If you have acne prone skin, you have probably tried your fair share of acid toners. I’ve tried, oh, just a few (every cult-favorite you can imagine) but none have stuck in my routine, until now. Let’s review the facts.

Every other multi-acid toner I have used, from Biologique Recherche’s infamous P50 to Glossier’s Solution proved to be too harsh and compromised my skin barrier, even when watered down, and followed up with tons of moisturizer and SPF. 

While I had high hopes for Some By Mi’s AHA – BHA- PHA 30Days Miracle Toner, I’ll admit that I was skeptical. I opted to give it a try because, well, I cannot resist the allure of a multi-functional skin care product, especially when it claims to be a miracle, but also because this toner is a cult-favorite amongst Korean skin care obsessives, and that means something.

Let’s get to the results. This toner is super gentle –  in fact, shockingly so. It contains three types of effective exfoliating acids: BHAs to help with clogged pores while AHAs and PHAs to help refine texture. And the formula itself is, dare I say, calming? 

Formulated with multi-tasking humectants like niacinamide and urea, this skin-refining toner is actually more of a hydrating-exfoliating hybrid. Skin is left soft, smooth, and glassy, never irritated, stripped, or red. 

Before you ask, yes I use this toner every single night, without fail, and have been doing so for about 9 months at this point. In fact, I’ve gone through 3 bottles since last January and always have a back-up because I am that obsessed! 

The verdict: a miracle. The product is undeniably effective at treating breakouts, and gentle enough to be used daily. The most reliable indeed.  

The post This Acne-Fighting Toner Is A Miracle For Acne-Prone, Inflamed Skin appeared first on The Klog.

What I used to think about toners before living in Korea: 

An expensive bottle of water that makes my skin feel so dry and tight that it stings. How to use: dispense toner onto cotton pad and swipe at your face until you see brown and/or gray streaks (impurities, dirt, makeup, etc.) on the cotton pad. Effect: cleans your face and makes it nice and…red.

What I now think about toners after living in Korea:

A well-formulated toner is a bottle of hydrating goodness that sets the foundation for my other skin care products. How to use: No cotton pad necessary. Just sprinkle it in hands and gently tap it all over until my skin soaks it up. Effect: My skin feels soft and supple after one use, miles away from dry and tight. In general, you want to use your products in order of their consistency, so apply toner immediately after cleansing your face (because it’s the lightest formula in your routine). For the most effective absorption and reaping all the benefits of your products, start with the thinnest formula first and work your way up to the thickest and creamiest.

So what are “toners” anyway?

Traditionally in the West, toners are used after cleansing to reset the pH balance of your skin after using an alkaline cleanser (a pH of 8-9) so that the skin can revert back to the normal/healthy slightly acidic pH of 4-5 (more on pH here). Many also are meant to remove any additional residue or debris from the face, so if you see a dirty brown streak on your cotton pad, that means it’s working. This notion is beginning to change, especially as Korean philosophies pick up steam here.

To browse some of the best Korean toners, check out Soko Glam’s curation of toners. 

Why would cosmetic companies make cleansers alkaline anyway?

A lot of people used to think alkaline cleansers were more effective at cleansing, but with new advances in skin care formulations, many cleansers are now effective without being too alkaline. Thank you, R&D people!

In Korea, they refrain from using the word “toner.” The product’s often called a “refresher,” “skin softener,” or simply “skin.” I applaud this choice—”toner” sounds utterly tedious and mundane.

When I met and interviewed Paul Kang, Senior Vice President of Amore Pacific skincare research, (out of excitement I was squealing inside but maintained the appearance of utmost professionalism throughout — I think) he told me that the use of “skin” really lays the foundation for the rest of your skin care routine.

Using a “refresher,” or “skin softener” does reset your pH balance and cleanse to some extent, he said, but very gently, and that’s honestly not the most important function any way. So what’s the important part? Oh, I’ve got three for you.

First, it delivers much needed nutrients.

According to Paul, your skin is naturally in a more fragile condition after a cleanse, so delivering nutrients like antioxidants and amino acids will swoop in to protect it.

