When should I use toner in routine?

Author: Sabina Reichert  |  Last update: Sunday, August 10, 2025

Toners are applied after cleansing, in the morning and at night. They help balance the skin's pH and remove excess dirt, oil, makeup, and other impurities. All skin types can benefit from including a gentle, hydrating toner in their daily routine.

When to use a toner in your skincare routine?

The ideal time to apply them is directly after cleansing, since they can help deliver more hydration to the skin. Toners also act as a primer for the rest of your skincare routine and allows the remainder of the products to penetrate the skin more effectively.

What are the 7 steps of skincare?

  • Step 1: Cleansing. Start with the basics: skin cleansing. ...
  • Step 2: Exfoliation. Eliminate impurities and dead cells by carrying out an effective exfoliation. ...
  • Step 3: Mask. Apply a mask specific for you. ...
  • Step 4: Toner. ...
  • Step 5: Serum or concentrate. ...
  • Step 6: Eye contour. ...
  • Step 7: Moisturising cream. ...
  • Step 8: Sun protection!

Can I skip toner and use moisturizer?

Toners and moisturizers serve different purposes in a skincare routine, and they are not interchangeable. Using a toner instead of a moisturizer is not recommended because toners typically do not provide the level of hydration and moisture that the skin needs to remain healthy and balanced.

What do you apply after toner?

You should leave toner on your skin and then apply moisturizer over it. Toners are designed to be absorbed by the skin to help balance pH, remove any residual impurities, and prepare your skin for better absorption of subsequent products like serums and moisturizers.

Is Toner Necessary? | Dr. Shereene Idriss

What order should I do my skincare?

The right morning routine will help your skin feel calm and hydrated all day long.
  1. Step 1: Cleanser. A clean face is your starting point for a healthy, glowing complexion. ...
  2. Step 2: Toner. ...
  3. Step 3: Serum. ...
  4. Step 4: Moisturizer. ...
  5. Step 5: Eye Cream. ...
  6. Step 6: Sunscreen.

What is the purpose of toner?

It can remove dirt, bacteria, makeup, pollution and other impurities that your cleanser may have left behind. Using a toner can give your skin an extra-deep clean. It protects the skin. Toning after cleansing can seal up the skin's pores, better protecting your complexion against environmental stressors.

What is the basic skincare routine?

Here's how you can do that.
  • Step 1: Makeup remover. First, be sure to remove any makeup if you have it on. ...
  • Step 2: Cleanser. Next, wash your face using a gentle cleanser or one suited to your skin type. ...
  • Step 3: Toner. ...
  • Step 4: Moisturizer.

How long should I wait to apply moisturizer after toner?

“You really want to let that dry for at least a minute to two minutes because it's a leave-on treatment,” says Dr. Rossi. Once the toner has fully absorbed, you can either follow it with moisturizer directly or apply a serum first.

What is the best morning face routine?

What You Need to Build Your Morning Skincare Routine
  • Step 1: Wash Your Face. Let's start with the fundamental step: washing your face. ...
  • Step 2: Tone The Skin. ...
  • Step 3: Apply a Face Serum or a Complex Serum. ...
  • Step 4: Apply a Face Moisturizer with SPF Protection. ...
  • Step 5: Apply Eye Cream.

Is micellar water a toner?

Micellar water lifts light makeup, oil, and impurities from skin with the swipe of a cotton pad. A versatile multi-tasker, it can be used as a cleanser, light makeup remover and toner. It combines gentle cleansing care with skin-balancing and hydrating benefits.

What is the best night moisturizer?

Our top pick for the best night cream is Kiehl's Ultra Facial Advanced Repair Barrier Cream, as it's great for all skin types and provides long-lasting hydration. Another fantastic option is La Roche-Posay's Double Repair Moisturizer, which leaves the skin feeling nourished, soft, and supple—all for under $25.

Is a toner really necessary?

Toners aren't a must-have part of a skin care routine because other products (serums, essences and moisturizers) can provide many of the same benefits. Toners are, however, a nice-to-have because they can take your routine to the next level.

How long should you wait between serum and moisturizer?

Serum and Moisturizer: 1 minute

Goldenberg's go-to recommendation for timing between serums and moisturizers is about one minute. This wait has the same reasoning: Sixty seconds — give or take — gives each product a moment to delve into your pores.

How long to leave toner on?

If you have never toned your hair before, it's best to do a strand test first as the results of the treatment will vary depending on your hair's porosity. Leave the toner in for between 5-20 minutes: you can rinse a small section to see when the color has fixed to your liking.

How to get glass skin?

Here are a few clear skin tips to help you on your journey toward healthy-looking glass skin.
  1. Double cleanse. ...
  2. Use an exfoliator. ...
  3. Apply a hydrating serum. ...
  4. Reach for a sheet mask. ...
  5. Layer on a lightweight moisturizer. ...
  6. Always finish with sunscreen.

When to apply toner?

Toners are applied after cleansing, in the morning and at night. They help balance the skin's pH and remove excess dirt, oil, makeup, and other impurities. All skin types can benefit from including a gentle, hydrating toner in their daily routine.

Do dermatologists recommend toners?

While they can be helpful, Dr. Elias emphasizes that most dermatologists aren't going to recommend a toner. He adds, “They can overcomplicate your skincare regiment which can usually be boiled down to a few easy steps: cleanse, retinoid at night, moisturize, and sunscreen.

Can I skip toner and use serum?

How To Use Toner and Serum Together. If you choose to use a toner, incorporate it after cleansing but before serum. Toners are leave-on products. After you've applied them, let them evaporate away or allow your skin to absorb their water before you apply your serum.

What order to do skin care?

How to Layer Your Skincare Products in the Right Order
  1. Step 1: Cleanser.
  2. Step 2: Toner.
  3. Step 3: Spot Treatment.
  4. Step 4: Serums.
  5. Step 5: Retinol.
  6. Step 6: Eye Cream.
  7. Step 7: Moisturizer.
  8. Step 8: Face Oils.

What is the 4 2 4 rule in skincare?

The 4-2-4 rule is a detailed cleansing routine that involves a four-minute oil massage, a two-minute cleanse with a water-based cleanser and a four-minute rinse with warm and cold water. Read ahead to know about the Japanese double cleanse routine, and what experts have to say about it.

What comes after toner?

Step Three: Serum

Chock-full of antioxidants, nutrients, and hydrating ingredients, serums absorb best after applying your toner. Place a few drops on your face and neck, massaging the product gently into the skin.

What are the 4 basic skincare routines?

Once you see and feel happier skin and find your core products that work for you, then you're able to expand from there. Okay, so what is the Core Four? The Core Four includes a cleanser, an exfoliant, a moisturizer, and a SPF.

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