Does Mature Skin Really Need a Toner? Dermatologists Explain

In the world of skincare, there’s some controversy about the role—and the necessity—of toners for mature skin. In a few instances, I’ve had dermatologists tell me that toners aren’t vital to my skin-care routine as a 46-year-old woman, especially if I’m using a good, gentle cleanser. (On that note, I could devote a whole other story to my love for Neuraé’s Caring Cleanser.) But if you ask Maryam Zamani, MD, a dual board-certified plastic surgeon, a good toner isn’t without its perks, especially for those, comme moi, with peri- or post-menopausal skin.

“One of the traditional roles of a toner is helping maintain the skin’s naturally acidic pH,” she says. “This matters more for mature skin than is often assumed: aging skin has a higher baseline surface pH and a diminished ability to buffer itself back to a healthy acidic range after cleansing. A well-formulated, mildly acidic toner can help close that gap and support a healthier barrier as a foundation for the rest of the routine.”

What’s more, she says, modern toners have evolved to serve more than their traditional functions. “The biggest misconception is that all toners are drying because people still associate them with the alcohol-based, astringent formulas of the past,” she says. “Today’s toners are very different. Many are formulated to hydrate, support the skin barrier, and deliver beneficial ingredients, making them a completely different category of product than they were decades ago.”

With this in mind, I’ve started sampling toners over the past couple of weeks, viewing this post-cleansing step as a best practice in a modern, anti-aging routine.“One of the biggest shifts we’re seeing in skincare is that we’re no longer trying to ‘fight’ the skin—we’re trying to support it, says Kristin Cabeda, MPAS-PAC, a board-certified master injector and the owner of Plumped in North Carolina. “For mature skin, that means prioritizing hydration, barrier function, and healthy cellular communication over aggressive stripping or over-exfoliation. A thoughtfully-formulated toner can be one of the simplest ways to build that healthier foundation.”

Ahead, find the toners that dermatologists and Vogue editors recommend for balancing skin’s pH levels and then some.

“Absolutely—but not the toners many people remember from years ago,” says Cabeda. “Historically, toners were often alcohol-based and designed to strip excess oil from the skin. Today’s formulations have evolved dramatically.” Modern toners and treatment essences are designed to replenish hydration, support the skin barrier, calm inflammation, and prepare the skin to better absorb the products that follow, she says.

“For mature skin specifically, maintaining a healthy skin barrier becomes increasingly important as natural lipid production declines with age. A well-formulated toner can be an excellent first treatment step after cleansing, helping to restore moisture, and create an optimal environment for active ingredients like peptides, antioxidants, retinoids, and growth factors.”

What are the benefits of toner for mature skin?

For aging skin, a toner delivers several key benefits, says Shantani Smith-Pannell, a licensed esthetician and educator at Ogle School Atlanta. “A well-formulated toner can provide an immediate layer of hydration and soothing ingredients that help improve comfort and enhance the effectiveness of serums and moisturizers.” She reiterates that a top-shelf toner can support and strengthen the skin barrier, and reduce any feeling of tightness after cleansing.

hen we test and review a product, we take a holistic approach to deliver well-rounded product recommendations. First, we turn to Vogue’s vast network of experts—from board-certified dermatologists to celebrity estheticians—to identify the industry’s standout products, especially those they would actually use on their own clients. We pair their expertise with our editorial best practices to curate thoughtful edits.

As it relates to toners for mature skin, we selected the best based on the following characteristics: ingredients, texture, weight, finish, and the skin-care concerns they address. To do this, we paired our own personal tests of each formula with expert guidance and reviewer insights to determine which we would recommend to you. Read more about our testing methodology here.