Is toner necessary for effective skincare? 🤔
The truth? Back in the day, toners were a staple in your daily routine, but times have changed — and so has skincare.
Our decades-long research and development of Climate-Smart® skincare has helped us understand that there is a far better option than outdated toners. ✌🏻
In this article, we share the truth about toners and our climate-focused solution to balancing your skin.
Is Toner Necessary Today?
Today, (most) cleansers are powerful enough to cleanse and balance your complexion without needing the extra “purifying” or pH-restoring step that toners once offered.
In other words, your cleanser should do all the heavy lifting. 💪 But it wasn’t always this way, and that’s how toners made their way onto the scene.
How Toners Compromise Your Complexion
When they first hit the market, facial toner purposes were twofold: to restore skin's pH balance after cleansing and remove lingering traces of makeup or impurities. Your skin’s pH (potential hydrogen) refers to the measure of acidity and alkalinity that keeps it healthy and functioning as it should [1].
The catch? In an attempt to “clarify” the skin, the toners of yesteryears often contained harsh alcohols and astringents that did more harm than good.
That tight, tingly feeling you’d get after using them wasn't a sign of clean, healthy skin — it signaled a compromised stratum corneum (the skin’s outermost layer, which serves as its protective barrier).
The Downsides of Toners
This disruption leads to a host of unwelcome side effects, such as:
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A weakened moisture barrier
With their high alcohol content and astringent ingredients, toners can strip away your skin's natural oils and disrupt its natural pH (rather than restoring it) [2]. -
Irritation and sensitivity
Their harsh ingredients can irritate sensitive skin, causing redness, itching, and even breakouts. This is particularly problematic for those with conditions like eczema or rosacea. -
Dehydration and dryness
By stripping away natural oils, toners can leave your skin feeling tight and dry. This exacerbates existing dryness and promotes premature signs of external aging (like fine lines, wrinkles, sagging skin, etc.). -
Increased sensitivity to the sun
A compromised skin barrier heightens your skin’s sensitivity to the sun, increasing the risk of sunburn and damage [3]. This is especially concerning in climates with strong sun exposure like the Southwest or Mediterranean. -
Environmental reactivity
Toners usually take a one-size-fits-all approach, failing to consider the unique needs of different skin types and the impact of environmental factors (like climate and pollution). Meaning? Ineffective or even counterproductive results. 😬 -
Exposure to harmful ingredients
Many toners contain potentially harmful ingredients like fragrances, dyes, and preservatives, which can irritate sensitive skin or trigger allergic reactions.
All of this isn’t to say that every toner is bad for skin.
Considering these downsides, is toner necessary anymore? Some toner is important for certain skin types (like oily or acne-prone skin to help control excess oil).
But everyone’s skin is different. Luckily, there are newer options that are a much better fit for your needs. In fact, many experts have noted that Europe (especially France) is already ahead of the curve, phasing out harsh toners in favor of Hydrating Balancers.
…and at Pour Moi, we too have said au revoir to toners. 😉
A New Era of Skin Balancing: Meet Pour Moi’s Hydrating Balancer
Hydrating Balancers offer an innovative blend of AHA exfoliation and deep hydration, all at the same time. Want to exfoliate and hydrate your skin without stripping it dry? That's precisely what you'll achieve.
The best part? They’re tailored to your unique environment for a balanced and radiant complexion no matter where you live. This mindful approach to swapping out your toner is necessary because your skin constantly adapts to its surroundings.
Think about it — if you’re in dry, arid Las Vegas, you don’t want to use a toner that strips away moisture and leaves you feeling even drier; you need more hydration. On the flip side, if you’re somewhere hot and humid like Miami or Nola, you want to stay away from anything that could trigger oilier skin.
Is toner necessary? Not anymore. Here’s how our Hydrating Balancers use Climate-Smart® technology to work in harmony with your environment:
Hydrating Balancer for Arid Conditions
Unlike toners with harsh, stripping ingredients, our Hydrating Balancer for Arid Climates focuses on gentle nourishment, moisture replenishment, and anti-aging properties for dry, arid environments.
It combines Climate-Smart® Geo-HydraD/ARID and best-in-class glycerin to deeply hydrate and support your natural moisture balance. We even added pro-vitamin B5 (panthenol) to minimize UV-induced redness and irritation, a concern often exacerbated by toners.
And if you live near the tropics?
Hydrating Balancer for Humid Conditions
The Pour Moi Hydrating Balancer for Humid Conditions is a breath of fresh air for those battling excess oil and shine. Unlike toners that can strip and irritate, this Hydrating Balancer delivers a refreshing surge of hydration while helping to rebalance oil production.
Our Climate-Smart® Geo-HydraD/HUMID complex counteracts over-hydration, so your skin feels fresh, balanced, and revitalized. We included pro-vitamin B5 panthenol to soothe and protect from UV aggravation and also added anti-wrinkle tri-peptide for a smoother, more youthful appearance.
As for how to integrate the Hydrating Balancer into your routine, it's simple: just apply it after cleansing and before your go-to Climate-Smart® serum.
Conclusion: Pour Moi Skincare: Out With the Old, In With the Glow
So, is toner necessary? No, because they simply don’t compare to a modern-day balancer's hydrating, nourishing benefits.
Gone are the days of harsh, stripping formulas that disrupt your skin's delicate balance and leave your face feeling tight and parched.
In today's world of diverse skin types and environmental challenges, you need a gentler, more effective approach. Our Hydrating Balancers preserve your skin’s moisture, support its natural barrier, and pave the way for optimal absorption of your skincare in any given climate.
At Pour Moi, we're proud to be at the forefront of this skincare revolution. Now it’s your turn to ditch the old-school toners and embrace a new age.
Try our balanced, Climate-Smart® skincare today.
References
[1] Cleveland Clinic. How to Get Your Skin’s pH Balance Under Control. Cleveland Clinic. Published 2023.
[2] Alcohol in Skin Care: Is It Ever Okay? | Everyday Health. EverydayHealth.com. Updated on January 6, 2024.
[3] Biniek K, Levi K, Dauskardt RH. Solar UV radiation reduces the barrier function of human skin. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 2012;109(42):17111-17116.