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Toner is an essential yet often misunderstood step in many skincare routines. Whether you’re new to skincare or a seasoned enthusiast, understanding when and how to use toner on your face can make a significant difference in your skin’s health and appearance.
Face Toners are that important step in the skincare routine that we mostly skip. I know a lot of people say “face toners are unnecessary” – well that is not entirely true. Toners are really helpful in removing leftover residues from your cleanser and also prep your skin barrier to absorb moisturizers effectively. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about using toner effectively.
Table of Contents
What Is a Toner And Why Is It Important?
A face toner can be called different names – freshener, refresher, astringent, skin softener, clarifier or simply tonic. Toner is a liquid skincare product designed to remove any remaining impurities after cleansing, balance your skin’s pH level, and prepare your skin for the next steps in your skincare routine.
It can also deliver targeted ingredients like antioxidants, exfoliants, or hydrating agents to your skin, depending on the type of toner you choose.
When to Use Toner in Your Skincare Routine
Timing is key when it comes to using toner. Here’s when you should apply it:
1. After Cleansing
The best time to use toner is immediately after cleansing your face. Cleansing removes dirt, oil, and makeup, but it can also disrupt your skin’s natural pH balance. Applying toner right after cleansing helps restore this balance and removes any leftover residue that your cleanser might have missed. For example, if you are using a high-PH cleanser, then follow it up with a low-PH toner.
2. Before Serums and Moisturizers
Toner acts as a preparatory step for your skin, making it more receptive to serums, moisturizers, and other treatments. By applying toner before these products, you ensure that they penetrate deeper into the skin, enhancing their effectiveness.
4. Morning & Night
Toner can be used both in the morning and at night as part of your skincare routine. In the morning, it helps remove any impurities that may have settled on your skin overnight and prepares your skin for makeup or sunscreen. At night, it ensures that your skin is thoroughly cleansed and ready to absorb nighttime treatments.
A good toner will reduce inflammation, provide an antioxidant effect, soothe and moisturize the skin, allow easy penetration of skincare products and overall have a significant impact on the skin’s appearance which makes a huge difference.
How to Apply Toner: Step-by-Step Guide
Applying toner is simple, but doing it correctly can maximize its benefits. Follow these steps for optimal results:
Step 1: Choose the Right Toner
Select a toner that suits your skin type and addresses your specific skincare concerns. For example:
- Hydrating toners are great for dry or sensitive skin.
- Exfoliating toners with ingredients like salicylic acid or glycolic acid are ideal for oily or acne-prone skin.
- Balancing toners with ingredients like witch hazel or tea tree oil can help control excess oil production.
Step 2: Apply Toner Using a Cotton Pad or Hands
There are two popular methods to apply toner:
- Cotton Pad Method: Soak a cotton pad with toner and gently swipe it across your face, starting from the center and moving outwards. This method helps remove any remaining impurities and ensures even application.
- Hands Method: Pour a few drops of toner into your hands, rub them together, and gently pat the toner onto your face. This method is more hydrating and prevents product waste.
Step 3: Let the Toner Absorb
After applying the toner, give it a moment to absorb fully into your skin. This usually takes just a few seconds. Once your skin feels slightly damp but not wet, you can proceed with the rest of your skincare routine.
Step 4: Follow Up with Serums and Moisturizers
After your toner has absorbed, apply your serums, moisturizers, and any other treatments you use. Toner helps these products penetrate more deeply into your skin, enhancing their effectiveness.
How To Choose Toners For Your Skin Type
Best Toners For Oily Skin
People with this skin type tend to have enlarged pores causing excess oil production. Look for toners that have a tightening effect on the skin. Ingredients such as witch hazel, lemon extract and other citrus extract work well for oily skin types.
Boscia Rosewater Mist With Witch Hazel
This product contains a beautiful combination of rosewater and witch hazel. They are both anti-oxidant meaning they help fight free radicals and protect the skin from outside damages. Although this product says fragrance-free, it’s not suitable for sensitive skin due to the presence of floral fragrance.
