“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.
Wait 1 minute for the toner to dry before applying any acne products or moisturizer.
It's best to apply toner to a dry face, especially if you're using a pH balancing toner. To use toner properly, after cleansing, pat your face dry or dry it with a light towel.
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.
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.
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.
You're supposed to cleanse your face and then after you “toner wash” it. You do this by taking two capfuls of a highly-concentrated toner and adding it to two cups of water. After cleansing (day and night), you rinse your face with the mixture for 30 seconds before patting it dry.
'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.
The sticky texture that one may feel from the toner, then, “is due to the nature of the arginine lactate retaining water.
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.
A toner's job is meant to gently refresh your skin without stripping it of its natural moisture. This means toner won't irritate sensitive skin or cause excessive dryness. Toner also prepares the skin to drink up your post-cleansing moisturizer and any other skin treatments that you may apply.
Thankfully, using toner is really straightforward. Soak a cotton pad with toner, then swipe it over your entire face, neck, and chest. You should use toner after washing your face, and before using serum or moisturizer.
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.
“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.”
The short answer is "it goes after cleansing," according to Amy Wechsler, a dermatologist based in New York City. She recommends including toner in both your day and night skin-care routines. To get more specific, you should use toner after you double cleanse and exfoliate your skin, both Cho and Chang agree.
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.
How often should you use toner? You can (and should!) use your toner twice a day—specifically on clean skin before your a.m. and p.m. skincare routines.
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.
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.
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.
Dry and shiny skin
“If you use a moisturizer after cleansing, you can 'trick' the skin into believing it has the right amount of oil so it does not overproduce,” says Charles.
It should allow you to layer makeup on top of it without piling up.” Spinning off that, other docs say your moisturizer should also feel super silky and lightweight, like it's being absorbed easily into your gorgeous skin without you even feeling it.