We continue our new series on product reviews by category this week with a selection of reviews of face toners. I have become a more regular user of toners, fresheners, tonics - whatever you want to call them - since my recent New York trip. The urban climate there was quite a change from my usual pastoral Portland, Oregon, so my skin needed that extra step to exfoliate and refresh; without it, my skin felt clogged and generally unhappy. Upon returning home, I realized that with the right formula, I could enjoy the soothing and refreshing experience of a toner whenever I feel the need - they are not just for oily skin. This week I have reviews of several I've tried for my normal to dry, easily irritated complexion.

Ole Henriksen Balancing Cucumber Skin Tonic ($18 for 6 ounces)
I enjoyed several Ole products in the past, so this toner was a natural extension to my existing reviews. I chose this one since cooler weather is on the way and my skin dries out quickly as the season's change. Balancing Cucumber Tonic has aloe vera gel, witch hazel extract, chamomile extract, camphor, apricot oil, citrus bioflavonoids, korean ginseng, allantoin, and natural cucumber essence. I found it to be the perfect balance of refreshing and gentle (gentler than the Pick Me Up Tonic I reviewed in April).

You can find Ole Henriksen at olehenriksen.com.

Essentiel Elements Revitalizing Chamomile and Rose Toner ($20 for 4.25 ounces)
From the product description, I thought for sure the chamomile and rose in this toner would help with redness and irritation, but I ended up with a mixed bag: sometimes it felt nice and gentle, and other times, for no particular reason, it left my face red and irritated. If you have sensitive skin, you might be happier with the more consistent results from the Ole Henriksen or Naturopathica ones mentioned here instead. If sensitivities aren't a problem for you, this is a refreshing botanical toner for most skintypes. It contains chamomile, rose, green tea, butcher's broom, juniper berries and rosemary extracts, aloe vera gel, algae extract, witch hazel extract, and essential oils of chamomile and bulgarian rose.

You can find Essentiel Elements at essentielelements.com.

Naturopathica Rose Hydrolat ($18 for 4 ounces)
I recently reviewed the lavender version of this completely botanical spray toner - loved it! - and I am pleased to say I love this one just as much. This is as basic as a plant-based toner comes; ingredient: rosa centifolia (a particular kind of rose). That's it, and my skin drinks it in. I like to spray on a light layer and then apply my moisturizer to seal in the moisture. As we go into cooler weather, I highly recommend this for any skin type.

You can find Naturopathica products at ibeauty.com, indulge.com, looks.com (for international orders), naturopathica.com, and Sephora.com.

With the seasons starting to change, now is a great time to evaluate your current skincare routine and make adjustments for what your skin needs and will need as the weather gets cooler. If you switched to an oil-free moisturizer and oil-control makeup for summer, chances are these are not the products that will work best for you in the coming months. I've made some changes myself recently, so here are some tips as you think about your own skin: