In a beauty landscape often crowded with fleeting trends, a genuine innovation has captured the attention of skincare aficionados across the UK. According to renowned beauty columnist Sali Hughes, the recent rise of 'milky toners' represents not just a passing fad, but a fundamental shift in effective skincare routines, becoming a step she now deems indispensable.
What Exactly Is a Milky Toner?
Distinct from the astringent toners of old, milky toners are a hybrid product category. They present as cloudy, fluid lotions that are thicker than a traditional toner but lighter than a moisturiser. Their formulations are typically packed with gentle, skin-loving ingredients such as glycerine, ceramides, and peptides, designed to soothe and hydrate without irritation.
The concept, which gained initial traction through Korean skincare trends, is straightforward: apply the product to slightly damp skin immediately after cleansing. This primes the complexion, boosting hydration and comfort before applying serum. The primary visual reward is that highly sought-after 'glassy skin' look—a dewy, luminous, and healthy finish.
Hero Products for Every Skin and Schedule
Sali Hughes provides specific recommendations that have earned a permanent place in her regimen. For daily use, she highlights Rhode's Glazing Milk (from £20), a wildly popular option she admits she "was almost determined not to like." She praises it for delivering instant comfort, ungreasy moisture, and a perfect dewy base for makeup. Hughes also reveals a clever hack: using it as a mixing medium for tanning drops or to sheer out heavy foundation.
For a more intensive nighttime treatment, she steps up a gear. Her choices include Dr Loretta's Barrier Enhancing Milky Essence (£50), crafted by a dermatologist she respects, and the thicker, buttermilk-textured Dr Jart+ Ceramidin Skin Barrier Serum Toner (£35). These products work to support the skin's barrier function, especially when buffering stronger active ingredients like prescription retinoids.
Practical Benefits for All Skin Types
The versatility of milky toners is a key part of their appeal. Hughes explains that they offer drier, winter-weary skin an extra layer of much-needed hydration. Conversely, those with very oily skin types can often use a milky toner in place of a day cream, avoiding heaviness while still receiving essential hydration.
For those resistant to adding another full step to their routine, Hughes suggests a convenient alternative: a milky toner in a mist format. She personally uses Dr Althea's 345 Relief Cream Mist (£12.50) for a quick midday refresh, noting it instantly re-plumps her skin and makes it look "lively," perfect for a sudden video call.
Ultimately, Sali Hughes's endorsement signals a significant moment in beauty. What began as a niche Korean beauty trend has evolved into a functional, results-driven product category that addresses universal skincare needs for hydration, barrier support, and radiant finish, securing its status as a modern skincare essential.
