In the skincare market there exists a wide range of toners for every skin concern. But that does not automatically mean each ingredient is suitable for your skin type. With heavy marketing the urge to try more products does catch a hold on more than we realize. But just like you, your skin demands understanding. So, while the topic is toner for your oily skin, the first step starts by understanding what we are dealing with, dullness, uneven texture, bumpy skin, clogged pores, pigmentation, fine lines, sun damage, sounds like a lot but on a scientific level everything is interlinked. In this article we decode some of the concerns around oily skin to help you choose the right toner for your skin.
IDENTIFY WHAT YOUR OILY SKIN NEEDS
Excess oil and shine calls for something lightweight, built specifically around managing oil rather than treating anything else.
Clogged pores and blackheads need a toner designed with pore-focused exfoliation in mind, not just general oil control.
Acne-prone oily skin wants a formula with a suitable active ingredient, without stacking three strong ones on top of each other hoping for faster results.
Oily but dehydrated skin does better with lightweight hydration paired alongside oil management, not one at the expense of the other.
Oily and sensitive skin should prioritize gentleness first, skip anything unnecessarily aggressive even if it promises dramatic oil control.
MATCH THE TONER TO YOUR SKIN CONCERN
| Skin Concern | What to Look For |
|---|---|
| Excess oil | Lightweight oil-management formula |
| Clogged pores | Pore-exfoliating ingredients |
| Acne-prone skin | Appropriate acne/oil-focused actives |
| Dullness | Gentle exfoliating ingredients |
| Uneven texture | Surface exfoliation |
| Oily and dehydrated texture | Lightweight hydrating ingredients |
| Sensitive and oily texture | Gentle, low-irritation formula |
CONSIDER THE STRENGTH OF THE FORMULA
Toners are primarily not supposed to be heavily concentrated, so maybe choosing a 7% over an 8% in case of a toner would be the smarter choice. Pay closer look at the formulation and pairings, higher digits does not mean faster results. Choose formulation that supports your skin, which supports the skin concern. Exfoliating toners work better with barrier supporting ingredients such as niacinamide and hydrating ingredients such as panthenol, avoid pairing it with retinoids and topical acids such as Vitamin C. Stacking multiple exfoliants because each one sounds good in isolation is one of the fastest ways to end up with irritation instead of results. (PubMed)
MAKE SURE THE TONER FITS INTO YOUR SKINCARE ROUTINE
The basic order:
Cleanser → Toner → Serum → Moisturizer → Sunscreen.
A hydrating toner tends to fit easily into almost any routine without much friction. An exfoliating toner is a different story, it's an active step, so it's worth weighing against whatever other exfoliants you're already using elsewhere in your routine. If using an exfoliating toner, a better option would be to inculcate it in your nightly routine instead of the morning one, as it gives your skin better absorption and is more suitable at that hour
Note: Exfoliating ingredients (hydroxy-acids) do not react well with topical actives such as Vitamin C and retinoids, but works exceptionally well with humectants and barrier supporting ingredients, so pair your active ingredients accordingly. (PubMed)
COMMON MISTAKES TO AVOID WHEN CHOOSING A TONER
CHOOSING THE MOST DRYING FORMULA
Oily skin doesn't need to feel stripped and tight to actually be well cared for, that feeling is a sign of a mismatch, not effectiveness.
FOCUSING ONLY ON "OIL CONTROL"
Pores, acne, texture, and hydration all deserve a place in the decision too, oil is rarely the only thing going on.
BUYING BASED ONLY ON MARKETING CLAIMS
The ingredient list and overall formulation tell you far more than the front label ever will.
USING TOO MANY ACTIVE PRODUCTS
More does not mean better, understanding that not every active ingredient reacts well when mixed together. Avoid pairings which irritate the skin, excessive layering does more damage than good. Keep your routine simple and easy so that it's easier to remain consistent to it
ASSUMING EVERY OILY SKIN TYPE NEEDS THE SAME TONER
Concerns and tolerance vary enough from person to person that "oily" alone isn't a specific enough category to shop by.
QUICK CHECKLIST BEFORE BUYING A TONER
Forget all the marketing gimmick for this one minute when choosing your skincare, turn around the bottle and check the ingredients. Formulation matters more than you realize, a higher concentration combined with ingredients which do not compliment one another can be a recipe for disaster. Ask yourself does the ingredient list address the skin concern you are targeting, does the formulation look trustworthy. If yes, you have yourself a winner.
WHICH TONER SHOULD YOU CHOOSE?
The basic job of toners can be broadly divided into two parts: hydration and exfoliation. Humectants are what hydrates the skin which involves ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, panthenol, urea and so on. The exfoliation part is done by the hydroxy-acids AHA, BHA, PHA. But they do not all do the same job, Glycolic acid being the most lightweight AHA however does the job pretty well because of its multi-benefit properties which targets dullness, uneven texture, clogged pores and other concerns.
So, to answer the question if you want a toner which only hydrates choose a hydrating toner with primary ingredients as humectants, but if you want hydration and exfoliation choosing a glycolic acid toner is the better option.
RECOMMENDED TONER
DECONSTRUCT EXFOLIATING 7% GLYCOLIC ACID TONER
- Formulated with 7% Glycolic acid, 3% Niacinamide, D-Panthenol, 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.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
HOW DO I CHOOSE A TONER FOR OILY SKIN?
If you have oily skin, that might not be your only concern, it goes more than that mostly such as clogged pores, breakouts, pigmentation. Identify the concern and pick the ingredient which is most suitable for your concern.
WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING A TONER FOR OILY SKIN?
Ingredients list is the first thing to look at while choosing a toner, specific ingredients such as niacinamide, alpha arbutin, glycolic acid, salicylic acid tend to be the most suitable ingredients for oily and combination skin.
CAN OILY SKIN USE A HYDRATING TONER?
Yes, definitely a more hydrated skin is always a good choice, but make sure to choose a toner which is built around humectants to avoid greasiness.
HOW DO I KNOW IF A TONER IS TOO HARSH FOR MY SKIN?
Notice how your skin reacts post the toner settles on your face. If you sense tightness, redness or signs of inflammation, chances are the toner you picked is not suitable for your skin.
CAN OILY SKIN USE AN EXFOLIATING TONER?
Yes, and an ingredient such as glycolic acid paired with niacinamide is the perfect combination because while gently exfoliating the skin and removing dead skin cells it also simultaneously hydrates and supports the skin barrier.
SHOULD I USE A TONER IF I ALREADY USE A SERUM?
Yes, use a glycolic acid toner in your night routine and avoid pairing it with Vitamin C, Salicylic acid and retinoids to avoid any unnecessary reactions on the facial skin.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Choosing the right toner for your skin type does not need to be a complicated process, the simple rule of thumb is to understand the primary concern your skin is dealing with. With regular exposure to UV rays, environmental damage, pollution and humidity the basic concerns tend to clock around sunspots, pigmentation, fine lines, dullness, uneven texture, breakouts and clogged pores. And well, the star ingredients glycolic acid and niacinamide does fix most of these concerns so why not just add one more skincare product in your skincare routine. We recommend using The Deconstruct 7% Glycolic Acid Toner with 3% Niacinamide and proven botanical ingredients, a formulation backed by science and suggested by dermatologists.