You may have heard of toners. You may have even used them. But do you really understand their benefits and know why they are such a critical part of your skincare routine? Well, we’re here to set the record straight on what toner is, how to use it, and what to look for.

So, what is toner?

Toners are water-based solutions that help balance the skin’s pH levels. The ideal time to apply them is directly after cleansing, since they can help deliver more hydration to the skin, evening out skin’s porosity and preparing the skin for products that follow. Toner acts as a primer for the rest of your skincare routine and allows products like serums and moisturisers to penetrate the skin more effectively.

What are the benefits of toner?

Toner can help deliver added nutrients and benefits into the rest of your skincare routine. A few examples:

• Increased hydration for a dull complexion: Hyaluronic Ceramide Mist
• Soothing and anti-redness for irritated skin: UltraCalming Mist
• Antioxidant defence to shield against environmental aggressors: Antioxidant Hydramist
• Reduction of excess oil and appearance of pores for breakout prone skin: Micro-Pore Mist

Why should you use toner after cleansing?

Traditionally, toner is used on cotton pads to remove remaining cleanser residue and any dirt left on the skin after cleansing. However, if you double cleanse your skin with Dermalogica’s PreCleanse and a skin specific cleanser, no cleanser residue or dirt is left on the skin, so toners can be spritzed onto the skin to benefit from added hydration and targeted ingredients to balance your skin condition.

How often should you use toner?

You can use toner in both your morning and evening skincare routines. It is ideal to incorporate toner into your skincare routine immediately following double cleansing. Due to the hydrating nature and spritz form of Dermalogica toners, you can also spritz your skin throughout the day, including over makeup, to refresh and rehydrate as needed.

How do you use toner?

Toner can come in a liquid form, which is poured onto a cotton pad and then swept over the skin. As mentioned, this traditional use of toner is likely to include astringent ingredients to remove cleanser residue and dirt from the skin. These types of toners can leave the skin feeling tight and dehydrated as they can remove essential moisture from the skin’s protective barrier. Dermalogica toners come in a spray or mist, which can be spritzed directly onto the skin both during your skincare routine and throughout the day as needed.

Pro Tip – Do not blot excess toner with a tissue! Apply your serums or moisturiser immediately after spritzing the skin with toner whist skin is damp. Applying your finishing products to damp skin helps them penetrate more evenly and you might find you need slightly less moisturiser. Follow our Prep, Treat and Glow regimen steps for the correct order of application.

PREP Cleansing and Exfoliation

TREAT Toner followed by serums and eye products

GLOW Moisturiser and SPF

Explore all Dermalogica Toners and find the best one for your skin type and skin concerns here. Or chat to a Dermalogica Expert for personalised advice.