I find toners to be either exceptionally drying or irritating to my facial skin. I know a lt of people use/like them, but as a sensitive skinned gal, they are a nightmare for me.

It also helps to balance the PH level in your skin.

I think almost everything being said in the "Every one needs a moisturizer" thread applies to toner as well. If you're doing fine without it, then don't worry about it. The only people who have ever told me that I "need" toner were trying to sell it to me. I use a glycerin based toner by Lumene but only at night and only if I was wearing makeup that day.

I recently started working at a saloon and asked my stylists why a toner is benificial. Like Suze said, it helps the PH balance in your skin, but, I was also told that it locks everything in once you've clensed your skin and assits as a blcok from all the dirts and oils getting in your pores, kind of like a seal. Makes sense to me?!

First, pH has nothing to do preventing dirt and oils from getting into pores. It's primary function appears to be as an anti-bacterial agent.

Toners are relatively new (around the 50's. It was developed to address the alternative to using Astringents. Before most makeup removers/cleansers were oil-based and required something with alcohol to finish removing them. But, witht he development of rinse-off cleansers astringents were too strong for many. So, toners were developed which would be mild detergents. As for pH. Most cleansers, to one degree or another, were alkaline. Astringents and toners were made acidic in order to return the skin to an acidic side. However, what many do knot know is the the skin has a natural automatic ability to return the skin to acidic through the production of sebum. The problem is is that it takes a while for this to happen.

If you have a problem of oily skin, lowering the pH may help in reducing oil production by stopping oil production being triggered because of the skin being alkaline. Also keep in mind that dropping the pH below what is normal, can also result in the normal oil production and result in the skin feeling dry so more topical "moisturizing ingredients" may be needed to take its place until the pH raises again.

Did you know that the pH can be different at different area of the face?

Tucker, I've heard people swear up and down by using apple cider vinegar on their faces, so I imagine that is the case. I'm not sure I could deal with the smell, though.

I completely second Jeff's post and would like to add more. Every brand that's ever trained us at work has had a different story for why a toner is necessary (or if they say their toners aren't toners but "mists" or "fresheners", they go on about how bad toners are). The truth is it absolutely isn't necessary. The only things that skin needs, hands down, no arguments is sunscreen and cleanser. Everything else is just gravy.
I personally love using Paula Begoun's toners, especially in the summer, because my skin is very oily and I love using them instead of a moisturizer some days. I also love that they contain antioxidants and I feel like I'm doing something great for my skin. That's a personal choice, but not one that needs to be universally adopted.