If you do decide a toner is right for your routine, let us help you navigate the waters: On the hunt for your go-to formula, you may notice “astringents” popping up in the product category, and it’s important you know the difference. As you can probably guess from the aforementioned ingredient list, astringents are best for oily and acne-prone skin types looking to further purify the skin post-cleanse. Although, the oil-stripping nature of astringents may be too much for some people to handle (namely dry and sensitive folks). “The alcohol content can potentially be drying and irritating to the skin,” says board-certified dermatologist Hadley King, M.D. Even those with oily complexions should be mindful of stripping the skin—after all, when the skin is zapped of moisture, it may respond with even more oil production to compensate. “Toners are generally less harsh,” says King. “They can be either hydrating or exfoliating, but even the ones with active exfoliating ingredients are still designed to contribute to the moisture barrier of the skin, not detract from it.” That said, toners are pretty versatile across skin types: People with oily or acne-prone skin may choose a purifying number, while drier skin types may select a hydrating toner or essence to pump the skin with moisture. (Read more about facial toners here.) On that note, it’s important not to get too caught up in the marketing language here. While astringents generally contain a higher alcohol content than toners, you may find an “astringent” product that uses, for example, just witch hazel for its oil-balancing properties. Similarly, you may come across an alcohol-based toner that can strip the skin—as always, check your ingredient lists and do a patch test before slathering on a new product. Aguilar does say you can use both products together if you have combination skin: She suggests applying the astringent on oily areas prone to breakouts, then using a hydrating toner to calm and brighten the remaining regions. But, again, you could always just use one toner that contains purifying and hydrating ingredients to tick both boxes.
