“A toner or toning lotion can be even better than washing in the morning,” says Carlen. “This is because your day cream penetrates better when your skin is damp but you don't want to strip your skin just to put nutrients back in.”
Facial toner is basically the in-between skincare step. It's meant to be used after washing your face but before using your serum or moisturizer.
Toners to the Rescue: Instead of washing your face, depend on toners to do the work during your wake-up cleanse. "In the morning, toners are the best beauty secrets. ... For Oily or Pigmented Skin: Try toners with a lower PH (4/4.5) than the one of the skin. Look for products containing lactic acid or grapefruit extracts.
“You should wash your face in the morning for various reasons,” she says. “Bacteria can accumulate throughout the night and, also, you should prime your skin by cleansing it for your morning skincare routine, not to mention to remove your nighttime creams and serums used the night before.”
When Should You Apply Toner? The best time to apply a toner is immediately after using a face wash, both morning and night. Because some face washes and cleansers can be harsh and strip the skin, following with a balancing toner can help soothe your skin while removing any lingering cleanser residue, dirt and makeup.
Toner removes any last traces of dirt, grime and impurities stuck in your pores after you wash your face. When added to your daily skincare routine and used regularly, it can have major positive impact on the appearance and tightness of your pores (hello, aging skin).
Toner is second most important if you have oily or combination skin. Sometimes a cleanser can be too harsh and dry the skin from deep down, thus forcing it to produce more oil and get flaky. A toner help clean off the surface oil/dirt etc, hydrate and prep the skin for moisturizer.
Skipping a thorough morning cleanse might be okay if your skin type allows it (aim for a quick water cleanse at minimum), but cleansing at night—especially if you've worn makeup or sunscreen, worked out, or spent time in a busy, polluted city—is essential to keep skin healthy.
You definitely need to apply moisturizer after toner. Moisture is necessary for having healthy, wrinkle-free skin. After using a toner, your skin can absorb and retain moisture better than before; hence you should use a moisturizer.
It doesn't have to be dripping wet—just damp.” Rouleau says toner, serum, and moisturizer should occur within 60 seconds of cleansing to prevent moisture from evaporating.
At night, the toner will help complete your cleansing routine by removing any dust, makeup, or impurities that the cleanser missed, as well as any oily residue left over from your cleanser. If your skin is especially dry, you may want to start by using toner only once a day at night.
02. The order. It is so important to layer your skincare correctly to get the most out of them. When it comes to Vitamin C serums, they are best applied right after toner.
By cleansing with water only, you're less likely to over-strip the skin's natural oil and therefore reduce the risk of damaging your skin barrier. Cleansing your face with water only not only reduces the oil-stripping action but also the physical rubbing action, which would reduce irritation to the skin.
Your Skin Is in Protection Mode
Do you ever feel your skin looks better in the morning? The reason is often attributed to the fact that your skin gets thicker in the morning, as it prepares to protect against stressors throughout the day.
"Most dermatologists recommend face-washing twice daily, once in the morning and once before bed," says Zeichner. "In reality, this doesn't always happen. If you're going to skip [a wash], then it's better to skip the morning one than the evening one.
Products with these ingredients help keep pores clear and prevent blackheads and minor pimples from forming. Toners are good preventatives for those occasional bumps and blemishes that pop up, too.
Is Rose Water a Natural Toner? Rose water is, indeed, a natural toner. It comes from the Rosa damascena flower, commonly known as the Damask rose, and is created by distilling rose petals with steam. While it's become more popular in recent years, rose water has actually been used for centuries.
However, as gentle as they are, you do not want to use an exfoliating toner daily. Once or twice a week should do it, unless you have dry skin, in which case, once a month. "That can cause a major imbalance in your skin's microbiome, disrupt your natural skin barrier, and make your skin dehydrated.
No, toning is not necessary for skin health. Toners were originally developed to remove soap scum from the face when lye-based soaps combined with hard water left a sticky residue post cleansing. The alcohol-based toner removed the soap scum eliminating irritation and contributing to cleanser mildness.
Toners can help close pores and tighten cell gaps after cleansing, reducing the penetration of impurities and environmental contaminants into the skin. It can even protect and remove chlorine and minerals present in tap water. It acts like a moisturizer.
Many gentle serums, such as a hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum, barrier-boosting niacinamide serum or soothing, Anti-Redness Serum are effective applied morning and/or night.
A good rule of thumb is to apply products from thinnest to thickest—toner, serum, moisturizer, oil. Be sure to always start with a clean face.
“In general vitamin C products should be applied in the morning before heading out for the day, when UV radiation is at its highest,” Dr. Hogan says. But vitamin C becomes less effective when exposed to light, so it's important to give it time to absorb into your skin before going outside, SELF explained previously.