Second, it preps your skin for the rest of your skin care routine.

Let me help you visualize. If your skin is like a dried up sponge, when you add liquid on top, will the sponge soak it up? Maybe after a long binge session of House of Cards Season 3, but it’ll take a lot longer to absorb. However, if the sponge is damp and you put on the same liquid, it will absorb much, much faster. Your deeply hydrated skin just made everything more efficient!

To all you oily skin types that think hydration is not meant for you:

As an esthetician-in-training, I see that almost every client who walks in the door for a treatment is dealing with dehydrated skin, whether their skin type is oily or dry. Dehydration means lack of moisture (water) in the skin (not oil!), so don’t shy away! The dry and tight feeling after toner sounds appealing (like you’ve beaten your oily skin into submission for a short while) but is not always the best answer.

Korean products from cleansers to sleeping packs (and even makeup) focus on hydration, cooling and moisturizing. I’m seeing more and more Western companies jumping on board with toners that are not astringent, and instead focusing on these elements too: I was floored when several product managers of very prominent Western cosmetic companies came out to the #UOxSokoglam event and told me that they are using Korean beauty tenets as inspiration for future lines, and even using my blog posts as a means to get that inspiration.

Share your toner/skin/refresher recommendations and skin stories below!

The post Skin Care 101: What Are Toners? appeared first on The Klog.

If you’re a K-beauty junkie, you’ve likely heard of Some By Mi. The brand has received heavy acclaim and praise in Korea and among the beauty blogosphere thanks to its gentle yet highly effective products such as Soko Glam’s 2020 Best of K-Beauty winner AHA-BHA-PHA 30Days Miracle Toner – one bottle is sold every three seconds! 

Four superstar products from the brand, including the aforementioned toner and serum, are finally available on sokoglam.com and we couldn’t be more excited.

Curating a line as popular as Some By Mi may seem like a no-brainer, but a product can’t just be buzzy to make it onto Soko Glam’s roster, it has to really work too.

Here’s a little behind-the-scenes insight for you: Before a product is chosen, it goes through rounds of testing at Soko Glam HQ. The Some By Mi toner, as you could have guessed, passed with flying colors. Below we’re sharing customer experience associate and frequent Klog writer Prayva Hussain’s honest first impressions of the product, plus everything else you need to know about the formula.

Some By Mi AHA-BHA-PHA 30Days Miracle Toner

What it does: The Some By Mi Miracle Toner is formulated with AHAs, BHAs, and PHAs to ensure an effective exfoliation and noticeable skin improvement within 30 days.  The low pH toner is surprisingly safe for sensitive skin (it’s dermatologically-tested), and the high-concentration of the ingredient tea tree water extract is both soothing and promotes clear skin. 

In addition to its balancing and moisturizing properties, the toner also serves as a dual-function brightening and anti-aging product, thanks to ingredients like niacinamide and adenosine. 

The results: “I’ve heard so much about this product so I was excited to try it out,” Prayva noted. “I was under the impression this was going to be a super potent formula such as the Glossier Solution but it is surprisingly gentle! I used this product a couple times a week in the morning and the serum in the evening but I wonder if both products could be used daily either layered or alternated between a morning and evening routine. That being said, I did see some breakouts that I was battling clear up with this kind of schedule with the product! I think gentle acid toners are user-friendly and well-suited for those who may be new to acids.”

The post One Some By Mi Miracle Toner Is Sold Every Three Seconds and Now We Know Why appeared first on The Klog.

