When and How to Use Toner

When and how you use a toner in your skincare routine will dramatically effect how well all of the other products in your skin routine work. You may not even need a toner in your routine- but if you do- make sure you use them correctly.

This blog discusses how to use toners (also called essences) and how toners differ from micellar water and cleansers. The advice i give my patients is “Know your Baumann Skin Type before buying any skincare products so you know you are using the correct products in the right order of your skincare routine.” Once you get our skincare routine advice, you will know exactly how often to apply toner and what step to use toner in your skincare routine.

How to Apply Toner

Always apply toner after cleansing. If you have very delicate eye skin, you can apply your eye cream before using a toner. After applying a toner, follow with a serum or moisturizer that is right for your Baumann Skin Type.

You can learn about types of toners here.

To apply toner, use a cleansing pad or a cotton call. Wet it thoroughly- but not so much that it is dripping. Wipe across the T-zone first and then the remaining part of the forehead and chin. If you have dry cheeks, you can skip using toner on your cheeks and just do the central face. If you are using a hyaluronic acid or glycerin-based toner, treat your cheek areas as well.

How to Apply Toner Without a Cotton Ball

Moistened pads containing toner and can be used if you do not want to use cotton balls. In some cases, there are prepackaged and easy to use on the go. I like to use the individually wrapped acne treatment pads for my teenage patients with acne. However, this is not the best for the environment.

So if you wan to reduce waste and avoid increasing garbage, you can use a soft facial cloth or an old soft that. (Make sure to wash it every day so bacteria does not build up in the fabric).

You can also pour toner in the palm of your hand and apply it to your face with your fingers but this wastes toner and can dry out the skin on your palms. So- always rinse your hands and apply a hand cream after using.

How to Use Toner

Toner is not necessary for most skin types because serums are often used instead. Once you take our skin type quiz, we will tell you if a toner or serum is better for you, how many times a day to use it and when to use it in your skincare routine.

How often to use

How often to use toner depends upon many things such as:

which skin type do you have

what ingredients are in the toner

how is your skin feeling that day.

For example, if you have sensitive skin and your skin burns and stings- skip your toner because it may dry and irritate your skin.

However, if your skin is sensitive, a soothing toner with anti-inflammatory ingredients can be used when your skin feels sensitive. It is hard to give you advice without knowing your skin type, so take the quiz and we can give you better recommendations on what toners to use and when to use them.

Toners and Cleansing

If you washed your face before you went to bed, you can use a toner in the morning instead of a cleanser (for most skin types). But never replace your night cleanser with a toner. You need a true cleanser to remove the oil, sweat, makeup, sunscreen, and pollutants from the day.

Cleansers vs Toners

There is a big difference between cleansers and toners.

Most toners have alcohol and astringents. They often have ingredients that are left on the skin when the liquid part of the toner evaporates.

Cleansers have surfactants – also known as detergents- that remove oil, dirt, sunscreen and sweat from the skin’s surface. Some cleansers have hydrating lipids that are left on the skin once the cleanser is washed off. Toners usually do not have lipids.

Toners vs Micellar Water

Some people think micellar water is a type of toner, but it is actually a type of skin cleanser. Micellar water contains small amounts of detergents and should be washed off the skin. I know the skincare companies tell you that micellar water can be left on the skin, but this is a bad idea if you have dry skin, sensitive skin, eczema, or are on topical retinoids or benzoyl peroxide.

Toners can be used to remove makeup, but micellar water does a better job of washing off cosmetics.

Wash off Toner

Toners are left on the skin and not washed off. Micellar water should be rinsed off.

When to Use Toner in Your Skincare Routine

Toners are always used in Step 3 of your am and pm skin routine.

Many skin types do not need a toner and a serum will be used in Step 3 instead of a toner. It depends upon which Baumann kin Type you are. In my opinion as a dermatologist, I think you should only use a toner if you have acne or oily skin. You can also use a toner to apply hydroxyacids and salicylic acid to treat rough skin or as part of an antiaging skincare routine.

Day or Night Routine

If a toner is right for your Baumann Skin Type, when to use it depends on the other products in your skin care routine. It does not matter if you use toners in the morning or at night, but they will dramatically effect how well other products in your routine work so you really need to consider the order you use them based on which ingredients they contain.

Using Toner with Moisturizer

You always use toner before your moisturizer. You would not want ot use it after the moisturizer because most toners have alcohols and other ingredients that will dissolve the lipids in your moisturizer and interfere with the barrier repair effects of the moisturizer. It is best to apply toner first and let it absorb and the solvent sin it evaporate. After waiting a few seconds, you can then follow toner with a moisturizer.

Toner or Serum First?

Toners always go before serums. If you put a toner after a serum it can inactivate some of the important ingredients in the serum. Properly matching a toner and a serum can make the serum work better. An example is Vitamin C serums. Most Vitamin C serums need a low pH to penetrate well. Using a low pH hydroxyacid toner or a toner with hyaluronic acid and no lipids before an ascorbic acid serum can help the Vitamin C absorb better.

How Often To Use

How often to use toner depends upon many factors such as your skin type, what ingredients are in the toner, and your lifestyle, and what other products are in your skincare routine. I am going to address the question of how many times to use toner based on your skin type.

Dry Skin

Dry skin types often do not need a toner. Again it depends on what is in the toner, but most toners are not hydrating enough. Hyaluronic acid and glycerin humectant toners are good for dry skin types and can be used 2 times a day, but they should be followed with a barrier repair moisturizer.

