Confused? You're not the only one
Photo: Courtesy of the Retailers For many of us, our first experience with toner occurred around the time of our first kiss. Back then, they were alcohol-heavy astringents that promised to nix oil, dry up acne, balance pH, and whisk away any makeup or grime that your cleanser left behind. They stung a bit — in a good way — and it was always satisfying to check the cotton round and see just how clean they made your face.
Compare, for example, a hydrating toner and an essence, and there really aren’t too many differences. “Your essence might double as a toner or a pH-balancing toner packed with hydrating agents can double as an essence,” explains Alicia Yoon, founder of K-beauty brand Peach & Lily. It’s easier to resist trying to categorize them and instead just choose what feels good and works for your skin. “We’ve come to such an elevated space in skin care,” Engelman says.
$33 Buy at Sephora Buy Laneige Cream Skin Toner & Moisturizer Laneige Cream Skin Toner & Moisturizer could pass as either an essence or a toner. Either way, it’s got an entire jar of cream submerged in the liquid, so you can skip your lotion. In a world trending toward endless skin-care steps, the idea is a welcome respite, particularly if you have sensitive skin and product overload makes your face freak. For a single step, it leaves my skin surprisingly dewy.
$68 Buy at Goop Buy Goop Beauty G.Tox Malachite + AHA Pore Refining Tonic Leave it to Goop to create a toner that contains crystals. Goop Beauty’s G.Tox Malachite + AHA Pore Refining Tonic smells like a spa waiting room and works to make pores tiny and clear with an exfoliating acid mix, while malachite, a green stone that’s high in copper, aids skin detox. I noticed improved texture and an overall glowiness the next day.
$75 Buy at Neiman Marcus Buy $75 Buy at Barneys New York Buy Dr. Barbara Sturm Balancing Toner This basic toner from German dermatologist Dr. Barbara Sturm checks all the boxes: It balances pH so your acid mantle can function at its best, removes excess grime, hydrates, and quells inflammation. I personally love a good foaming face wash, and this makes my skin feel balanced and less squeaky afterwards.
$39 Buy at Ulta Beauty Buy $39 Buy at Dermstore Buy StriVectin Tri-Phase Daily Glow Toner The StriVectin Advanced Glow Tri-Phase Daily Glow Toner looks more like an eye-makeup remover with its three parts — there’s a water phase, with hyaluronic acid and aloe leaf; a milk phase, with exfoliating lactic acid and amino acids; and an oil phase, with mandelic acid , squalane oil, and licorice root — and you’ll need to shake it before you use it.
$185 Buy at Sephora Buy $185 Buy at Bluemercury Buy SK-II Facial Treatment Essence Before we were singing the praises of K-beauty essences, there was SK-II Facial Treatment Essence. Its key ingredient is something called pitera, which comes from fermented yeast.
$28 Buy at Amazon Buy $28 Buy at Amazon Buy Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Liquid Moisturizing Toner Dr. Jart calls its Ceramidin Liquid a moisturizing toner, but it feels and acts like an essence, so I’m putting it here. It contains ceramides, the natural lipids in our skin barrier, and soothing botanicals, making it a great option for ultradry, sensitive types. Use it before you apply your serum and moisturizer, or alone if you tend to get oily. The cool, unisex geranium scent is a nice bonus.
$16 Buy at Dermstore Buy with code: CELEBRATE Cosrx Advanced Snail Mucin Power Essence $16 If you’re a frequent visitor to the Strategist, you’ve likely read about Rio’s devotion to Korean-made Cosrx Advanced Snail Mucin Power Essence.
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