Toner used to be a standard part of skin care regimens, but since the advent of cleansers that don't leave behind greasy residue, toner has become optional. If you have oily skin, however, toner's ability to remove potentially pore-clogging debris from the surface of your skin and reduce oiliness may make it a beneficial addition to your skin care routine.
Change With the Seasons
Dry winter weather can exacerbate the potential for dryness that toner creates, so Debra Jaliman, dermatologist and clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, recommends in "O, The Oprah Magazine" that if you have oily skin, you switch to a light toner containing 0.5 to 1 percent concentrations of salicylic or glycolic acid to prevent skin dehydration during the coldest parts of the year.
Keep It Cold
If you use toner in the morning, consider storing it in the refrigerator, suggests "Cookie" magazine. Choose a toner that sprays in a fine mist, or transfer your favorite toner to a misting bottle, and spritz your face with the chilled toner to wake up your skin as you get ready in the morning for the day ahead.
Be Gentle
Though toner's purpose is to dry up oil, be careful not to choose a toner that's too harsh for your skin, as dehydrated skin may become oilier than healthy skin because oil glands overproduce to compensate for missing moisture. "Ladies' Home Journal" recommends skipping alcohol-based toners in favor of gentler versions that contain soothing ingredients like witch hazel.
Use It to Touch Up
Too much washing can dry and irritate your skin, but if you have oily skin, you may want to freshen up during the day, especially during the hot weather when sweat and oil can make your skin shiny. Use a gentle toner to refresh skin during the day, recommends "Elle" magazine.
Focus on Problem Areas
If you have oily skin on part of your face, using toner over your entire face can dry out your skin. Instead, use a salicylic acid toner directly on the parts of your skin that tend to be oily—typically your forehead, nose and chin—and skip the parts of your face that are less acne prone, recommends "Cosmopolitan" magazine's beauty blog.
Make Your Own
There are a number of commercially available acne toners available for oily skin, but the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics website states that it's simple to make your own toner at home. Steep 2 to 3 tbsp. of dried basil in a cup of hot water for about 20 minutes, and then apply as you normally would.
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