If you live in the Emirates you must be well known with the feeling when you step out from blistering pavement into icy AC and your face just forgets what normal is! One minute you’re a dried-up date, the next you’re an oily falafel wrap.
And right in the middle of this skincare identity crisis sits a humble bottle of toner. Which type to choose? Will it even be of any use? Will it help or deteriorate?
Let me help you with all of these doubts and answer your questions.
So what is a Toner?
Toner is the immediate watery liquid we apply in our skin after cleansing before applying moisturizer or serum.
Benefits of Using Toner:
- It balances the pH balance of your face by restoring your skin’s natural acidity.
- It helps in cleansing leftover dirt or makeup your cleanser missed.
- It increases your skin absorbing power so serums and moisturizers sink in better.
- It even calms your skin down caused by heat and sun exposure.
- It can be used for achieving specific benefits like hydration, pore-tightening or pore-clearing.
Now let’s know our Skin Type to be able to choose the Toner made for us
Before choosing a toner, it’s important to understand what your skin is actually asking for. In the UAE, skin concerns are rarely just about being “oily” or “dry.” Heat, sun exposure, humidity, dust, and constant air-conditioning all affect how your skin behaves, often at the same time.
Pay attention to how your skin feels throughout the day, especially a few hours after cleansing or once you’ve been indoors with air-conditioning. That’s where the right toner can make a real difference.
1. The “Sandpaper Cheek” Squad
If your skin feels tighter than your jeans after Friday brunch, listen up. You’re not “dirty”, you are parched. You need to hydrate your skin and look for products with hyaluronic acid or even simple glycerin or rosewater. These are basically a tall glass of water for your face. Find one, pat it in with your hands, skip the cotton pad, and you feel that sweet relief.
2. The “Shiny Forehead by 10 AM” Club
The humidity glow. Not the dewy, influencer kind, the “I could fry an egg on this” kind. Look for niacinamide in your toner, it helps in controlling oil production. You can even look for toners with little percentage of salicylic acid (BHA) to gently clear out pores clogged by dust and sweat.
[PRO TIP: If you use acids, sunscreen isn’t a suggestion the next day, it’s a legal requirement. The UAE sun does not play.]
3. The “Why Am I Blushing? It’s 45°C” Team
If your skin turns red at the slightest provocation like heat, a new product, existential dread, you need a peace treaty, not another battle. Go for toners with Ingredients like cica or chamomile,these are the skincare equivalent of a cold compress and a reassuring pat.
Avoid anything with a strong perfume or mention of alcohol in any type like SD alcohol, or denatured alcohol.In our weather, that’s like pouring your last bottle of water into the sand. It’ll strip your skin, make it panic, and often cause it to produce more oil to protect itself. It’s a vicious, shiny cycle.
Making It Work in your Actual Life
Two-Toner Tango: It’s not extra, it’s strategic. Maybe a simple hydrating one every morning to prepare for the day, and a pore-friendly one just in the T-zone a couple nights a week. Your skin’s needs change daily and your routine can too.
Hands Are Your Best Tools: For most toners, especially the hydrating kind, pour a little into your palms and press don’t wipe it into your face. It’s more effective.
The AC Test: The real test is how your skin feels an hour later, sitting in that dry, recycled air. If it still feels comfortable and not tight, you’ve won.
Finding your toner here isn’t about chasing a miracle. Look for the one that makes your skin sigh with relief when you put it on. That’s your match. The secret weapon to looking fresh, not just surviving.
As in the UAE climate, the right toner for the face can make all the difference between stressed skin and happy skin. With the constant switch from heat to AC, your skin needs something gentle that restores balance, adds comfort, and supports what comes next in your routine. Choose a toner for face that matches your skin’s needs, feels soothing the moment you apply it, and helps your skin stay calm no matter what the weather throws at you. When your skin feels good, you’ll know you’ve chosen right.