I had no idea my toner could be anti-aging, so I asked Derms how to choose one

When it came to finding the best toners, I was 100% dedicated to it. I used one every day as part of my nighttime skincare routine. But over the past few years, I've found that the ones I've been using are drying out my skin, so I've decided to only apply them about two to three times a week.

To be honest, I still wasn't sure exactly what toners were supposed to do for my skin and if I actually needed to use one. I just accepted it because I felt it helped clear up blemishes and provided exfoliation. Recently, I learned that certain toners have added anti-aging benefits, which intrigued me even more. So I decided to ask the experts to break it down for me.

"In the past, toners were powerful astringents. Now they're ways to cleanse the skin," says board-certified dermatologist Ife Rodney, MD, FAAD, of Eternal Dermatology and Aesthetics. "These are water-based formulas that contain any combination of acids, antioxidants, and other effective natural ingredients. Toners are beneficial to the skin because they provide low concentrations of these ingredients to the skin. skin while balancing the pH.They also help moisturize the skin and by removing dead skin cells left behind after washing and cleansing your face.Some people use a toner as part of their makeup routine, cleansing the face before applying other products."

As ​​to whether you need a toner in your skincare routine, Corey Hartman, MD, FAAD, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Skin Wellness Dermatology, says that They can be beneficial for oily skin as they help control breakouts and oil and improve discoloration and scarring. However, Rodney says they're not necessary to maintain healthy skin and can be an optional extra step. "With their antioxidant and exfoliating ingredients, toners can serve as a refreshing base to help other products penetrate deeper into your skin. If you wear makeup all day and have acne-prone skin, you'll be a good candidate for the extra toner. not,” she adds.

And what I heard about the anti-aging benefits? Hartman and Rodney say it all depends on the active ingredients in your formula. "Toners can act as an anti-aging product. Look for hydroxy acids, antioxidants, glycerin and hyaluronic acid if preventing fine lines, improving skin turgor and smoothing skin texture are your goals,” says Hartman.

Rodney adds that toners containing alpha hydroxy acids can help with cell turnover and hydrate and brighten the skin. Other products may also shrink large pores, tighten skin and contain retinol.

When choosing a toner for its anti-aging benefits, you need to keep an eye on the key ingredients. Rodney recommends looking for a gentle toner that contains hyaluronic acid, retinol and vitamin C. "Hyaluronic acid plumps and hydrates dry, sagging skin, while retinol increases collagen production deeper in the skin. skin and increases surface skin cell turnover," she explains. "Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that protects your ski...