I've often been asked: "Do I need a toner?" My answer: No. You do not NEED a toner but you might want to use one. A thread:

Back in the day when I first started using #skincare, #toner was touted as "the step that completes cleansing." Most of the formulations were alcohol based, and we'd swipe away with cotton pads, drying out or skin, impairing our barrier and increasing our carbon footprint.

Fast forward to today. Toner is all the rage again! But these toners bare not even a passing resemblance to those of days past. Many include hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid or glycerin, or are used to deliver actives like hydroxy acids. They tend to be gentler too.

Which brings me to one of my pet peeves: the word "toner" doesn't really mean anything. It's been used for countless liquid formulations that are really better referred to as "solutions," as this term is a classic descriptor of this type of watery liquid vehicle.

So do you need a toner? NO. However, if you feel like you'd like to add a step to deliver actives or hydrators in your routine, and you like the solution-type texture, go for it! Just make sure you're always thinking about your routine as a whole.