Improves efficacy of other products: According to Daphne Studio's lead esthetician, Gunna Covert, toners "exfoliate, help balance the pH level of the skin, and even help other skincare products penetrate deeper into the skin."
Toners also do more than just hydrating and exfoliating. They also help to rebalance your skin's pH after cleansing – especially exfoliating toners that contain exfoliating acids to bring your skin back to its normal pH.
One such example is exfoliating toners, which are infused with chemical exfoliants such as AHA and BHA acids, which help to loosen and break up the dead skin cells clogging your pores, while also minimizing dark spots, and improving overall skin texture and tone.
After cleansing, apply your toner. Next, apply your leave-on AHA or BHA exfoliant. After cleansing, toning, and exfoliating, apply the rest of your skin care products in order of their texture.
Exfoliators are anything that, well, exfoliates, removing some of the surface layer of your skin. Toners are anything liquid that you put on your face after cleansing. They may come in many names such as softeners, boosters, lotions (especially in Japanese products), fresheners- but they are essentially all toners.
Regardless of the formula, apply your toner or serum after cleansing, preferably at night, since exfoliating can make your complexion sun-sensitive. Stick with gel or foaming cleansers rather than oils and balms, which leave a residue that can prevent toners from absorbing, says Mattioli.
CosRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner
Recently creating an uproar as a new cult favourite in the beauty community is Korean brand CosRX. This exfoliating toner is suitable for oily skin. Its formula is gentle and rich in ingredients such as glycolic acid, salicylic acid and anti-inflammatory.
In terms of skin care steps, an exfoliating toner should be used after a cleanser and before a serum and moisturiser. Use a cotton pad and sweep the toner over the skin being careful to avoid the eye and lip areas.
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.
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.
Facial toner, for example, can help you glow up, keep your face clean and revitalized, minimize the appearance of pores, and more.
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.
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.
If you're wondering how often to use an exfoliating toner, Dr. Ranella says, "As a general rule of thumb, less than you think, and less than most labels say." On average, the experts recommend that oily skin types use exfoliating toners one-to-three times per week, and just once or twice per week for normal skin.
Acid toners help exfoliate skin, leaving it glowing. Our beauty experts and a panel of GH readers tried 8 to find the best... Add an acid toner to your routine and you'll be rewarded with a softer, brighter, more even complexion, thanks to its exfoliating, skin revitalising abilities.
Use a toner morning and night. But if your skin gets dry or irritated easily, try once a day or every other day. Remember, these toners contain potent ingredients. And for more astringent formulas (designed for oily or acne-prone skin), she suggests using it every two days before gradually ramping up.
Most experts advise that you exfoliate two to three times per week — as long as your skin can handle it. Chemical exfoliants tend to be fine to use more regularly. Physical methods, on the other hand, may be too abrasive to use multiple times a week.
'The alcohol found in toners can be a trigger for rosacea, increase the risk of breakouts in acne-prone skin or exacerbate sensitivity,' reveals cosmetic dermatologist Dr Sam Bunting. This means that regular use of toners could leave the skin irritated, inflamed and vulnerable to environmental damage.
But, whether you get it in a toner, exfoliant, serum, or moisturizer, it doesn't matter. Just find a product you like and that works for you. If it's a toner, use a toner. If it's a serum, use a serum and skip the toner.
Don't let the toner sit for longer than 5 minutes as it can make your blonde hair turn violet. If you are looking for dramatic results or are changing your hair colour drastically, leave Wella Color Charm on your hair for the full 45 minutes according to the manufacturer's instructions.
You don't need to wash toner off after applying it to your face. “The best time to apply toner is right after using your daily cleanser. Toner can help remove additional dirt and grime that your cleanser might have missed.”