This week’s question came from Annika who asked: “Is it ok to use an exfoliating toner for my exfoliation step and then also use a regular toner? Or is it better to choose between using both a regular exfoliator and toner or just an exfoliating toner?”
Here, a Soko Glam skin expert’s answer:
—
Toning is my favorite skin care step! It leaves my face refreshed and my skin nicely plumped.  I also find that there’s nothing more satisfying than swiping a cotton pad across my face with product to ensure it’s truly cleansed. 
As an acne-prone teenager, I was only really familiar with astringents like witch hazel or alcohol-based products. As I found myself using more K-beauty, my routine became dominated with hydrating or cleansing toners. But in the past year, some of my favorite toners have been exfoliating toners. I love how hardworking and effective they are and in many cases, I don’t have to sacrifice using my other favorite acids or exfoliators along with them! 
RELATED: The Most Common Questions About Toner
It’s best to use a traditional toner twice daily in our routines to balance our skin’s pH after cleansing and prep our face with a light layer of hydration for the rest of our routine. But exfoliating toners have slightly different rules; how often you’ll want to use it depends on the potency of the product.
Toners with lower percentages of acids, usually 1% and lower, can be used as regular toners. These toners are mostly hydrating toners with a low percentages of acids that offer light and gentle exfoliation. One of our favorites is the new Then I Met You Birch Milk Refining Toner. 
The benefit of using this type of toner is that it’s great for maintaining and improving your skin over time. You can usually use a more potent exfoliating product in your routine along with these toners a couple of times a week.
You’ll want to keep your own skin type and sensitives in mind when testing out any new exfoliating products of course and take it slow to find what your skin likes best, but generally all skin types can benefit from mild daily exfoliation. 
On the other end of the spectrum we have toners with higher percentages of acids from 2% to even as high as 10%, such as the Some By Mi AHA-BHA-PHA 30Days Miracle Toner. Due to their potency, you probably won’t need another exfoliating step in your routine. If you do want to use another exfoliator along with these types of toners, especially when first starting out, you’ll want to alternate the two products in your routine and avoid layering to prevent irritation. If the toner has a high percentage of acids it may be best to use the toner a couple times a week and use a non-acid toner the rest of the week. You can even layer your non-acid toner with your acid toner for an extra layer of hydration.
Once your skin gets used to the active ingredient however, you may find that you can use the acid toner everyday without issue. The benefit of using a potent acid toner is how quickly you’ll see results compared to the slow and steady method of a mild acid toner. 
All in all, what kind of acid toner will work best for you will depends on your own skin type and skin goals. Exfoliating toners can help you to streamline your routine and a huge benefit is that they get you exfoliating more regularly and easily. With any exfoliation you’ll be supporting your skin’s cell turnover rate for a youthful and radiant look to the skin and even helping to prevent breakouts by breaking up excess sebum daily.
Read more about acid toners and how to use them here!

The post Dear Soko: How Can I Incorporate an Exfoliating Toner Into My Routine? appeared first on The Klog.

This weekend over pizza, artichokes and wine, a friend leaned over and whispered, “You’ve got to tell me more about this essence.” For someone that had pretty nice skin (and is Korean-American), I admit I was taken aback. It reminded me that essence (and toner) are still the biggest mysteries in skincare stateside. BUT if you ask any woman in Seoul, they will likely tell you the two are the most essential steps in their skincare regimen.

I started to imagine how much she could benefit if she added this steps to her skincare regimen. At the very least brighter skin… and at the very most – flawless, porcelain-like skin.

Want to know more about this essence? This Korean skincare secret to flawless skin? Read on.

___

Why is essence the most essential step in your skincare regimen? 

You’ll see more results from essence than any other product because it treats skin on a cellular level. Essence is a concentrated formula that specifically targets wrinkles, fine lines, and dull and uneven skin tones. Korean essences typically contain an active ingredient that optimizes your skin’s natural cell turnover rate (think skin regeneration) and with regular use you will notice that your skin is more smoother and brighter. It can’t turn back time, but it will definitely revitalize your skin so that with continued use – you can look more youthful.

Missha’s Time Revolution Essence ($45) – The most popular skincare product at Missha and perfect dupe of the $100 SK-II Facial Treatment Essence. The main ingredient is yeast, which helps restore vital balance by promoting the skin’s natural 28-day surface renewal process.

Tip! Watery consistency means a lot of wastage. Instead of having it soak through cotton pads, transfer the essence into a spritz bottle and spray directly onto your face.

Essences have a variety of consistences. For my entire face, I prefer liquid to gel type consistences. With liquid, I can almost feel my skin soaking it it and could even see that my face gets slightly plump from absorbing all the good stuff. And for spot essence treatments (very concentrated formula) I prefer a tackier feel since I need it to concentrate on a particular area.