Oily Skin

Toners are great for oily skin types if you choose one that helps clear pores. Do not use a toner for oily skin that has oils and fatty acids in it. It is better to use an alcohol-based toner. Oily skin types can apply a toner 2 times a day after cleansing the face.

Oily types can apply toner with cotton balls or use presoaked pads.

Acne

If you are using an acne treatment toner with ingredients that kill acne bacteria, you should use the acne toner 2 times a day. This is because acne bacteria takes about 12 hours to reproduce so to kill it- you must apply an antibacterial 2 times a day. These are the an antibacterial ingredients found in toners:

alcohol

antibiotics (prescription only)

benzoyl peroxide

hypochlorous acid (HOCl)

sodium hypochlorite

silver

Good acne treatment toners usually have one of these. They may also have anti-inflammatory pore cleaning ingredients like these:

salicylic acid (BHA)

willow bark (A natural form of salicylic acid)

I want to give you personalized advice on how to use toners, but you can see from this blog that it depends on a lot of factors. Take the quiz and then you will get emails with personalized advice that is much more accurate than a generalized skincare advice blog.

DQH Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? It’s easy to create a skincare routine, but knowing how to use it is another thing entirely. In most cases, if you’re not getting the desired skin results, it could be due to the layering of conflicting ingredients. So, is it possible that salicylic acid and vitamin C are such ingredients? Or are these active ingredients the duo that’s been missing from your skincare routine? If you want answers, stick around because today we are going to explain the benefits of salicylic acid and vitamin C and how they can be used in your daily life. What are the benefits of salicylic acid for skin? Salicylic acid is one of the most commonly used beta hydroxy acids and is favored by many people with oily, acne-prone skin. This acid is derived from willow bark, and unlike its water-soluble relatives (called alpha-hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble, which means it can penetrate deeper into the lower layers of the skin. Once it reaches the lower layers, it can help unclog pores of excess sebum, dirt, bacteria, debris, and impurities. This results in clearer skin tones and greater definition. Not only does salicylic acid benefit the underlying layers, but the outer surface of the skin benefits as well. When applied to the skin, salicylic acid removes the buildup of dead skin cells. This is accomplished by breaking the bonds that hold dead cells to the surface. Over time, this can cause the complexion to look dull and prone to acne, blackheads, and other blemishes. If you’d like to learn more about salicylic acid and how it can improve your skin, check out this dedicated blog post from a beauty insider. What are the benefits of vitamin C for skin? Vitamin C is considered one of the most powerful antioxidants, which means it is very effective at fighting free radicals and preventing them from causing further skin damage. Examples of free radicals include pollution, central heating, UV rays and harsh climate. They attack proteins, fats and cell membranes as soon as they come into contact with the skin, causing signs of premature aging such as fine lines and wrinkles as well as hyperpigmentation, flaky patches of skin and loss of elasticity. Many people usually prefer to use vitamin C in their morning routine as this ingredient gives the complexion a radiant glow. You’ll also find that vitamin C can target areas of hyperpigmentation, plumping the skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The thing about vitamin C is that there are a lot of outdated studies going back to the 1950s that describe vitamin C as an unstable skin component. Thanks to improvements in modern technology, this is no longer the case as all products now contain a stable form of vitamin C. Visit The Beauty Insider to learn more about vitamin C. So please check out our blog post. Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? Yes, you absolutely can. In fact, it’s thought that using salicylic acid before using vitamin C ensures it penetrates faster and works faster. This is an efficient way to utilize two power sources, and the reason has to do with pH. For example, the skin’s natural pH is about 4.7, making it slightly acidic. Salicylic acid and vitamin C are also both acidic, and you’ll find that vitamin C is absorbed quickly into the skin. Therefore, using salicylic acid beforehand can increase the acidity of the skin and allow vitamin C to penetrate into the skin faster. While this is considered an effective way to combine two powerful ingredients, you need to be aware of your skin type and how it reacts to certain active ingredients. Even people with perfect, normal skin can experience skin sensitivity and irritation. Therefore, always consult a doctor or dermatologist before using any new products on your skin. It’s also important to follow skin application rules. In this case, you need to use the product correctly to ensure you get the best results for your skin. If you’re not sure what I mean, the basic rule for skin is to start with the thinnest consistency and work your way up to the thickest consistency. This prevents a barrier from forming on the surface, preventing other active ingredients from penetrating the skin. Can I use salicylic acid at night and vitamin C in the morning? Yes, absolutely, this is considered the most effective way to get returns without any adverse side effects. This is because there is enough time between applications to ensure that the skin’s pH levels return to balance. You’ll also find that Vitamin C is rich in antioxidants and is perfect for use in the morning to ensure your skin is protected and looking its healthiest. Due to the small size of salicylic acid molecules, it is an acid that is able to reach the deepest parts of the skin. While this is effective at keeping skin clear, it also increases the risk of irritation and photosensitivity. Therefore, many people prefer to use powerful BHAs in their evening routine without exposure to UV rays, pollution, or harsh weather. Warning: If you avoid using sunscreen every day, none of these ingredients will do what your skin needs. The combination of chemical peels and powerful ingredients increases the risk of further damage to the skin’s surface. Use SPF 50 every day to keep your skin protected and your lipid barrier healthy, even on cloudy days, keeping your skin in top condition.

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