Glossary
Toner
A thin liquid applied after cleansing. In modern skincare it hydrates; it does not 'close pores'.
A toner is a thin, water-based liquid used after cleansing and before heavier steps. The word covers two very different products.
The older kind was astringent — high in alcohol, designed to strip oil and 'tighten' skin after a harsh soap. That is what gives toner its reputation for stinging, and it is worth avoiding: it leaves skin oily and irritated at the same time.
The modern kind is a hydrating toner or essence, built around humectants like glycerin and panthenol. It adds a thin layer of water to damp skin so the moisturiser over it has something to seal in. This is the kind worth using, and it is optional rather than essential.
Toners cannot close or shrink pores. Pore size is largely genetic and partly a function of how much oil is sitting in them; nothing applied to the surface changes the structure. A product that makes skin feel tight is not closing anything — it is dehydrating the surface slightly, which makes pores look momentarily smaller.
If you use one, apply it to damp skin and follow with a moisturiser within a minute.
See also
This article is general information, not medical advice. Skincare products are not medicines. Speak to a dermatologist about persistent or worsening skin conditions.