Innisfree Eco-Science Spot Treatment Essence ($33) – Strong antioxidant that stimulates skin metabolism for fine lines and wrinkles around your eyes and mouths.

The tacky consistency is perfect to make sure the formula stays put.

What is the difference between essences and serums?

Depending on the concentration of the formula, they have been also referred to as serums, ampoules and even boosters. Ampoules are super concentrated versions so they tend to be more expensive than essence.

Missha Time Revolution Night Repair New Science Activator Ampoule ($42) – Another dupe of the famous $92 Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair. They share the key ingredient, bifida ferment lysate, a probiotic that is said to act like a DNA repairing agent.

Lots of product. Love the hygienic glass dropper.

Less watery than the Missha First Treatment Essence, since it is a more concentrated formula.

When do you apply essence?

Korean women would never forget essence in their skincare routine, whether it is morning or night. After cleaning your skin, apply toner (to deep clean and prep your skin for the essence). Then apply essence by dispensing the product onto your hand (or a cotton pad) and evenly apply all over your face and neck.

A handy tip!

Korean women are all about tapping when applying anything on their face. Why? Rubbing your face like you’re windex-ing a window is not the recommended technique. They recommend tapping because it enhances absorption. FYI – it sounds like this, “TOK TOK TOK.” Try it!

The post Skincare 101: Essence—The Essential Step in Skincare appeared first on The Klog.

If you know anything about K-beauty, you know that integrating a toner into your skin care regimen is essential. Not only does it further cleanse your skin to prep for any upcoming products, but it also adds moisture and balances pH levels in the skin.
With so many toners on the market, it can be hard to determine which to choose, or even where to start. How about with one that’s a favorite among all skin types? If you haven’t already, meet the Benton Aloe BHA Skin Toner. The product has almost 390 reviews on Soko Glam, with more than two-thirds of reviewers giving it a five-star rating. Below are some reasons why skin care enthusiasts can’t get enough of the toner – in their own words. 

It’s doesn’t irritate sensitive skin.

Many who praised the toner in their reviews said they like how gentle and soothing it is the most. Aloe, the star ingredient, is known to be calming and hydrating, and it’s widely used to heal irritated skin and even sunburns. So, it’s no surprise that this toner gives a similar effect. Mia M. said the product was a great addition to her routine, commenting, “I love how this toner seems to help nourish and calm my easily irritated skin. My skin seems to be less red and my breakouts are even starting to go away completely.”
RELATED: The Most Common Questions About Toner – Answered! 

The toner is cost effective.

The Benton toner is just $19 and customers emphasized that you really get your money’s worth with the 200 ml bottle. Some added that they also don’t need a lot of product for each use. “With this product, less is more,” said Muyan Z. “Just one pump is enough to cover my entire face and neck.”

It’s great for oil control.

While those who left positive reviews had all different skin types and concerns, many of the five-star comments come specifically from people with oily and combination skin. Andrea G. saw “impressive” results after two weeks, saying “I have combination skin with a very oily T-zone, but after using this toner, my nose and chin stay almost completely oil-free all day. It has even improved the oily sheen on my forehead.”

It can be used to heal all types of acne.

Another sentiment in many of the reviews is that it helps to eliminate breakouts of any kind. Whether it be hormonal or cystic acne, or even blackheads and whiteheads, reviewers found that the toner helps with preventing blemishes and smoothing their skin texture. Another star ingredient in the toner is salicylic acid, which is popular for its acne-fighting and antibacterial properties. Reviewer Nou X. said that the toner, along with other K-beauty products, are perfect for their acne-prone skin. “I’ve battled with acne basically all my life so I was hesitant using new products on my skin. I have only been using [the product] for a month, and I’ve noticed how even my skin is now.”

It doesn’t dry out skin.

