• A good toner can be applied to the skin using a cotton ball or pad.394775/Valueline/Getty Images
  
  Makeup professionals differ on the necessity of toner after cleansing the face. Some say toner just picks up the leftover dirt an inferior cleanser leaves behind, while some argue that toner simply works better. The cleaning products available in the toner generally work to remove excessive oil, flush out dirt, close pores and refresh skin. While many people use toner, not many understand what the ingredients are or how they work.
  
  

Astringents

• Most facial toners contain astringents in the form of alcohol, but some make use of natural astringents. Isopropyl alcohol removes soap, bacteria and other residue. The alcohol-free toners use natural astringent derivatives like witch hazel or tea tree oil.
  
  

Moisturizing Agents

• Toners also make use of moisturizing agents. Toners, especially those with alcohol, can dry out the skin by removing most of the essential moisture. Toner is like the shampoo of the skin. It removes the dirt but can dry the hair and should always be followed by conditioning, or moisturizing. Certain toners add extra moisturizing agents to offset the drying effects of some products.
  
  

Soothing Agents

• Toners can upset skin by drying it out, leaving skin feeling thick and tight. Products containing ingredients like aloe vera and vitamin E work to soothe rough, processed skin. Chamomile extracts also work to provide chapped and battered skin with a calming agent.
  
  

Preservatives and Emulsifiers

• Preservatives disallow bacteria and other potentially dangerous things to reproduce in the bottle, ruining all the product. The most common preservatives are citric acid and potassium sorbate.
  
  Emulsifiers are products that keep oil-based and water-based ingredients mixed together. Since oil is hydrophobic, meaning it naturally dislikes water and won't mix, emulsifiers are required to keep the product as a homogeneous solution. Hydrogenated castor oil is a common emulsifier used in toner.
  
  

Oils and Fragrance

• Toners naturally have little to no smell except for the alcohol, but most toners implement natural or artificial scents through essential oils and fragrance. Lavender essential oil reportedly has a soothing smell that relaxes, while some products use bright, citrus scents to invigorate the skin and senses. Some toners even use chamomile and marigold extracts to lighten affected skin, especially useful for people with acne and blackhead problems. Some products have the generic "fragrance" in their ingredients, but this can constitute any of more than 4,000 chemicals.