Get The Tea On Toners

By Anupriya Jamuar

There are many myths surrounding toners. Like how they contain alcohol which strips your skin of moisture, how they are filled with fragrances, or how they’re not an important step.  You might also be guilty of skipping the T in your CTM (Cleanser, Toner, Moisturiser) routine. So, to clarify some assumptions that give toners a bad rep, we decided to spill some tea about the T.

Earlier, toners did contain alcohol and fragrances, but skincare has evolved since then. There are many alcohol-free, fragrance-free and hydrating toners available today. Toners are important because simply using a cleanser won’t entirely rid your skin of impurities. There could still be stubborn dirt, makeup, and sebum left even after the wash. That’s where toners come in. They cleanse the face, unclog your pores and get rid of all the leftover oil and grime on your face. 

To set you up with the right toner, we asked Bollywood’s favourite dermatologist, Dr Jaishree Sharad, for inputs on finding the right toner for your skin woes.

For acne-prone skin 
“Toners which contain ingredients like hyaluronic acid and Centella asiatica also hydrate your skin. This makes it a great pick for oily and acne-prone skin,” explains Dr Jaishree. These toners keep your sebaceous glands from overworking and producing more sebum, which is what you want to avoid.

For hyperpigmentation 
“Look for a toner with niacinamide as it’ll reduce the pigmentation as well as hydrate your skin,” advises Dr Jaishree.

For fine lines and rough texture 
For help with fine lines and rough texture, Dr Jaishree advises you to look for toners with alpha-hydroxy acids like glycolic acid or mandelic acid. These will help in reducing the size of your pores and smoothen your skin texture, while also deep cleansing your skin.