A common concern reviewers had before trying out this product was that toners make skin feel tight and dry. But, many agreed that the toner makes their skin feel hydrated and smooth after application. Jessica U. commented, “It doesn’t give you that tight, dry feeling and leaves your skin feeling super soft. I’ve only been using for a week and already see a difference.” Aloe of course is very hydrating, but the formula also includes snail mucin, a humectant. 

It has a great texture.

Texture can play a big role in how much you enjoy using a product. If it’s too sticky or sits on the skin instead of absorbing, it can be off-putting, no matter the desired results. Customers expressed that this isn’t the case with the Benton toner, however. Maria P. said “The texture isn’t too sticky, which is something that I always fear when using aloe Vera products. It also applies well and sinks into the skin smoothly.” Reviewer Nicole S. agreed, saying that the toner is “light and not at all greasy”.
Do you plan on trying this toner? Let us know!

The post This Acne-Fighting Toner Has Nearly 200 Five-Star Reviews, Here’s Why appeared first on The Klog.

Case-in-point: When you go to a Korean restaurant, you’ll notice that many of the dishes they offer involve grilling the food right in front of you. Stews often come out with only the soup base prepped and then all the veggies, meats and spices will get thrown in after it starts boiling. Sure, this is not part of a “fine dining” experience. It involves a little patience and even effort on your part as you help stir and adjust the heat of the flames. But when it’s ready to be consumed it’s so mouth-watering delicious, you wouldn’t want it any other way. Luckily, most Korean restaurants have someone on hand to help with this process, as Conan cleverly pointed out during his trip to Seoul.

Conan takes a selfie while a Korean waitress cuts up his Korean BBQ with scissors over the grill. Oh, Conan, how I adore you!

Photo Courtesy of Team Coco

How does Korean food relate to Korean beauty? I assure you, they totally relate and I have a point to all this. What I’ve been seeing trending in Seoul is that the “freshness” of the products are now essential to the effectiveness of the ingredient. If you haven’t noticed, the addition real or fresh ingredients have been a focal point to my curations recently.

LEMON GREEN CAVIAR ESSENCE + TOX TIGHTENING KIT
Licorice, lemon and niacinamide extracts brighten dull skin
while reducing fine lines and pigmentation.

The Neogen Essence and Tox Tightening Pack (available in both lemon and gold) is a perfect example of a “fresh” skin care product.

Here’s what I mean: the product arrives in a kit. The bottle containing fresh exfoliating and brightening extracts is packaged separately from the exfoliating pads. When you’re ready to use, you pour the ingredients into a stack of exfoliating pads so you know that you’ll have the freshest skin benefitting ingredients available to you. Then you use the tweezers to pull out each pad to make sure you keep everything sanitary.

WHY THIS MATTERS
Anything presoaked can quickly become oversaturated, fragile with time. On top of that ingredients can become less effective through oxidation. These kits were designed with the intention to reduce and minimize the oxidation process by providing fresh essence that you pour into the pads. Now that you can control when the pads are freshly soaked, you can deliver the most effective and fresh active ingredients to your skin!

MULTI-TASKING PRODUCT
The multi-tasking benefits of exfoliating and essence in one is also a standalone innovation in my eyes.

Exfoliating is key to staying acne-free and for bright, clear skin because it removes dead skin cells that end up clogging pores and clears the way for better absorption of the following treatment product. But there are so many times we fail to implement this step. Some people call it laziness—I call it life.

Essence is the essential step to helping your skin turn bright and glowy, i.e. fade acne scars and pigmentation by accelerating cellular turnover.

Now combined, you have two essential skin care steps ready for you in one powerful product. Thanks to the essence infused in the exfoliating pads you’ll be able to sweep away impurities, pat in the essence and after all that you don’t even have to rinse! Lock in the moisture with an emulsion or cream and you’re done!

GOLD BLACK CAVIAR ESSENCE + TOX TIGHTENING PACK
Gold flakes, collagen extracts and niacinamide adds hydration, plumps up skin to reduce fine lines and wrinkles.

You guys have already tried and raved about the Neogen Bio Peel Gauze Peeling Wine. The same exfoliating pad technology is used here. It’s a game-changer now that they created a exfoliating and essence option.

