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.
What is the Best Time to use a Toner? One must use a toner on a regular basis, preferably on a daily basis. Most ideally, a toner should be applied twice a day, once after the cleansing process in the morning and the second time, during the night-time skin care routine after thorough removal of makeup.
If you're using a super gentle toner that focuses on hydration, you can most likely use it daily. However, if your toner includes stronger active ingredients like AHAs or BHAs, "it shouldn't be used more often than a couple of times weekly," Herrmann says.
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).
Shah explains, "The time and consistency of how often you use toner really depend on your skin type, skin concerns, and ingredients in the toner." She recommends taking it slow with harsher toners before you "build-up to daily or twice daily use." On the other hand, she says that "hydrating, calming, and soothing ...
For instance, if your skin toner is a hydrating mist (like rose water), you could even use it three to four times a day. But if it is an anti-shine or blemish control toner, then one to two times a day is best.
As a rule, use your exfoliating acid toner three times a week at night, and never before an acid serum or retinol treatment.
Some toners are humectants, which means they attract moisture. So, if your skin is extremely oily and if you feel your toner provides enough moisture, you can definitely skip the moisturizer.
“No, toners are not necessary for skin health, so you don't need to use one” states Dr Sonia Khorana, GP with Special Interest in Dermatology and Cosmetic Doctor. “Toners were previously used to remove whatever was left behind of your make-up and dirt after cleansing and balance skin pH.
You should use toner after washing your face, and before using serum or moisturizer. If you want to go green and skip the cotton pad, you can also put a few drops of toner into the palms of your hands and then press them into your face. Use a toner morning and night.
If you have acne-prone skin, facial toners can help to balance out the bacteria in your skin and prevent pimples. Facial toners are alcohol-free, fragrance-free, and oil-free. They are also designed to be used in addition to other acne treatments such as cleansers, toners, and serums.
Toners, especially alcohol-based ones, tend to strip everything off, leaving the skin dry and irritated. As far as alcohol-free toners, they may feel good and leave a little moisture on your skin but they don't really do much, particularly if you use a moisturizer anyway.
'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.
Toners do not have any adverse side effects, as long as you avoid alcohol-based ones which may irritate your skin. Overusing a toner (more than twice a day) can also cause skin irritation.
If you've been washing off your toner, consider this your sign to stop. Toner is meant to absorb quickly and be left on—it isn't a rinse-off facial cleanser. Think of toner as being similar to astringent or micellar water in this way, which also shouldn't be washed off.
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.
Generally, you should apply toner once in the morning and once at night. In the morning, the toner will help remove any sebum produced during the night and balance your skin's pH.
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.
"Toners are most helpful and necessary for people with oily or acne-prone skin, or for people who want extra cleansing after wearing makeup or other heavy skin products such as sunscreen," she said. If you're wondering what else face toner does for your skin, King outlined some additional benefits: It shrinks pores.
“Alcohol-free toners are an important step in skincare, but in order to get the full benefits, you must leave it damp on your skin before applying your serum or moisturizer,” Rouleau says.
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.”
Directly Apply by Hand
Because the toner will absorb and work best when using clean hands. Similar to using cotton, the application of toner by hand is also enough to be gently patted so that the toner can be more absorbed into the skin.
This will vary from product to product — a toner may take mere seconds to dry, while a serum or thick nighttime eye cream could take a minute, or even a few minutes to dry and be properly absorbed. A good rule to follow to simplify things? Wait about one minute between applying each skincare product.