You can use a toner at any time of the day – morning, evening or night, but the most important thing to keep in mind is to always and only use a toner right after you have cleansed your face. It's also equally important to finish your skincare routine right after you have applied your 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.
However, depending on your primary skin concerns, your evening toner can actually take on a much more active role in the evening. If you deal with enlarged pores and uneven texture, for example, our 7% Glycolic AHA Toner, can help your skin gently slough off dead skin cells while you sleep.
“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.”
You can use a toner at any time of the day – morning, evening or night, but the most important thing to keep in mind is to always and only use a toner right after you have cleansed your face. It's also equally important to finish your skincare routine right after you have applied your toner.
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.
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.
All of this wears at your skin cells and your skin's collagen." The answer: You need to cleanse and moisturize properly every morning with products that will protect your skin from these harmful external factors. Then at bedtime, the focus shifts. "At night, your skin repairs and recuperates.
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.
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. 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.
You can use the same cleanser for morning and night
In fact, there is absolutely nothing wrong with using the same skincare products for both day and night.
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 highly astringent toner will dry out your skin, leaving it feeling tight and irritated. You may even feel a sting when you apply it. Instead, aim for soothing and hydrating ingredients, such as rose water or aloe.
Dab toner onto a cotton ball and apply to your face and neck. After applying toner, do not dry your skin with a towel before applying moisturizer — just let your skin breathe and air-dry.
“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.
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.
That's why toners can be a great option for anyone with oily or acne-prone skin, according to Rita Linkner, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, who says toners are a great way to clean acne-prone skin of any lingering residue after cleansing and prior to carrying forth with your skincare routine.
While it's all down to your skin (and no one knows your skin better than you), most prefer to apply vitamin C serums in the morning because of its antioxidant properties—which means that it helps to defend against pollutants and free radicals that could otherwise damage skin throughout the day.
Many people wonder when the best time is to use their Vitamin C products. While some associate Vitamin C with daytime, others believe nights and evenings are best to use their Vitamin C-infused products. The truth is, Vitamin C can work effectively in the days or evenings.