There are two kinds of people who need a toner. The first are those with oily or blemish prone skin. The second are those looking to prevent premature signs of aging. Chances are you fit one of those descriptions, but how exactly do they do all of these extraordinary things?

“Tonics are wonderful treatment products that help oxygenate and make your skin more receptive to the serum and cream that follows,” says Ole.

“Your skin has a natural pH level of 4.2 to 5.6,” says Nanyamka Sheffield, director of national training at OLEHENRIKSEN. “Cleansing your face strips your skin of its acid mantle and causes your skin’s pH to rise because tap water has a higher pH of 7. According to Sheffield, it can take 30 minutes to eight hours for your skin to restore its original pH and rebuild its acid mantle. During this open window, your skin is susceptible to free radicals and environmental aggressors that can speed up the aging process and lead to bacterial growth. The benefit of using a toner is that it restores your pH balance and helps rebuild your acid mantle.

“Think about it this way, you wouldn’t wash your clothes and take them out before the rinse cycle because there is still leftover residue,” says Sheffield. “Using a toner is a necessary step to properly cleanse your face.”

So the answer is yes, a toner is a necessary step in caring for your skin. Ole offers a variety of toners that address everything from anti-aging and puffy under-eyes to dull skin and oily T-zones. Unlike other brands that contain astringents that over dry the skin, Ole’s tonics are designed to calm and soothe the skin.

Why do you use your toner? Let us know in the comments below.