When to use toner

Apply it after cleanser.

A good rule of thumb is that skincare products should be applied lightest to heaviest (with the exception of SPF, which always comes last). Because of its water-like consistency, toner is meant to be applied immediately after cleanser and before serums, moisturizers, and oils.

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.

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.

Originally toners were used to pH balance the skin after using a cleanser. Since you can easily get pH-balanced cleansers these days, toners are no longer necessary in a skincare regimen, says Dr. … Meanwhile, a toner with skin-clearing ingredients such as salicylic acid can be great for decongesting your pores.

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.

But, whether you get it in a toner, exfoliant, serum, or moisturizer, it doesn’t matter. Just find a product you like and that works for you. If it’s a toner, use a toner. If it’s a serum, use a serum and skip the toner.

Toners are valuable for clearing the skin of impurities and residue, while offering a host of additional benefits. From brightening your complexion to helping clear away acne, there are toners for every skin type. Using toners incorrectly may result in side effects such as dryness, irritation and acne flare-ups.

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) plays an important role in maintaining skin health and can promote the differentiation of keratinocytes and decrease melanin synthesis, leading to antioxidant protection against UV-induced photodamage.

We recommend that beauty lovers use our Vitamin C Serum after cleansing, exfoliating, masking, and/or toning — but always before moisturizing. All you have to do is apply a couple pumps of serum to clean fingers, and gently press the product evenly over damp skin.

“Maintaining a high water content in the skin is key for healing and maintaining healthy skin. If you are using the right moisturizer, it should be your last step because nothing is going to get through it.” If your skin is on the dry side, you may want to add a face oil before applying your night cream.

The Alternatives

Often, both of these types of products are infused with moisturizing, nourishing ingredients just like toners. If you already use one or both of these, you can probably skip toner—that is, unless you love a routine with all the steps, because skin care is actually so indulgent.

Step 1: Wash your face using your favorite cleanser. … Step 2: Apply a toner or facial mist and DO NOT PAT DRY. If you prefer not to use a toner, spritz your face with some water. Step 3: Gently apply your HA serum onto your DAMP face (more on this below).

Layering Before Toner

Toner is the first step where you can start to get creative with your layering. Gothamista, AKA the skin care queen, claims she likes to use vitamin C right after she cleanses and before she tones. That way the serum can really sink in and take effect.

The main difference between toner and serum is that toners cleanse the skin and restores the skin’s pH balance while serums provide a high concentration of active ingredients to your skin. … If you are using both these products, make sure you use the serum after the toner, but before moisturizer.

Combining the two makes for a great all-in-one skin care step. “Hyaluronic acid and vitamin C are commonly used together because they complement each other to hydrate, protect, and repair aging skin,” says Zeichner. … “Hyaluronic acid is a great addition to vitamin C because it does not overwork the skin.

The most common way to apply toner to your face is through the use of a cotton ball or pad. To apply, moisten the cotton pad with a few drops of the toner so that it is damp, but not soaked. Begin with the centre of your face and gently sweep the cotton pad outward, avoiding the lips and delicate eye area.

If you are applying a Vitamin C serum and hyaluronic acid separately, it’s suggested that you apply the Vitamin C first, and then add the hyaluronic acid afterward in order to help fortify the skin barrier and lock in the moisture.

Most of the skincare experts we spoke with recommend adding a Vitamin C serum to your skincare routine slowly before building up a daily or twice-daily tolerance. “I recommend every other day to daily use in the morning, typically three to five drops for the entire face,” Palm says.

Retinoids and serums can be used together, especially if the serum is soothing or hydrating. Be careful using very aggressive face oil serums with retinoids.

“Hyaluronic acid plays well with most ingredients, while caution must be taken when using retinol in combination with alpha hydroxy and beta hydroxy acids, benzoyl peroxide, and some types of vitamin C.”