Are There Real Beauty Benefits To An Under-Eye Toner?

With the skincare market growing, toners are becoming increasingly popular. Now, this much-loved product has become a staple in many of our skincare routines and is often used in combination with a cleanser to help remove dirt and soothe our skin. In fact, toners have even been praised for their ability to balance out the pH levels of the area. 

This highly-popular go-to product is joined by a range of other skincare items that are beneficial for our skin, such as serums, eye creams, and moisturizers. Much like toners, these skincare products are also host to an array of skin-happy benefits. For example, face serums that contain retinol and vitamin C can help to combat wrinkles — something that is seen as a benefit by many consumers. While toners have been shown to possess several beneficial qualities for the skin on our face, can the same be said for usage on the under-eye area?

So, will you see any benefits from using an under-eye toner? While no tests have been done on under-eye toners specifically, some of the ingredients inside specific toner products suggest that they may have some beauty benefits.

Under-eye toners that contain hyaluronic acid may be beneficial for your eye area. This specific ingredient has been shown to reduce the appearance of fine lines, which may appear around the sensitive skin around your eye area as you age. Hyaluronic acid also helps to hydrate and retain moisture in the skin, giving it a more youthful appearance. Using an under-eye toner with this ingredient may help to combat this particular aging effect.

Other beneficial ingredients to look out for include retinol and peptides, which just like hyaluronic acid, can help to combat wrinkles. Likewise, green tea, alongside vitamins A and E, can also help to combat free radicals and could help to reduce inflammation around the eye area (via Healthline). However, while these ingredients have been shown to be beneficial, research into toner use on the under-eye area is lacking. So, what else should you keep in mind with this product?

While using under-eye toner could help to combat fine lines and inflammation, there are some important things to keep in mind. First, products containing alcohol, essential oils, fragrances, and synthetic drying agents could potentially dry out your skin and even cause irritation. This is particularly important to keep in mind when you're working with your sensitive under-eye area, where the skin tends to be thinner.

Speaking to Brydie, dermatologist Sejal Shah echoed the same levels of caution, suggesting that readers should take extra care when using products on "sensitive areas." In order to check whether an under-eye toner is a right fit for you, you should perform a small patch test on your hand to see whether the product causes any irritation. If not, then you should be good to go!

If you're feeling wary about using toner under your eyes, then you can always opt for an eye cream — a product that has been designed specifically for the under-eye area. While options for under-eye toners appear to be limited, there are plenty of creams available on the market. Eye cream can even be used on eyelids, so it's perfect if you're looking for coverage for every nook and cranny on your face. Still, you should look if an eye cream has irritating ingredients before using it.

Ultimately, while applying toner under your eyes is very much an individual decision, there are definitely some benefits that may help your skin to keep in mind, and if you decide against it, there are other options, like eye creams, out there for you.