Adopting a suitable skincare product is essential in your daily routine. Tonic, toner, or lotion, it's not easy to navigate these different terms. Do they refer to the same product or not? We shed light on the subject and help you understand the difference between a toner, tonic, and lotion.
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Lotion, tonique or toner: what's the difference?
Summary
Published October 7, 2021,
updated on June 3, 2024,
by
Stéphanie, PhD, Doctorate in Life and Health Sciences
—
3 min read
Lotion, tonique, toner: definition.
A lotion is a treatment composed of water and various active ingredients, added according to the needs to care for the skin. The term toner comes from the English word "toner" meaning "water for the face". Therefore, a toner and a tonic refer to the same treatment. It's just a difference in naming depending on the country.
The tonic lotion or toner fulfils several roles:
It refines the cleansing or makeup removal process. The toning lotion is applied after cleansing and helps to remove makeup residues, impurities or limescale from tap water.
It represents the first step in a skincare routine. Depending on its formulation, this treatment can hydrate, regulate sebum production, or even soothe irritations.
The toning lotion prepares the skin to receive the treatments that will follow. Indeed, the use of a toner readies the skin to better absorb the active ingredients contained in the subsequent treatments.
How to choose your toner?
The application of a toning lotion is recommended for all skin types. However, the treatment must meet the actual needs of the skin.
Oily Skin: A cleansing and astringent lotion is recommended for deep skin cleansing and removal of excess sebum, such as the purifying toner with salicylic acid. Possessing an acidic pH similar to the skin, this treatment helps to rebalance the skin's pH after cleansing, remove impurities, and refine the skin's texture.
Dry to Normal Skin: A moisturising lotion is recommended for cleansing while providing hydrating care. Opt for a hydrating toner lotion with hyaluronic acid to deeply moisturise your skin. Hyaluronic acid is known for its hydrating virtues. The introduction of this molecule through skincare helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and restore skin's suppleness.
Dull Skin: Numerous factors (lack of sleep, stress, smoking...) promote the development of free radicals. These will contribute to the oxidation of the epidermal cells and dull the complexion. With the brightening tonic containing vitamin C, it has an antioxidant action that helps to combat skin photoaging, and restore the skin's natural radiance.
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