Can I use face toner after waxing?

Why skip toner after waxing?

Waxing removes the entire hair shaft from below the skin's surface and can leave the area red and sensitive for a few hours. Waxing can also cause ingrown hairs, inflamed hair follicles and allergic reactions to rosin, an ingredient in some waxes. Wax removes hair below the surface, so the procedure has already done rather more than a light dusting.3

A hydrating toner and an exfoliating toner are different products with the same job title. Water based formulas can add hydration, while glycolic, lactic and salicylic acid toners exfoliate. Alcohol based astringents can be harsh and drying. A toner can also be called a tonic or an essence, which gives one bathroom step a surprisingly large wardrobe.4

What should I put on my face instead?

1. 1Set toner aside while the waxed area is red or sensitive. Avoid exfoliating the area or rubbing it with a washcloth, sponge or other cleansing tool.
2. 2Apply a cold pack if the waxed area hurts. Avoid hot baths and showers afterward.
3. 3Apply a gentle moisturizer. Look for a label that says oil free or noncomedogenic, meaning the product is formulated not to clog pores.
4. 4At your next cleanse, use a gentle cleanser and your fingertips rather than scrubbing. For sensitive skin, a soap free cleanser and a nonirritating moisturizer are suitable options.

When can I use toner again?

Use how your skin feels rather than a fixed countdown. Redness and sensitivity commonly last a few hours after waxing, but ongoing irritation is a reason to keep toner off the area. Once your skin has settled, a hydrating formula is a gentler choice than an astringent. Avoid heavily fragranced formulas if your skin is sensitive.34

When you resume toner, apply it after cleansing and before moisturizer. Gently swipe or spray it on without scrubbing, and leave it on. Toner can normally be used once or twice daily, in your morning or evening routine. For strong acids or other potentially irritating actives, start every other day and increase only as tolerated.4

What if my usual toner stings?

Stop using toner if it causes stinging, burning or itching. Irritation can happen without a visible rash, so the absence of redness is not a reason to continue. Friction and heat can also contribute to irritation. Avoid the product that triggers discomfort and use a nonirritating moisturizer instead. If you have acne, gentle, alcohol free skincare is preferable to drying toners and astringents.25

When should I get medical advice?

See a dermatologist if redness or swelling after waxing lasts more than two days. Seek prompt medical advice if persistent redness comes with extreme pain, swelling, pus or discharge. Those symptoms need assessment rather than another skincare product.16

Before your next facial wax, tell your waxer about retinol, prescription retinoids and acne medicines. Retinoids can increase the risk of skin being removed with the hair. Advice on pausing topical retinoids ranges from two to five days to three to four weeks, so agree on a plan with your prescriber rather than stopping a prescription yourself. Do not wax sunburned, irritated or broken skin, or wax if you have taken isotretinoin within the past six months.136