the Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Toner, but I recently switched to the Puristry Flower Water Toner. Fun fact: I started using the Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Toner because Kiehl’s sent it to me accidentally in my order. I couldn’t turn it down (#free), so I used it. At the time, I was worried that it would be more astringent, but it turned out to be ultra moisturizing and soothing. I loved it! It wasn’t nearly as water-forward as the Puristry Toner. It had a bit more of a creamy, moisturizing feel to it. The Puristry Toner was a change of pace for me. Plus, I am a SUCKER for this angular aesthetic. It is so pretty!
The Puristry Toner has mostly water from various plant sources as the ingredients, along with hyaluronic acid (to help keep your skin looking plump). It’s got rose water, calendula water, and extracts from witch hazel, honeysuckle, bergamot, cedarwood, vetiver. Rose water helps with acne control and redness, while calendula water helps out with extra hydration. I’ve loved the Kiehl’s Calendula Mask for this reason! Witch hazel is found in so many skincare ingredients as something that helps decrease inflammation, so that reinforces the effects of the rose water too. Overall, what you get is something that is very hydrating (AKA has a lot of water) and soothing.
It fits in perfectly with the rest of my routine!
For usage, I usually will apply 3-4 pumps into the palm of my hand, spread it between my palms, and then pat it into my skin. I use it twice daily, for my morning and my evening routine. For this one, I don’t use a cotton pad because I found that since it is so water-based, it gets soaked right into the cotton pad before I can use it. The Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Toner sat on the cotton pad for much longer (likely because it has that milky creaminess, brought upon by certain hydrophobic ingredients in it), so I preferred using it on a cotton pad. I always feel like I will more accurately reach all parts of my skin when I use a cotton pad.
Hope you guys enjoyed reading this. What are your favorite toners to use? Let me know in the comments!