Astringent vs. Toner: The Difference + Which You Should Use, From Experts

Toner is one contested topic. Some deem it an unnecessary skin care step; others swear by the extra pick-me-up for lifting residue post-wash. And of course, a high-quality toner does more than swipe away leftover dirt, oil, and grime: The toners of today are brimming with hydrating, brightening, and skin-regenerating actives. Is it a mandatory skin care step?

Not quite—certainly not as essential as cleansing or moisturizing. But can your skin benefit from the extra love? Perhaps! 

Essentially, astringents are extra-purifying toners. Their main gig is to remove oil from the skin, and they tend to be alcohol-based, which is why you might notice a temporary "tight" feeling after swiping one across your face. In addition to alcohol, astringents often feature witch hazel (which has naturally astringent properties), salicylic acid, citric acid, apple cider vinegar, and tea tree oil. It's these astringent ingredients that gave old-school toners their skin-tingling reputation.

As you can probably guess from the aforementioned ingredient list, astringents are best for oily and acne-prone skin types looking to further purify the skin post-cleanse. Although, the oil-stripping nature of astringents may be too much for some people to handle (namely dry and sensitive folks).

Toners cover a lot more ground: Some also purify and balance the skin after cleansing, featuring ingredients like AHAs, BHAs, and witch hazel, but toners tend to be water-based, which makes them far less drying. Not to mention, you can also find hydrating toners solely meant to infuse the skin with moisture and enhance product absorption later on in your routine; with these hydrating toners, you'll likely find hyaluronic acid, glycerin, aloe vera, and rosewater among the ingredient list. 

"Toners are generally less harsh," says King. "They can be either hydrating or exfoliating, but even the ones with active exfoliating ingredients are still designed to contribute to the moisture barrier of the skin, not detract from it." That said, toners are pretty versatile across skin types: People with oily or acne-prone skin may choose a purifying number, while drier skin types may select a hydrating toner or essence to pump the skin with moisture. 

Because toners are far more versatile across skin types (and they skip potentially irritating alcohols), we would consider ourselves Team Toner here at mbg—check out our favorite purifying and hydrating solutions here. However, if you have oily or acne-prone skin and fare well with a traditional astringent, we're not going to tell you to toss it. If it works for you, it works! Just keep an eye on your skin—if you notice any flaking or irritation after applying, you might want to find a different formula, ideally one without an alcohol base. 

Now, you may have heard of people using astringents and hydrating toners in the same routine to buffer the former product's drying effects. But this isn't really necessary: Rather than applying a hydrating mist to counter the stripping nature of an astringent, why not just use a gentler purifying toner in the first place? "I think it would make more sense to use a toner with both hydrating and astringent ingredients," says King.