If you can't tell the difference between lotion and toner, come in and take a look.

The weather is dry in winter, and the skin enters the most "tough" season of the year, especially the face, which is exposed to the public. So all kinds of roughness, dullness and peeling quietly creep up on the face. Moisturizing and hydrating has undoubtedly become the most important thing now. But the dazzling array of skin care waters on the market have made you dizzy, right? Toners, softeners, astringents, lotions... your head is already overwhelmed, and you still don't quite understand the relationship and difference between these waters.

Part 1: Types of lotions

Toner

Suitable for skin types: oily skin, combination skin

Common products: Clinique Cleansing Water No. 2, Witch Hazel Cucumber Toner

Toner is a relatively basic type of lotion. Some new names proposed by merchants, such as toner, renewing water, and cleansing water, are actually all toners in essence. Generally, the effects are simple, and alcohol is added to make the skin feel refreshed; some toners also contain acids (such as fruit acid, salicylic acid, etc.), which can enable it to have a secondary cleansing effect.

Due to the basic nature of toner, it once became synonymous with lotion, and many people like to use toner. However, because most of them contain alcohol, their moisturizing ability is poor. In addition, alcohol may cause certain irritation to dry and sensitive skin. Therefore, this type of lotion is more suitable for combination and oily skin.

Toner

Suitable for skin type: dry skin, sensitive skin

Common products: Lancome Pink Water, La Roche-Posay Toner

Toner, also known as moisturizing water or lotion, often contains fruit acid or other ingredients that soften the skin's keratin, thereby reducing the skin barrier, promoting absorption, softening the stratum corneum, and hydrating the skin.

In theory, toner is suitable for all skin types, especially dry and sensitive skin. However, different toners have different formulas, so we still need to analyze specific issues specifically.

Astringent water

Suitable for skin types: oily skin, combination skin

Common products: Dr. Ci:Labo Pore Astringent Water

"Astringent water", as the name suggests, the biggest effect of this type of lotion is to tighten pores, so it is also called shrinking water and firming water. Most of them contain alcohol or gelatin ingredients, and some are combined with a small amount of mint ingredients, which can tighten the skin, control oil and shrink pores.

The astringent effect mainly depends on astringents, including chemical astringents (mineral ingredients such as zinc sulfate) and astringent conditioning ingredients (witch hazel, green tea, aloe vera, etc.).

Astringents can coagulate keratin near the pores, achieving a temporary shrinkage effect on the pores and sweat glands. They can also temporarily inhibit the secretion of sebum and sweat glands, so they are suitable for oily or acne-prone skin with large pores.

Essence Water

Suitable for skin type: Most skin types

Common products: SKII Facial Treatment Essence, Origins Mushroom Water

Essence water is a concept that has emerged in recent years. The fundamental difference between it and the other three types of water lies in its high concentration of active additives (such as multiple vitamins, peptides, minerals, hyaluronic acid and plant essence extracts, etc.). Original serum, high-performance lotion, nutrient solution and beauty serum can all be classified under the category of essence water.

In the entire system of skin care products, essence is recognized as the most effective and contains more than 10% of active ingredients. Compared with the 2%-3% active ingredient content of ordinary lotions, essence water has about 5% active ingredient added, which is even equivalent to the level of some lotions or even creams.

However, the functions corresponding to these names are not absolute, and it depends on the ingredients of each type of lotion.

Part 2: Misunderstandings about using lotion

Myth 1: Using lotion can improve skin quality

Toner can hydrate and moisturize, but its effect is very limited. Doesn’t lotion occupy a very important core position in the entire skin care? You can use it if you feel good. If you want to improve your skin quality, you should look for specifically targeted essences and creams, and don't put your hope on lotion.

Myth 2: Using lots of lotion can provide intensive hydration

Toner can indeed quickly fill the stratum corneum on the surface of the skin with moisture, but the skin's own moisture balance has its own strict system, and excess water will be quickly drained away, so there is no point in overusing it.