Herbivore Green Tea Balancing Toner
This product is specifically made for oily/acne-prone skin. It is a sweet combination of green tea, white tea, witch hazel, and aloe vera to soothe the skin.
Best Toners For Dry Skin
Toners for dry skin usually contain ingredients that help restore moisture. These ingredients plump up the skin and keep it softened. You might also find chamomile, and green tea in these kinds of toners.
Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Face Toner
This product contains skin’s friendly ingredients that attract water to the skin making the skin refreshed and clearer. It is actually the crowd’s favourite face toner.
PCA Hydrating Toner
PCA is one of the naturally occurring substances found in the skin that helps keep the skin hydrated. Using a product that contains skin’s identical ingredients helps the skin react better and look better. This product comes with lactic acid that works well on dry skin.
Best Toners For Oily And Combination Skin Type
This type of face toner is designed for people that develop clogged pores easily but still need to hydrate. Look for a low-PH and water-based toner. This will help the skin feels clean, toned but not dry.
Pixi Tonic Exfoliating Toner
This toner exfoliates as well as hydrates. The presence of glycolic acid and other humectants helps the skin look fresher and smoother.
The Ordinary Glycolic Acid Solution
The Ordinary glycolic acid solution offers mild exfoliation to improve the skin radiance. It also includes PCA, Urea, and glycerine for added moisture.
Best Toners For Sensitive And Dry Skin
This skin type should look for toners that have moisturizing properties. The face toner is designed for skin that becomes tender after cleansing. No astringent should be present in these toners otherwise it might damage the skin’s barrier. Remember, sensitive skin is thin and not as strong as other skin types.
Etude House Soon Jung
This product is made with a sensitive skin type in mind. With a low PH of 5.5, it is just right for the skin’s barrier. In addition, it has so many humectant and soothing ingredients. It is non-comedogenic as well.
Klairs Supple Preparation Unscented Facial Toner
![[KLAIRS] Supple Preparation Unscented Toner 6.08 fl oz, Lightweight, Essential Oil-Free, Alcohol Free, Packaging Changed](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41s+pMhHRoS._SL500_.jpg "When and How to Use Toner on Your Face 9")
Just as the name implies, unscented – no fragrance, no essential oil or any harsh ingredients. The product is really lightweight with lots of humectants to soothe the skin.
Best Toners For Acne-Prone Skin
Acne-prone skin types could use the same type of toner oily skin uses. Putting face toners on this skin type may cause it to tingle slightly especially if the skin has lesions. Use damp cotton wool to apply your toners and do it gently.
Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Stress Control
This product contains 2% salicylic acid and alcohol to help control excess oil production. Alcohol in skincare is super debated but when used correctly, it is a great astringent. It also contains moisturizing to help attract water to the skin
Touch Glycolic Acid Toner
This product combines Aloe Vera to soothe the skin and glycolic acid for mild exfoliation. The presence of rose water also gives it antimicrobial as well as antioxidant properties.
Additional Tips for Using Toner
- Avoid Harsh Ingredients: If you have sensitive or dry skin, avoid toners with alcohol or other harsh ingredients that can strip your skin of its natural oils.
- Patch Test New Products: If you’re trying a new toner, do a patch test on a small area of your skin first to ensure you don’t have an adverse reaction.
- Don’t Overdo It: While toner is beneficial, overusing it can lead to irritation, especially if it contains exfoliating ingredients. Stick to using it once or twice daily, depending on your skin’s needs.
Conclusions
Toner is a versatile and essential part of any skincare routine, helping to cleanse, balance, and prep your skin for the rest of your products. By understanding when and how to use toner on your face, you can maximize its benefits and achieve healthier, more radiant skin.
Whether you’re looking to hydrate, exfoliate, or balance your skin, there’s a toner out there for you. Remember to choose one that suits your skin type and concerns, and enjoy the refreshing boost it brings to your skincare routine.
