Best face toner for mature skin

Choose for dryness, not just your age

Skin becomes thinner and loses water more easily in your 60s and 70s, so dryness and irritation deserve priority over a stronger exfoliant. Medications and medical conditions can also contribute. A fragrance free formula is a sensible starting point when your skin feels dry or easily irritated. Look for those words on the package: unscented products can contain ingredients that mask smells and still irritate dry skin.3

What should you look for in a face toner for mature skin?

• Hyaluronic acid or glycerin helps increase hydration.
• Antioxidants such as vitamin C and ferulic acid are useful ingredients to look for in a toner for mature skin.
• Avoid heavily fragranced formulas if your skin is sensitive.
• Consider exfoliating acids for dullness or uneven texture, rather than choosing them automatically because a bottle mentions aging.

Modern toners can help retain moisture, gently exfoliate or regulate excess oil, depending on the formula. Older formulas relied on harsh ingredients such as alcohol and witch hazel that left skin dry and irritated. Those are different jobs, so choose the benefit you actually need rather than treating every toner as interchangeable.4

A toner can also be called a tonic or an essence, because apparently one name for a watery skincare step was not enough.1

Hydrating or exfoliating toner?

A practical hydrating option

CeraVe Hydrating Toner combines ceramides, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide in a lightweight liquid with a non greasy finish. The US formula is fragrance free, alcohol free and oil free, and is intended for normal to dry skin, including sensitive skin. It is a hydration focused choice, rather than a dedicated exfoliating toner. CeraVe lists it at $11.99 on its US page.2

CeraVe tells you to saturate a cotton pad and gently wipe away residue after cleansing, morning and evening. Leave the toner on, then follow with treatment, moisturizer and protection. Use the ingredient list on your own package when buying: CeraVe updates formulas regularly.2

How to use toner

1. 1Cleanse your face before applying toner.
2. 2Gently swipe toner over your face with a cotton pad, or mist it on if the product comes as a spray. Do not rinse it off.
3. 3Let your skin dry completely before layering serum or moisturizer.
4. 4Use a hydrating toner once or twice daily as tolerated. For a toner with strong acids or potentially irritating actives, start every other day.
5. 5Use leave on alpha hydroxy acid products at night. Include sun protection in your daytime routine.

When an acid toner makes sense

Alpha hydroxy acids, or AHAs, loosen the substances holding surface skin cells together, encouraging old cells to shed. Glycolic and lactic acid are commonly used in cosmetics to improve the appearance of aging skin. Regular applications can improve fine lines and brown marks. Claims about deeper collagen changes involve high concentrations and long use, so do not choose an everyday toner as though it were a professional peel.6

AHA products come in different concentrations and bases for dry, normal and oily skin. Professional preparations are stronger than those sold through pharmacies and beauty therapists. Leave on AHA products can be alternated with retinoid creams or vitamin C products. Glycolic acid is considered safe in pregnancy; that does not make every ingredient in a mixed toner suitable during pregnancy.6

What results should you expect?

Visible changes from toner generally take six weeks to three months and can be subtle. Toners targeting dark marks can take about two to three months. Hydration, texture and discoloration are more useful things to assess than expecting a toner to reverse every change associated with aging.1

Aging skin also loses fat, which makes it less plump and smooth, and takes longer to heal. Many products claim to revitalize aging skin or reduce wrinkles, but only a few have FDA approval for aging or sun damaged skin, which leaves the advertising department considerably more crowded than the approval list.7

Do not let toner displace moisturizer or sunscreen

Moisturizer adds moisture and helps prevent water from leaving skin. With age, skin holds less moisture, and a cream provides more hydration than a lotion or gel. For dry skin, start with a cream or ointment rather than relying on a watery toner. If skin is peeling from dryness, moisturizing is the priority, not exfoliating the flakes away.5

Sunlight is a major cause of skin aging. Use broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher as part of your daily routine, alongside shade and protective clothing. Sun protection remains useful in your 60s and 70s: it helps prevent new age spots and blotchy skin as well as reducing skin cancer risk.357

Who should be careful?

If you have sensitive skin, avoid heavily fragranced toners and formulas with lots of dyes or preservatives. If you have rosacea and use prescription products, introduce toner cautiously and pay attention to tolerance rather than adding several products together.1

Do not keep applying a toner that leaves skin irritated or increasingly dry. Redness, itching, cracking, stinging or a rash can accompany excessive dryness. See a dermatologist if adjusting your moisturizing routine does not help, or if skin becomes painful, cracked, bleeding or very irritating. A dermatologist can also help treat age spots and wrinkles safely.35