How does toner help your face?

What benefits can you expect?

Hydrating toners add water to the outer skin layer; ingredients such as glycerin and hyaluronic acid help increase hydration. Applying toner after cleansing can also improve absorption of products that follow. Acid toners can make pores look smaller by unclogging them, but pore size is largely genetic. Mild acids can help restore skin's natural acidity after washing.1

A toner can look and feel like water, so the ingredient list has more to say than the view through the bottle. For hydration, look for glycerin or hyaluronic acid. For exfoliation, look for glycolic, lactic or salicylic acid. Alcohol based astringents remove oil but can be harsh and drying.1

Do you actually need toner?

A basic morning routine needs cleanser, moisturizer and sunscreen, not a supporting cast of bottles. Toner belongs outside that essential routine. If you want to add one, choose it for a specific benefit rather than treating it as a compulsory step after washing.2

Toner does not take moisturizer's place in the routine. Moisturizer locks in moisture and helps limit water evaporating from your skin. Adding more products also increases the chance of dryness and other side effects, so introduce fewer new products at once. That matters especially if your routine already includes products that dry your skin, such as retinol.2

How do you use toner?

1. 1Cleanse your face first.
2. 2Gently swipe toner over your face with a cotton pad, or mist it on if it comes as a spray. Leave it on; do not rinse.
3. 3Apply any other skincare products from thinnest to thickest, followed by moisturizer.
4. 4Finish your morning routine with sunscreen.

You can use toner once or twice daily. Morning use after cleansing is one option. For strong acids or potentially irritating actives, start every other day and increase only as tolerated. Visible changes usually take six weeks to three months and can be subtle; changes in acne or dark spots can take two to three months.12

Who should be careful with toner?

If you are treating acne, prioritize gentle products labelled alcohol free. Drying or irritating toners and exfoliants can make acne appear worse, so do not add an acid toner just because you have breakouts. Keep your existing treatment consistent instead of repeatedly switching products. Acne treatment takes several weeks to a few months to show a difference. If breakouts continue despite appropriate skincare and treatment, see a dermatologist.3

If you have rosacea, skip toner and astringents. Rosacea often makes skin sensitive and easily irritated, and glycolic acid, lactic acid, alcohol and fragrance are among the ingredients to avoid. Use a gentle cleanser and a suitable moisturizer instead. If you use rosacea medication, apply it before moisturizer. Ask your dermatologist for product suggestions if finding skincare that does not irritate your skin is difficult.4

When should you stop using toner?

Stop using toner and arrange a dermatologist appointment if it causes skin irritation. Cosmetic reactions can include burning, itching, swelling or an itchy, scaly rash. Reactions are not always immediate: weaker irritants can cause symptoms after days or weeks of use, and an allergy can develop after years without problems. For sensitive skin, choose fragrance free rather than unscented products; unscented cosmetics can still contain fragrance used to mask other smells.25