Growing up one toner which was seen in everyone's homes as a beginner’s skincare has to be a rose water toner. But as time passed the concept around toners changed, toner which once only had the job of hydration, now does more than one job. Having oily skin in itself feels tiring and on top of that adding a toner to the routine might sound like a lot. So, what’s the drill, why are we recommending another toner? Let us start with why a toner is used in the first place in skincare routine in order to further get into why specific toners can sometimes provide an added benefit for the skin. In this article we diffuse some of the myths and facts around toners, to get a better understanding on which ingredient suits you, or if you need one at all.
WHY TONERS ARE RECOMMENDED?
If you look at the concept around toners from a decade back, the only purpose of a toner was as a cleansing step. In the modern skincare industry, a toner is not limited to providing a single benefit, it has become an everyday step in the skincare routine because of its delivery system of active ingredients on the skin. A single toner can provide multiple benefits from exfoliation, hydration and even acne control. A toner holds a lower concentration of active ingredients when compared beside a serum bottle and holds a more water based consistency as the base ingredient remains water, which essentially makes it less reactive and more effective. (PubMed)
WHAT MAKES A TONER GOOD FOR OILY SKIN?
It is not such that a toner in specific is more suitable for someone who has oily skin. What genuinely helps oily skin comes down to how a toner is formulated. Specific ingredients such as Niacinamide, Glycolic acid, Mandelic acid work really well against oily skin as they target the pores, control sebum production while also providing gentle exfoliation and an improved overall texture of the skin.
BEST INGREDIENTS IN A TONER FOR OILY SKIN
Not every ingredient suits every skin type, and then there exists the problem of heavy marketing which makes every ingredient look a little too important, which confuses the consumer all the more. Below is a quick breakdown of active ingredients and what concerns they target to help you choose better.
NIACINAMIDE : FOR OIL & BARRIER SUPPORT
Perhaps the most famous ingredient and the most hyped up ingredient. Niacinamide has earned itself a position on every shelf and there is a genuine reason behind it, which is the multi-pathway benefit it offers. Niacinamide is one of those ingredients which is suitable for every skin type. It targets oil control, barrier support, hydration, pigmentation, acne and even photoageing. If there is one ingredient that I would take a blind buy on, it would probably be this one.
SALICYLIC ACID : FOR CLOGGED PORES & ACNE-PRONE SKIN
Salicylic acid is a form of BHA (Beta-Hydroxy-Acid) which primarily means it is an oil-soluble ingredient. It's most suitable if you have oily skin, active breakouts, blackheads, whiteheads and acne concerns. Because of its oil-soluble properties it gently exfoliates the skin and unclogs the congested pores which trap sebum/oil inside them and dissolve them. (PubMed)
GLYCOLIC ACID : FOR TEXTURE & DULLNESS
Glycolic acid is another ingredient in the exfoliant group, it is a form of AHA (Alpha-Hydroxy-Acid) which has a smaller molecular size which gives it a more relative ease to penetrate into the skin and help in the shedding process. It essentially focuses on speeding up the process of dead skin cell shedding, which improves exfoliation and provides you with a more smoother looking skin texture. (PubMed)
PHA : FOR GENTLE EXFOLIATION
PHA (Polu-Hydroxy-Acid) is the softer cousin in this family, a reasonable entry point if you're new to exfoliation or if stronger acids have burned you before, literally or figuratively. That said, "gentler" isn't the same as "safe for every sensitive skin type," individual tolerance still calls the shots here.
GLYCERIN, HYALURONIC ACID & PANTHENOL : FOR HYDRATION
Be it oily skin or normal skin, every skin tends to get dehydrated depending on what conditions they are being exposed to often. You must have noticed how our skin feels after remaining in an air-conditioned environment for too long, it's nothing but dehydration due to evaporation. Oily skin struggles with this too, a toner which is formulated around hydrating ingredients such as glycerin, hyaluronic acid, panthenol, cica, etc., be it as primary or supporting ingredients also helps a lot to keep the skin hydrated.
WHICH TONER INGREDIENT IS BEST FOR YOUR SKIN:
QUICK REFERENCE
| Skin Concern | Ingredient to Look For |
|---|---|
| Barrier support, hydration, acne, oil-balance | Niacinamide |
| Oil-control, acne, blackheads, whiteheads | Salicylic Acid |
| Dullness, Uneven texture, Oily skin, Pigmentation, Fine lines, Clogged pores | Glycolic Acid |
| Beginner exfoliation (sensitive skin) | PHA |
| Dehydrated skin | Glycerin / HA / Panthenol |
WHAT INGREDIENTS SHOULD YOU AVOID?