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Great and useful post as always 🤗🤗🤗💜
Thank you so much ☺️
Very informative article 👍 💛❤️
Thank you so much for reading ❤️
I always stress the importance of toner! Gr8 piece!!
Loving the looks of the green tea toner, thought Laneige also catches my eye because of the sea water.
I also love that you provide a simple way to apply it to one’s face, though I have never used my hands. Maybe I am spoiled with cotton balls. 🙂
Most times, I put few drops on my hands then rub on my face, it feels so refreshing.
I bet it feels good on the hands as well!
Took me so long to really understand what a toner is and how to use them – wish I had your blog a few years back! I couldn’t live without my Pixi glow toner – my nose and forehead are so bumpy and flaky without it! Great read, thanks for posting ☺️
Toni
That’s awesome, it’s amazing what a toner does to the skin, so glad it works so well for you. Thank you for reading 💜
This is such great information! I have dry skin typically so I don’t really use a toner much, but I enjoyed reading all about them and the different products. Thanks for sharing!
I’m glad you enjoy reading about them as much as I enjoy blogging about it… thank you so much for reading 💜
This is such a great post! Really learned a lot from it. I have really dry skin so I haven’t ever used toner but this is good info to know. I will def share it with some friends! 😊
This is so kind of you, I really appreciate that you will be sharing with your friends. Thank you so much
This is such an informative post! I learned so much about toners. Thank you for putting all this together!
I’m so glad you did, thank you so much for reading 💜
I’ll be honest I haven’t really understood what toner was and maybe still don’t fully grasp it. But since I have rosacea someone suggested using rose water as a toner to help with redness. I’m not sure that it works that well for me though.
Timers are optional in skincare, it depends on whether you want to use it or toners. Some find it helpful while others don’t. If it doesn’t work for you, you shouldn’t use it to not exacerbate the rosacea
Yeah I haven’t used it in a little bit since it didn’t seem to work.
Great post! I use the dermalogica toner I love that!
Really helpful post! Thankyou for sharing x
using the right type of toner is so important! I found using them super helpful with my skincare process! I love that these different toners help with different things. I haven’t tried them before, I have been using the ones from Chanel or Shiseido. Thanks for sharing!
Nancy ♥ exquisitely.me
I used to use a toner and my skin felt great. I have no idea why I stopped. I’ll have to look into your suggestions. Thanks!
That’s great 😃, thank you for reading
I have never really used a toner but thats only because I never really knew much about them so thank you for sharing this!
Thank you for reading, I’m glad to hear you know more about toners now.
I have earnt quite a bit from this! I mainly use lavender water and rose water as a toner for my skin as I find them a bit more gentle. Some of these toners sound lovely though, definitely a great part not to be missed from your skin care routine!
Aimsy xoxo
Aimsy’s Antics
I need a toner so the timing of your article was perfect – great information!
Great explanation! I’ve never used toner for my daily but now that i know it’s very important, i have to do it. Anyway love it! 💗
Love this! I’ve always used a toner just because I felt like I should. I have severe combination skin and when I stopped using toner I really saw a difference. I’m glad I understand what it is my toner is actually does now! xx
I’m so glad the post was helpful 💜
I have oily skin & using a toner is a must for me! I use The Body Shop tea tree toner & it’s the best!
My skincare knowlege is next to none and find all the products confusing so this post was extra helpful and gave me a good idea of what toner is and why you do or don’t need it. Great information! Thanks for sharing!
I use toner, I love using it. It’s so cooling too 😊
Such a helpful post!! I use The Ordinary Glycolic Acid and I love it – it’s made a big difference to my skin.
Holly x
http://www.adailydoseofholly.com
I used to use face toners totally need to purchase another one as I have oily skin. This is a great explanation of toners.
I used to always use a toner and then just stopped buying it. I’d love to start using one again so will be checking out some of your recommendations.
I love Pixi! I also love toner, I am currently using the Good Molecules one!
Finally, someone explained toner so well. I often skip this part of my skin routine but it sure is an important part.