Sensitive skin can be oily or dry.

There are 4 subtypes of sensitive skin: acne, redness, stinging and allergic / easily irritated. You need to match your toner to all of these skin concerns.

Oily sensitive skin easily develops inflammation.

Salicylic acid is the perfect ingredient for many sensitive skin types unless you have stinging skin. SA inhibits growth of acne causing bacteria, sooths skin and clears pores.

Here are the best medical grade Salicylic Acid Toners:

Acne -prone skin types can be oily or dry. Acne-prone subtypes can use alcohol if they have oily skin, but dry skin types should avoid alcohol. Fatty alcohols are ok for both oily and dry types.

Dermatologist recommend acne treatment toners with salicylic acid, sulfur or antibacterial ingredients.

Let us help you build comprehensive acne treatment routine because toners might not be the best treatment for your acne.

Dry skin should use toners that contain humectants like hyaluronic acid (hyaluronan) , glycerin, aloe, or oils.

Humectants like hyaluronan and glycerin should be covered with moisturizers or oils in dry skin types to provide occlusion.

Some toners have oils and fatty acids in them and oils are a great alternative to toners.

Five of the best oils to look for in toners for dry skin are:

1. Argan oil

2. Borage seed oil

3. Evening Primrose oil

4. Jojoba oil

5. Sunflower oil

When you are beginning a new retinol in your skin care routine, do not use a toner if you have dryness, peeling or retinoid dermatitis. Many toners will make retinoid side effects worse.

When dry skin types use the wrong type of toner, these side effects can increase the risk of acne, hyperpigmentation, and skin aging:

inflammation

extreme dryness

itching

flaking

peeling

rash

Using the wrong toner can give you hypersensitive and reactive skin.

Dry skin types have an impaired skin barrier that allows irritants and allergens into the the skin. This increases the risk of contact dermatitis and other forms of hypersensitive skin.

Only hydrating toners with anti-inflammatory ingredients should be used in dry skin types. In most cases, our dermatologists prefer serums and face creams instead of toners. The one exception is acne-prone skin which do well with acne treatment toners. (keep reading to learn about these.)

Sensitive Skin Subtypes 2 and 3 (Subtypes Rosacea and Stinging Skin) should avoid products with alcohol and hydroxyacids.

If you have sensitive skin, look for these soothing ingredients:

Aloe

Argan Oil

Allantoin

Bisabolol

Borage Seed Oil

Chamomile

Green Tea

Panthenol

Tea Tree Oil

If your skin stings, avoid these ingredients:

Cinnamon oil

Low pH toners like hydroxyacids and salicylic acid

Oregano

Vitamin C

Witch hazel

If you have rosacea, good toner ingredients for you are:

Azelaic acid (Unless your skin stings a lot.)

Caffeine

Chamomile

Coenzyme Q 10

Feverfew

Green tea

If your skin is very allergic, choose a hypoallergenic toner.

Our approach to combination skin is a bit different.

If you are not familiar with the definition of combination skin in dermatology textbooks, read here. Basically- you need to know how much sebum your skin makes to choose a toner. If you think you have combination skin and are trying to find a toner, take the quiz before you waste money on the wrong products!

Anti-aging toners need to stimulate skin cells to make important components like collagen, a process that requires energy.

There are several categories of toners that are good for wrinkled or aged skin:

Antioxidants

Exfoliating

Hydroxyacids

Hyaluronic acid

Toners that contain coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) can help the mitochondria, or powerhouses of cells, to make energy. Vitamin C would also be a great toner ingredient, but it breaks down upon exposure to air, so it does not do well in an open-neck bottle. For this reason, vitamin C works best as a serum. Other ingredients to look for in anti-aging toners are hydroxy acids, growth factors, and antioxidants.

Our favorite medical grade antiaging toner is:

Medature Energizing Q Toner. A hydrating powerhouse, containing coenzyme Q10, an antioxidant that helps neutralize free radicals that can cause aging and inflammation. It also contains hyaluronic acid, which helps your skin to maintain its own moisture, as well as pull water to the skin’s surface to smooth and plump the cells. This is a great toner choice for dry and wrinkle-prone skin.

If you have allergic skin or reactive skin, you do not want to use a low pH toner or an exfoliating toner. Gentle toners should not contain allergens or acne-causing ingredients.

If your skin is upset and needs a gentle toner- avoid these ingredients:

alcohol

lactic acid

glycolic acid

salicylic acid

willow bark

witch hazel

The best gentle toners have soothing ingredients like aloe, cucumber, chamomile, and green tea.

The best toners for glowing skin are renew toners that exfoliate the skin. They should never be used on stinging, inflamed or irritated skin.

Hydroxy acids help to exfoliate the skin, resulting in a smooth, soft, and radiant complexion. Toners are a great way to use hydroxy acids without leaving your skin sticky or greasy.

SkinCeuticals LHA Toner. LHA is a targeted glycolic and salicylic acid toner that helps to exfoliate and renew skin. The combination of hydroxy acids in this toner removes dead skin cells and debris from the surface of the skin, allowing light to reflect from the skin, creating a bright, radiant complexion.

When choosing a natural toner, look for naturally-derived ingredients that are gentle on the skin and will not cause redness or irritation. Some natural ingredients, such as certain essential oils, can irritate dry or sensitive skin types. If you are looking for an organic or natural toner, you need to know your skin type first.

Men may choose to use a toner after shaving to help keep the skin clean and free of acne or ingrown hairs.

If you want to apply toner after shaving, choose a product that does not contain:

alcohol

ascorbic acid

azelaic acid

glycolic acid

lactic acid

salicylic acid

witch hazel

Many patients ask me, “What’s the best drugstore toner?” Although there are some good choices, choosing them is difficult.

The problem with buying a drugstore toner that without knowing your Baumann Skin Type is:

Using the wrong toner can injure the skin

You might make skin problems worse

Ingredients such as vitamin C are not generally effective when formulated as a toner

You are likely to wasting your time and money

To find the correct skin care products and what step to use them in, consult a skincare professional, armed with the knowledge of your Baumann Skin Type.

You can find an expert near you at this link.