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.
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.
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.
“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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.”
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.
Side Effects of Skin Toners
This is especially true for formulations with active ingredients such as alpha-hydroxy acids, used to exfoliate the skin. Dry patches of skin and redness are common complaints due to overuse; those with acne-prone skin may experience breakouts.
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.
Which kind should I use? "Just like when you choose a moisturizer, you would select a toner based on your particular skin need, be it oil, wrinkles, dark spots, or even dryness," Zeichner explains. If you have sensitive skin... look for a toner with "skin-calming botanicals", Zeichner says.
“Toners are good for oily skin because they penetrate the pores to provide a more thorough cleansing and help balance your complexion,” says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Corey L. Hartman.
“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.
Brightening toners are often infused with skin-brightening ingredients such as papaya extract, ginseng, retinol, or vitamin C. These skin toners help reduce the appearance of dark spots, sun spots, acne scars, and fine lines.
In fact, if you're suffering from dark spot or acne scars, toners help to reduce the dark spots. Toners have replaced the age-old astringents that were earlier used to remove make-up.
Best Toner: Ole Henriksen Glow2OH Dark Spot Toner
This refreshing toner by Ole Henriksen uses two types of AHAs (glycolic and lactic acid) and licorice root to help fade dark spots and even out skin tone.
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.
In other words, you don't need to set a timer in between applying products, or even count in your head, but you should wait until each product dries before reaching for the next — about 30 to 60 seconds.
Aloe Vera is used as a great natural toner in skincare. When cut off or broken from its plant, the aloe vera leaves secrete a clear gel that can be applied on wounds and minor cuts and on normal skin to soothe. Similarly, the rose plant also has immense benefits for the skin.
Regular use of rose water will keep the skin free of extra oil and help prevent problems like blackheads, whiteheads, acne and pimple. Using rose water as toner is better than using chemical based toners which might dry out the skin. Rose water has soothing properties and can be used as an all-natural skin toner.
After Using Toner
Not everyone is into toner, but if you are it's best to spritz your skin after. That's because toners cleanse and prep your skin for moisturizer, which includes a hydrating product like a face mist.