I’ve blabbed on long enough. Watch the video and see for yourself why this is the new way to essence.

—Charlotte Cho

The post Watch: This Is The New Way To Essence appeared first on The Klog.

One of the most fun parts about living in Korea and working in skin care is hearing about new and innovative products as they’re first introduced in stores.
As someone with dry skin, my ears perk up every time I hear about an effective new moisturizing product. Recently, cream toner has become the new, must-have item for those seeking extra nourishment and moisturization for their skin in Korea.
A few of the most talked-about cream toners are Hanskin’s Avocado Cream Skin, CosRX’s Light Fit Real Water Toner to Cream, and Laneige’s Cream Skin Toner & Moisturizer. With all the buzz, I had to check cream toners out for myself. 
My experience with toner in the past has been the typical watery toner that balances the pH level of your skin. On occasion, I’d try one with soothing or cleansing ingredients, but overall, while toner has been present in my skin care routine for years, it definitely has not been a shining star. I was interested to see if a cream toner would be a game changer for my routine.
The cream toner I chose to try is the Hanskin Avocado Cream Skin, a toner designed with sensitive and dry skin types in mind. The first thing I noticed about the toner is its milky appearance and very light citrus scent that is refreshing without being overpowering. 

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One of my favorite aspects of the toner is its texture, which is still quite watery. With the word “cream” in the name and its milky appearance, I was expecting something a little more, well, creamy. While rubbing the product between my fingers, I noticed an ever so slight hint of a creamy texture. The toner absorbs quickly into the skin, leaving a smooth, non-greasy feel. This was a pleasant surprise because although I am always seeking ways to add moisture to my skin, I want the best of both worlds and prefer layering lightweight products rather than heavier products.
The key ingredient in Hanskin’s Avocado Cream Skin is persea gratissima (avocado) fruit extract. Avocado has been known as an effective moisturizing ingredient in skin care treatments for centuries in various parts of the world. It is a natural, occlusive ingredient, which means it helps prevent water loss – music to my ears! 
After just three days of using this toner, I fell in love with it and I fell hard! Not only did my skin feel softer and more moisturized to the touch, it also looked more moisturized and plump throughout the day. I found it to be the perfect base to my skin care routine and can’t wait to pat it into my skin after double-cleansing.
As we get deeper into summer, it is still my go to toner. With the boost of moisture it provides my skin, I can confidently layer lighter-weight products in my routine during the hot summer months without worrying that my skin isn’t moisturized enough or feeling the need to add heavier products to lock in moisture. 
A toner that nourishes and moisturizes has been a game changer for me. It is definitely the moisturizing product that has been missing from my routine. With cream toner, toner has gone from the “meh” step in my routine, to a star.

The post Dispatch From Korea: Cream Toners Are the Latest K-Beauty Innovation You Need to Try appeared first on The Klog.

One of the things I love about Korean beauty is how it always manages to teach me something new about skin care. Before I converted to a K-beauty routine, I wasn’t really one to use toner. Sure, I know that most toners these days aren’t made with lots of alcohol or harsh ingredients, but I just wasn’t experiencing any noticeable results by using one – until I was introduced to K-beauty toners.

The Korean toners I’ve since tried do WAY more than just keep excess oil at bay. Using one has done wonders for evening out my skin tone and fading dark spots and I can’t live without one these days.

RELATED: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Using Vitamin C For Your Skin 

Here’s a look at a few skin brightening toners to consider if you’re dealing with hyperpigmentation like me, or are simply looking to improve your skin tone. 

Acwell Licorice pH Balancing Cleansing Toner

I literally love everything about this toner (as do a lot of people; it has over 600 five-star reviews!). It has a pH level of 5.5 that works to effectively balance your skin. Green tea extract works to calm my super sensitive skin while also significantly reducing the appearance of hyperpigmentation, whether it be post-acne scars, dark spots, or sun spots. Peony extract and licorice water work as natural brighteners that leave skin even and glowy. Did I mention it’s designed with all skin types in mind?

Isntree Green Tea Fresh Toner

If you have oily or combination skin, you’ll love this formula which features a nice blend of plant extracts and green tea extracts that work to not only control excess sebum but also to instantly brighten your complexion. 

