Facial Toners

Facial toners are specially-formulated solutions that are used after cleansing. In addition to removing any lingering oil, dirt, and debris, facial toners can help improve the appearance of different skin types and concerns, such as oily or acne-prone skin, rough texture, and more. Toner is a vital part of a skincare routine as it helps the skin absorb further skincare products by returning skin to its natural acidic state with the removal of all unnecessary impurities.
A facial essence works differently to a toner in that it does not provide skin with cleansing properties, but instead, it re-balances, adds hydration and preps the skin to bolster the benefits of the next products in your skincare routine. Facial essences often contain active ingredients and work to penetrate the skin much more deeply than most daily creams with a much lower molecular weight.

Using toner skincare after cleansing has a variety of benefits for the skin. In addition to removing any dirt, debris, and excess oil that remain after washing, facial toners with hydroxy acids can help exfoliate the skin. This extra exfoliation removes the uppermost layer of dead skin cells to help promote the absorption of the skincare products that follow. Eliminating these dead, dull cells with a facial exfoliating toner helps enhance the skin’s radiance, and smooth surface texture and promotes a healthy-looking complexion as well.
A facial toner, especially those with witch hazel or hydroxy acids, is especially useful for those with Oily Skin or Acne Prone Skin, as this extra step helps reduce the excess oil and dead skin cells that can clog pores and lead to breakouts. Some facial toners can help maintain the skin’s pH balance, which is associated with optimal skin-barrier function. A primary role of the skin’s barrier is to help the skin retain moisture. In those with dry skin, a toner may help improve flaking and the appearance of dullness.
In contrast to toner skincare, facial essence does not provide skin with cleansing properties. Essence skincare is often formulated with an array of concentrated active ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, with a focus on penetrating the skin much more deeply for visibly refined results. Facial essences target skin concerns such as dullness, uneven skin texture and even signs of ageing such as fine lines and wrinkles, optimising skin's natural cell turnover rate for an overall healthier appearance.

The best time to use a facial toner is immediately after cleansing. This post-cleansing step is also an opportunity to incorporate extra exfoliation (as long as your toner contains exfoliating ingredients), which can provide additional benefits for all skin types as well as specific skin concerns. Subsequently, a facial essence is to be applied after your toner skincare, allowing the active ingredients to seep deeply into a cleansed canvas. Toner and essence work to prepare the skin to help optimise the absorption of serums or moisturisers, and other targeted skincare products that follow.

All skin types require hydration whether using a toner and essence, or not. An additional benefit of using a moisturiser after facial toner is that the skin is better prepared to absorb its hydration as well as other ingredients you may be using for specific skin concerns such as acne, fine lines, wrinkles, and Skin Discolouration. The benefit of applying moisturiser after a facial essence is that it helps to lock-in the powerful ingredients of the essence for optimal results.

At SkinCeuticals, we believe a toner is an essential skincare step that helps maximise the results achieved with at-home products as well as professional-treatments and procedures. With benefits that include removing any debris left behind after cleansing, helping to balance the skin’s pH, or providing exfoliation, facial toners are beneficial for your skin.

Facial essence is a key step in a daily skincare routine for those looking to target specific skin concerns such as dehydration, dullness or uneven skin tone. Blending an array of active ingredients, essence skincare not only works to achieve visible targeted results in the skin, but also creates the ultimate canvas for the products that follow in the next steps of your routine.

The ideal toner skincare for oily and acne-prone skin should contain lipo hydroxy acid or salicylic acid since these ingredients are able to help clear pores and exfoliate dull surface cells that can contribute to blemishes.  Equalizing AHA Toner is formulated with lipo hydroxy acid, salicylic-acid , and glycolic acid to exfoliate dull surface cells that contribute to breakouts and visible signs of aging. The LHA facial-toner also features salicylic and glycolic acids which help renew skin and minimise the appearance of pores.

Yes. Some facial toners contain humectants, which are ingredients that help bind moisture to the skin. Our Equalizing AHA Toner is formulated to remove residue after cleansing and help balance the pH of dry, normal, and combination skin. In addition, this formula features botanically-based ingredients (including witch hazel, rosemary, aloe, and chamomile) to help soften the skin.

The SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Essence Hydrating Mist in formulated for use on normal, oily, combination, dry and sensitive skin, making it the ideal facial essence for all skin types. The Phyto Corrective Essence is formulated with hyaluronic acid, glycerin and a botanical blend of cucumber, thyme, olive leaf and rosemary extract for intensely hydrated results that work to minimise redness in post-procedure skin.