Here is something which deserves genuine attention and thought before making a random impulsive purchase. We keep focusing on one term a lot, which is formulation. How a toner performs on your skin does not just depend on what concentration of actives have been used inside it but also how it is formulated.
What to look out for:
- High amounts of denatured alcohol: Look for ingredients such as Alcohol Denat., Ethanol, SD Alcohol, Isopropyl Alcohol high in the ingredient list.
- Strong fragrance/perfume: Ingredients such as parfum/fragrance, limonene, linalool, eugenol, geraniol, citronellol can be problematic for sensitive or irritation-prone skin, particularly in a leave-on product.
- Essential oils: Peppermint oil, Eucalyptus oil, Tea tree oil, etc.
- Very high concentrations of exfoliating acids: Higher concentrations of AHA, BHA, PHA in toners can trigger genuine skin concerns.
PRODUCT RECOMMENDATION
DECONSTRUCT EXFOLIATING 7% GLYCOLIC ACID TONER
- Formulated with 7% Glycolic acid, 3% Niacinamide, D-Panthenol and Ginseng root extract and other essential botanical extracts.
- 7% Glycolic acid (Alpha-Hydroxy-Acid) holds a low molecular weight and deeply exfoliates the skin surface, reduces pigmentation and speeds up the shedding of dead skin cells. (Source)
- 3% Niacinamide acts as a multi-functional benefit, provides barrier support, oil-control, hydration, reduced breakouts and anti-inflammatory properties.
- Uses Ginseng root extract and other botanical extracts blend that revitalizes skin, calms sensitivity, deeply hydrates, improves texture, and enhances natural radiance. (Source)
- Uses humectants such as Sodium PCA, D-Panthenol, Urea and so on which keeps the skin hydrated and supports skin barrier.
- Multi-benefit toner which can be used for multiple skin concerns and hair concerns such as dandruff, itchy scalp and so on.
- Useful for concerns such as pigmentation around the body, ingrown hair, dullness, sun damage, clogged pores and so on.
- Gentle, lightweight, water-based formulation which exfoliates, hydrates and protects the skin using a single formulation and absorbs quickly and does not irritate the skin.
- Dermatologically tested and backed by scientific research.
HOW TO USE A TONER FOR OILY SKIN
THE BASIC 5-STEP ROUTINE: Cleanser → Toner → Serum → Moisturizer → Sunscreen.
THE 5-STEP GUIDE
Cleanse: Wash your face using a Gentle Cleanser for a minute or two.
Toner: While the skin is still damp, apply a layer of The Deconstruct 7% Glycolic Acid Toner using the spray bottle across the face.
Serum: Let the toner settle on the face for a minute and follow it up with your preferred serum as per your routine.
Moisturizer: Give your serum a minute to settle and apply a pea-sized amount of a lightweight moisturizer.
Sunscreen: Apply a layer of your sunscreen as the final step in your morning routine.
PAIRINGS TO AVOID:
- Glycolic acid with Vitamin C serum
- Glycolic acid with another exfoliant such as Salicylic acid
- Glycolic acid with Retinoids or Retinols
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
IS TONER GOOD FOR OILY SKIN?
Yes, a toner which is formulated around ingredients which match the concerns such as clogged pores, oil-control and pigmentation, it is suitable for oily skin.
IS SALICYLIC ACID OR NIACINAMIDE BETTER FOR OILY SKIN?
In a toner specifically, Niacinamide is the more suitable option because it targets multiple concerns and at the same time can be delivered in a lightweight leave-in formula.
IS GLYCOLIC ACID GOOD FOR OILY SKIN?
Yes, glycolic acid is actually suitable for all skin types because it offers a range of benefits such as oil control, smoother texture, reduced pigmentation, unclogged pores and so on.
CAN OILY SKIN USE A HYDRATING TONER?
Yes, using a hydrating toner helps because it helps to hydrate the skin, not to mention oily skin stands at a higher risk of water loss because of the excess sebum accumulation.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD OILY SKIN USE TONER?
A toner can be incorporated into your everyday skincare routine preferably in the night routine which gives the skin more time to repair and rest after a busy day.
FINAL THOUGHTS
A toner is no longer limited to providing a single benefit in modern skincare, while traditionally it only did the job of cleansing. Today a cleanser does more than just cleansing, it exfoliates, it hydrates, it supports the barrier and also controls sebum accumulation and clogged pores. Both Glycolic Acid and Niacinamide are cult favourites and for good reason, they support a wide range of benefits which is not merely a marketing claim but is backed by evidence-based research.
The Deconstruct Exfoliating 7% Glycolic Acid Toner understands this demand and is built around these two ingredients and supports multiple skin-related concerns from pigmentation in the body to dandruff in the scalp in one single bottle.