Your doctor may call this “irritant contact dermatitis.” It's the most common skin reaction to a beauty product. It can cause burning, stinging, itching, and redness in the area where you apply the product. If your skin is dry or injured, it loses some of its natural protection against irritants.
An itchy red rash after using skincare products is a clear sign of an allergic reaction. But sometimes skincare products can cause more subtle symptoms, like dryness and flakiness, pimple-like bumps, and uneven skin tone. This may be due to irritation caused by a certain ingredient.
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.
If the toner you're using contains alcohol, you may get the “clean” and “tight” feeling associated with using alcohol-based toners on the skin, but this ingredient will strip the skin of water, which results in dead cell build up and dull looking skin, says celebrity esthetician Renee Rouleau.
There are no specific side effects of toner on face. However, one can get dry or irritated skin after using a toner. If this happens, it is best advised to switch your toner. Also, make sure to go for a toner with no or minimal alcohol content as it can lead to dry and damaged skin.
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.
How Do You Know Your Skin Toner Is Working? You may notice and feel the benefits of a toner immediately, with your skin feeling cleansed and refreshed. However, after 1 to 2 weeks of daily use, your skin will begin to appear softer and smoother. Additionally, your skin may appear more clear and bright.
'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.
Burning and stinging is a big red flag that the toner is too harsh for your skin. Instead look for one that leaves your skin feeling fresh and clean, but not stripped. If you're seeing a dermatologist, ask before using a toner.
Toner is a multi-tasking skin-care weapon known for its benefits for the appearance of your skin, including a brighter, glowier complexion — but too much of it can lead to over-exfoliation, dryness or stripping of the skin.
At night, the toner will help complete your cleansing routine by removing any dust, makeup, or impurities that the cleanser missed, as well as any oily residue left over from your cleanser. If your skin is especially dry, you may want to start by using toner only once a day at night.
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.
Toners can help close pores and tighten cell gaps after cleansing, reducing the penetration of impurities and environmental contaminants into the skin. It can even protect and remove chlorine and minerals present in tap water. It acts like a moisturizer.
A hydrating toner (low alcohol content), should not burn at all, while an astringent (due to its higher alcohol content) may slightly sting or burn your skin. So the answer is no, not all toners are supposed to sting.
"Ideally the skin is smooth, supple, and uniform in color," Waldorf said. If your skin feels less bumpy, the size of your pores has been reduced, and you're noticing less marks, acne, and discoloration, your products are likely working.
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.
When to Pat: Almost your entire skincare regimen — toners, essences, serums, moisturizers, and eye creams included — should be patted into the skin, since liquids, creams, lotions, and gel-based offerings absorb best with this technique. Leave the (gentle!)
Toners can be beneficial for people with sensitive skin. Not only do they clear the skin of possible irritants, but they can also help keep your skin healthy and hydrated. Toners can be used even on sensitive skin that is particularly dry, oily or acne-prone.
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.
It doesn't have to be dripping wet—just damp.” Rouleau says toner, serum, and moisturizer should occur within 60 seconds of cleansing to prevent moisture from evaporating.