Some By Mi Galactomyces Pure Vitamin C Glow Toner

There’s a reason why vitamin C has become such a hot ingredient in recent years and that’s because it’s incredibly effective when it comes to brightening skin. In fact, women of color can especially benefit from it as it works to lighten and fade dark spots or hyperpigmentation, something that darker skin tones tend to be more prone to. Formulated with 88% galactomyces ferment filtrate, this toner works to brighten, protect, smooth, and hydrate skin. 

Tony Moly Wonder Rice Smoothing Toner

I wouldn’t sleep on rice water skin care products if I were you. Fermented rice water has been used for centuries for brightening dull and uneven skin. I only recently got on the bandwagon but I’m totally sold. 

Bottom Line

Overall, Korean toners have drastically transformed and improved my skin since I started using them. I recommend applying a few drops of one of these toners to a cotton pad and gently passing it across your face after double cleansing and exfoliating. I follow with a serum and moisturizer. Try it and thank me later!

The post The Best K-Beauty Toners to Use For Brightening Skin and Treating Hyperpigmentation appeared first on The Klog.

Oily and Combination Skin: With Cotton Pads
This is the most recommended way to apply toner, no matter your skin type. But it works even better for those with oily or combination skin types. Using cotton pads to apply your toner not only makes the skin smoother and softer since it gently exfoliates it, but it also helps to grab any excess oil and impurities that may be sitting on top of skin. This is also the best way to apply if you’re following up with a treatment (like a vitamin C or serum) since it preps the skin to better absorb what’s coming next.

How to do it: Gently wipe the skin starting from the inner to outer part of the face.
Expert tip: Use a sturdy, compressed cotton pad like the Klairs Toner Mate 2 in 1 Cotton Pad on areas where pores and flakiness are an issue and you will notice a gradual improvement with continued use.

Normal to Dry and Sensitive Skin: Hands
“When you use your hands to apply toner through a tapping motion, you get an immediate hydration you can really feel,” summarizes Alex Song, brand manager of Korean brand Klairs. That’s truly what makes this method the best one for people with dry and/or sensitive skin types. The explanation really bases on the fact that by combining gentle tapping motions (or even by pressing the skin gently for a few seconds) and the natural heat of the hands, you help the toner to absorb better (and faster) into the skin.

Very Dry Skin: DIY Sheet Mask
Using toner as a sheet mask is the most hydrating of all methods, perfect for very dry and super-sensitive skin types. All you have to do is wet a few cotton pads with your toner and apply them to the face. Leave them on for 5-10 minutes and follow up with a light lotion or a cream to lock-in the moisture. This method also helps the skin to stay hydrated longer than usual. Plus, it allows makeup to apply more easily and stay put longer.

Other Way You Could Use It: As A Mist
You can also get all the benefits from toners by using your favorite one as a mist throughout the day. “This method is actually more moisturizing than when using a traditional water-based mist—compared to directly applying toner with your hands,” says Song.

Just avoid using toner as a mist if you have makeup or sunscreen on. More often than not, sunscreens and foundations include silicone as a main ingredient, which means that instead of absorbing into the skin, products applied on top will evaporate along with the little amount of moisture that is found in the makeup you’ve put on before. That means you’ll not only be losing product, but your skin can also get drier than usual.

If you’re interested in trying out a new toner while putting these different methods to the test, we’ve got top fan favorite toner product recommendations for you!

If hydration is a most, I‘m From’s Rice Toner has totally got you covered. With 77.78% rice extract, it forms a protective barrier over the skin to prevent water loss, eliminates dead skin cells, and rebalances dry and tired barriers.

Looking for gentle exfoliation? Formulated with AHAs, BHAs, and PHAs, Some By Mi AHA-BHA-PHA 30Days Miracle Toner works to turnover cells, to keep it clear and exfoliated.

+ What is your favorite toner and how do you like to apply it? Let us know in the comments below.

The post How To Apply Your Toner According To Your Skin Type appeared first on The Klog.