When Should You Use Toner In Your Skincare Routine?
Chelsea Graziano • Apr 27, 2021
Toner is one of those products that lots of people use without really knowing why they’re using it. Unlike cleansers, exfoliants, or moisturisers, it’s not 100% clear what to expect when you start using it.
Plus, adding toner to your routine can open up lots of other questions: which is best for your skin type? When should you use toner? And how often should you apply it?
As a professional make-up artist, I’ve worked with hundreds of people with all different skin types, so I know how effective a good toner can be. You just need to find the right one for you - and know how to use it effectively.
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What Is Toner - And Why Do I Need It?
Put simply, toner is a skin primer. It makes pores appear smaller, refines the texture of your skin, and gets rid of any residual gunk and grime your cleanser didn’t quite reach. Toner also balances the pH levels of your skin. Your day-to-day environment (and even certain cleansers) can upset the acidity levels of your skin, so toner is designed to redress the balance.
When Should I Use Toner In My Skincare Routine?
The best time to apply toner is after your cleanser, and before everything else. A good toner will remove any dirt or oil your cleanser didn’t pick up, making your pores appear smaller and the texture of your face seem smoother. This helps prime your skin so it’s primped and preened ready for the rest of your skincare and/or makeup routine. Even if you choose to apply toner in the evening rather than the morning, it’s best to apply it just after your cleanser and before exfoliants, treatments, and moisturisers.
How Often Should I Apply Toner?
This depends a lot on the ingredients in your toner. If your toner contains abrasive exfoliants or other harsh elements, it’s best to limit your use to once or twice a week at first. If your skin tolerates the toner well, you can increase the usage up to twice a day. However, if you find that your skin is drying out more quickly, or becoming irritated, reduce the frequency of your application. If you’re still finding it difficult to adjust to the toner, you may be using the wrong product for your skin type.
How Can Toner Help My Skin Type?
Back in the day, most toners were heavy on the alcohol and astringents - which, we now know, can seriously dry out your skin. As a result, toners have traditionally been recommended for people with oily or acne-prone skin. But the truth is, if you find a toner that works for you, people with all types of skin can use it.
Oily Skin
For people with naturally oily skin, toner is a godsend. While blotting paper and powder can offer a quick fix, toner is the real MVP. Toners are designed to regulate sebum production (that’s the natural oil produced by your body - some people produce more than others). Excess sebum can clog pores and make your skin appear greasy, so toner can help your skin appear more balanced, with less residue. Alcohol-based toners can work for people with oily skin. Alternatively, choose a toner with beta hydroxy acids such as salicylic acid - BHAs are designed to break through oil to reach the skin beneath, allowing the toner to work its magic.
Dry Skin
If your skin is a little on the dry skin, you’ll want to steer clear of those alcohol-heavy toners. Nowadays, there are tons of toners on the market with more gentle ingredients. Many of them include elements that actively hydrate the skin, such as hyaluronic acid and aloe vera. This means you can prime your skin without compromising on that gorgeous dewy hydrated feeling.
Combination Skin
People with combination skin often have a tricky time finding the right skincare products, and finding a toner that works for you can be a minefield. You’ll want to find a toner that promotes hydration, while minimising oiliness - and while that sounds like a contradiction, it doesn’t have to be! Balance oil-absorbing ingredients (such as witch hazel) with hydration-boosting ones (like hyaluronic acid), and you’re onto a winner. It’s also helpful to choose a toner with gentle exfoliants, which will help unclog pores and remove dead skin cells from any dry patches.
Sensitive Skin
Everyone with sensitive skin knows (and wants to avoid) the fierce sting of a harsh product. Luckily, there are plenty of toners out there that are designed to boost your skin without irritating it. Look for alcohol-free and fragrance-free formulas. Certain exfoliants, including AHAs and BHAs (alpha hydroxy acids and beta hydroxy acids), can cause irritation, so steer clear of these unless you’ve already tried and tested them. Botanical extracts such as chamomile, aloe and ginger can reduce redness and inflammation, so choose a toner with great natural credentials.
How To Apply Toner
Toner should be applied pretty much immediately after cleansing. While lots of toners come in a spray-style bottle, it’s actually beneficial to use a reusable bamboo pad to wipe toner onto your skin. This encourages the toner to delve more deeply into your pores, helping it cleanse, smooth and balance your skin more evenly. Bamboo pads are much more eco-friendly than cotton pads, which aren’t recyclable or reusable - in fact, a single cotton pad can remain on the planet for more than 5 months! Bamboo pads are affordable, washable, and they’re made without pesticides or bleach, which can negatively affect the local water supply, and in turn the animals and people. Just make sure to wash them without fabric softener to avoid breaking down the fibres of the pad. I’d recommend these Kitsch Eco-Friendly Mini Face Rounds. (While we’re on the subject, these Auriela Probiotic Monday To Sunday Muslin Cloths
are an eco-friendly, luxurious way to remove cleanser). Like the face rounds, they’re washable, and they feel amazing after a hard day’s work - soak them in hot water and wipe off your cleanser for a comforting, soothing, luxurious feeling!).
Which Toner Is Best For Me?
With so many toners on the market, it can be tricky to know which one to invest in. You’ll need to consider your skin type, and what you want to gain from your toner - be it extra hydration, a smoother texture to your skin, or that taut fresh-faced feeling.
Whatever your priorities, it’s important to choose an ethically-produced toner from brands that promote cruelty-free practices. Here’s a collection of ethical toners with benefits for all different skin types.
For All Skin Types
This LGBTQ owned brand is committed to sustainability - plus, it’s vegan and cruelty-free. Like all my recommendations, PSA Skin products don’t contain parabens, fragrances, essential oils or any other irritants. This popular toner is super kind to the skin, with a plant-based base ingredient - liquorice root. It’s also packed with other botanical extracts including kombucha and pomegranate extract, as well as AHAs for hydration, pore shrinkage and calmness. It’s sold out almost all the time - but it’s currently in stock here!
For Dry And/Or Sensitive Skin
Aesop is an Australian skincare brand, known for their luxury products and the spa-like customer experience offered on counter. They’re also big on sustainability - all their packaging is designed with minimal environmental impact at the forefront. This toner is a luxury option, priced at £45 - but if you want a treat, it’s a beautiful product. This toner is alcohol-free, so it’s great for dry skin. Due to its antioxidant-rich formula (including parsley seed, lavender stem, and blue chamomile), this luscious toner leaves the skin calm, hydrated and refreshed.
For Dry And/Or Acne Prone/Sensitive Skin
This option is a more affordable (but just as effective!) alternative to the Aesop toner above. This COSRX toner is priced at £23, and it’s worth every penny! COSRX is a Korean skincare brand renowned for putting key ingredients at the forefront of their mission, along with aesthetically-pleasing minimalist packaging. I’ve tried a few Korean beauty brands, and they really don’t disappoint. The hyaluronic acid in this toner plumps and hydrates the skin, while the oil-free lightweight texture leaves skin feeling fresh and glowy.
For Oily/Combination Skin
This affordable, high-quality brand does everything in-house - from creating formulas to testing ingredients to shipping. This is reassuring for anyone who wants to ensure their products are 100% vegan and cruelty-free. While many brands are dedicated to sustainability, it’s not always the case that their suppliers have the same ethos - which can leave the brand struggling to be certified as vegan and cruelty-free. Knowing OFRA’s production is entirely in-house is definitely a selling point for anyone with ethical shopping on their agenda. Plus, they use lovely ingredients, such as witch hazel and grapefruit extract, which are great for evening out skin tone and gently balancing the skin’s pH. At £13.95, it’s a steal.
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