TotalBeauty.com average member rating: 9.2*
Why it's great: This toner was "love at first sweep" for one reader. "Finally something that works," she says. "I don't leave home without it!" According to readers, this toner is "great for oily/combination skin" and "truly helps balance combination skin."
"The dry areas of my face feel moisturized [while] the oily T-zone feels smooth and non-greasy," says one reviewer. "I can feel it working in and on my pores, which look smaller once I've used it," she adds. Another reader says, "I love the way this smells, it is so clean." And because it's from Origins, there's "no animal testing!"
TotalBeauty.com average member rating: 9.3*
Why it's great: "Refreshing and cleansing" is how readers describe this toner. "This alcohol-free toner is made to comfort skin with anti-inflammatory seaweed and aloe extract," one reader explains. "It feels extraordinary as it removes makeup, dirt and residue of any sort." Readers also appreciate that it doesn't "strip the face like most toners" or cause breakouts.
The product "calms and soothes, while cleaning up the last bit of cleanser and hard water residue," another reader writes, "leaving my skin feeling clean and comforted."
Why it's great: This multi-tasking toning/cleansing water has certainly earned its cult status. Thanks to ingredients like papaya extract, it's lightly exfoliating, while also featuring antioxidant green tea extract and hydrating rose flower water, orange fruit extract and lavender water.
Agree? Disagree? Write your review for Son & Park Beauty Water here.
TotalBeauty.com average member rating: 9.3*
Why it's great: Readers are addicted to this "non-drying floral tonic that contains vitamin E, organic aloe vera, calendula, cucumber and rose-scented geranium." It has "none of that artificial and irritating perfume smell some skin care products have," one reader explains.
The "light, floral, yet tangy citrus scent awakens my senses and gets me going in the morning," says one reader. Another says, "Once I begin applying this toner on my face, I don't want to stop... It leaves the face baby soft."
TotalBeauty.com average member rating: 9.3*
Why it's great: This moisturizing, exfoliating product has our readers gushing. "Try this," advises one TotalBeauty.com member. "It is truly the best of its kind." Other readers say it "cleanses without over-drying" and "keeps the face feeling soft and supple" while avoiding the burning, stinging feeling associated with toners. It also "softens and moisturizes your skin," preparing it for the remaining steps in your skin-care routine. One reader says the product also helps prevent hormonal blemishes.
Readers acknowledge that this product is a "splurge," but still say it's "worth getting."
A common debate rages in the beauty world: Do toners play a critical role in a skin care regimen or are they an unnecessary step in the cleanse-tone-moisturize process?
Dr. Howard Murad, MD, a Los Angeles-based dermatologist, backs those of us on the pro-toner side. He says toning is an essential step in any healthy skincare regimen. "I find that using a toner is just as crucial as cleansing, as it restores the skin's natural pH balance," says Murad.
But what about the growing posse of dermatologists who argue that toners are not only unnecessary, but can also be too drying? Murad says these docs aren't considering how far toners have come in recent years. Once strictly alcohol-based (and yes, therefore very drying), toners now "use ingredients that help fight aging, acne, and even redness, and they are beneficial for all skin types."
If you're looking to add a toner or astringent to your skin care routine, it's crucial to find one that'll work best with your skin type. So keep these tips in mind:
• Have oily or combination skin? Use an astringent. These work best when it comes to removing excess oil, says Dr. Nathan Newman, MD. Astringents have ingredients such as alcohol, witch hazel or acids (like salicylic acid) that help reduce oil production and fight acne. Using an astringent is critical for oily skin as it helps "clean and tighten your pores, making it harder for debris and dirt to penetrate your skin and cause irritation or breakouts," says Murad.
• Have dry or sensitive skin? Use an alcohol-free toner. Those with dry skin should avoid using astringents or toners that have retinols, glycolics, or benzoyl peroxide in them. These will be "too drying and may even cause the skin to break out," says Newman. Instead, look for one that is water-based and has ingredients like rosewater or chamomile extracts, and vitamin B derivatives like panthenol, which help lock in moisture and prevent makeup from looking cakey.
Now that you know what to look for, here's how to find an astringent or toner that you'll love. See the 16 best toners and astringents now.
