As someone who suffers with dry and sensitive skin myself, I know that finding a skincare product that doesn’t further irritate your skin can be a difficult task. There are definitely certain things to look for when it comes to helping soothe dry skin, and even more importantly there are things to avoid.
In this article, I’ve put together the 3 best toners for dry and sensitive skin from a few different brands and explained why the ingredients within them can help solve your dull skin problems.
I’ve also explained what ingredients to look for in a toner for dry skin, as well as which ones to avoid. If you’re searching for a toner to help soothe and hydrate your skin, without irritating it any further, take a read below!
Covered in this Article:
Best UK Toner For Dry Skin
Ultra Facial Toner by Kiehl’s
The Ultra Facial Toner by Kiehl’s is known as one of their ‘holy-grail’ products for dry skin types. With every use, it gently exfoliates the surface skin cells to remove dry skin, build up and prevent the blockage of pores without causing any irritation.
It’s also pH balanced as well as being alcohol-free so it won’t strip your skin from its natural moisture and further dry it out. What’s more, it includes botanical extracts such as avocado oil, almond oil and apricot kernel oil that help to hydrate the skin.
It also includes squalane which provides superior hydration, whilst fighting the signs of ageing and protecting against free radicals in the environment. Squalane is also known to contain anti-inflammatory properties that help with skin conditions, such as eczema and flaking skin.
Pros:
- Suitable for all skin types, especially dry skin
- Exfoliates
- Hydrates
- pH balanced
- Alcohol free
- Contains botanical extracts
- Contains squalane
- Suitable for eczema sufferers
Cons:
- Due to the exfoliating ingredients within this toner it may make your skin ‘purge’ upon first use, but this will settle down with constant use
Rose Tonic by PIXI Beauty
Another toner to help soothe the effects of dry skin is this Rose Tonic by PIXI Beauty. Packed full of botanical extracts including Aloe Vera, Elderflower and Chamomile that work together to soothe and hydrate tight, dry skin as well as reducing the look of irritation.
This toner is both cruelty-free and paraben-free, which means that the toner won’t make your skin sensitive to UV ray or further sensitise the skin.
The base of this toner is rose hydrosol and rose is also a beneficial skincare ingredient for sufferers of dry skin as it soothes red skin and is rich in antioxidants. This means that it relieves any itchiness and flakiness, as well as gently hydrating without overwhelming the skin and causing further damage.
Rose also contains antibacterial properties that can stop extremely dry and cracked skin from getting infected.
Pros:
- Contains botanical extracts that soothe and hydrate
- Contains rose extracts that is rich in antioxidants
- Antibacterial
- Suitable for eczema sufferers
- Refreshes skin
- Cruelty free
- Paraben free
Cons:
- As it is a rose toner, it has a slight smell of rose so if you don’t like the smell of roses, this toner may not be for you
Best UK Toner For Dry And Sensitive Skin
First Aid Beauty’s Ultra Repair Wild Oat Hydrating Toner
First Aid Beauty’s Ultra Repair Wild Oat Hydrating Toner contains oats, as stated within the name, which are known for their soothing properties. The superstar ingredients are wild oats, hydrating oat milk and colloidal oats, an active ingredient that is actually used to soothe eczema and sensitive skin as well as combatting redness.
This toner also contains hyaluronic acid, which is known in the skincare world as being one of the go-to products for hydration and combatting dry skin. It acts as a moisture binder which attracts moisture from the air and draws it into the skin, leaving it hydrated and plump.
Using a toner with ingredients such as this will not only hydrate your skin, but will also make your serums and moisturisers work more effectively to combat dryness and soothe sensitivity.
Pros:
- Contains oat extracts, known for their soothing properties
- Contains hyaluronic acid
- Alcohol free so won’t irritate dry or sensitive skin
- PETA Certified cruelty free
- Combats redness
- Ensures further skincare steps work more effectively
Cons:
- Some reviewers have said that this toner has a strange smell, despite the beauty product being fragrance free
Can Toner Dry Out The Skin?
Toner is a great skincare step, no matter what your skin type is, but not getting the right toner can cause issues for your complexion. If you have dry or sensitive skin and opt for a toner that contains astringents, then your skin is likely going to become even more irritated and dry.
Astringents strip the skin of its natural moisture barrier and dries it out, which can leave you with sore, itchy and flaky skin.
Toner ingredients that you should avoid if you have dry and/or irritated skin are:
- Alcohol – look for words such as ethanol, denatured alcohol, ethyl alcohol, methanol, benzyl alcohol and isopropyl alcohol
- Witch hazel
- Glycolic acid
- Salicylic acid
- Benzoyl peroxide
- Parabens
- Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs)
- Beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs)
However, you should look for:
- Rosewater and Vitamin E for hydration
- Chamomile for its soothing properties
- Squalane
- Hyaluronic acid
- niacinamide
- Plant stem cells, such as cucumber and aloe vera
- Botanical extracts
- Glycerin
Ensuring that you check the ingredients of a toner is the best way to know whether a toner will be suitable for your skin type or not.
Do You Need A Toner For Dry Skin?
Toners have often been widely discussed by dermatologists and skincare experts, with some swearing by their pH balancing effects, whilst others deeming it a skippable step.
Initially, toners were created as a secondary step in your skincare routine to balance the skin’s pH after cleansing. Nowadays, cleansers are often already pH balanced so toners no longer serve their original purpose. However, skin toners now are made for more than just pH balancing.
They can remove excess residue and makeup left on the skin after cleansing, exfoliate and soothe and hydrate the skin, depending on the ingredients that they contain.
You don’t necessarily need a toner for dehydrated skin, but toners that contain ingredients specifically for your skin type will definitely benefit your complexion and help to battle dryness, sensitivity and irritation.
Is Cucumber Toner Good For Dry Skin?
Cucumbers have long been known to contain soothing properties and have a long list of skin benefits, in fact Cleopatra is thought to have used cucumber juice to maintain her glowing skin! They are thought to hydrate and moisturise skin, soothe sunburns, cool and rejuvenate.
It has also been shown to contain moisture-binding and moisture regulating properties, similar to those of hyaluronic acid!
Cucumber is a natural extract and after analysing all this information it’s clear that cucumber toner can be very beneficial for dry skin, as it soothes inflamed and sensitive skin as well as hydrating and plumping, relieving the effects of dryness.
After reading this article, I hope you’ve found all the information you were looking for. If you’re unsure about finding a toner, it’s best to read the ingredients and check that they contain no alcohol, astringents and contain ingredients such as the ones mentioned above.