Using skincare is not simply about using those products on the face; it involves using them in the correct order, hence they each help in their own way. Ever found yourself wondering why your toner or moisturizer is failing to work out as well as it should? This is probably because of the wrong approach to their application. Skincare products are formulated with a certain texture and a purpose, and when used ineffectively, they inhibit absorption and reduce the effectiveness of these products. A frequent question that most individuals get concerned about is whether it should be toner or moisturizer first. The concise answer to this question is that the order of toner before moisturizer is always true, but the reasons why so should also be discussed.
Knowledge of Toner and Its Functional Role
Toner is one of the poorly understood components, as it has changed over the years. Toners in the past were usually alcohol based liquids, applied to get rid of the oil that left the skin dry and irritated. Current toners are much different. The contemporary formulas are aimed to hydrate and refresh, and prepare the skin to absorb the following products. Toners can be used to calm redness with a soothing combination of ingredients like aloe vera, chamomile, or rose water, or a toner containing an active such as niacinamide or a mild exfoliating acid.
Toner is the most important step because this rebalances the skin by removing all cleansing residues. The washing process can often alter that natural pH on your skin or face, and toner helps to cleanse it. It also cleans off remaining traces of cleanser, makeup, or any other impurities. Since toner is lightweight and water-based, it goes into the skin instantly, leaving skin revived and ready to take on the next step of your skin routine.
What Moisturizer is For
It is quite the opposite when it comes to moisturizer. It mainly prevents the loss of moisture and enhances the integrity of the skin. A nice moisturizer reduces water loss to the outside of the skin and maintains it supple and smooth. Moisturizers vary in form: gels, lotions, creams, or balms, and are selected according to your skin type.
A gel moisturizer is a good option of moisturizer for oily skin as a light moisturizer may suffice without filling pores with a heavy moisturizer. In more mature or drier skin, a heavier cream will help keep the skin flake-free and seal moisture in. Regardless of their varieties, moisturizers form a top layer on the skin that locks in the advantages of other products used on the skin. That is why moisturizer must follow the toner one by one. When you use moisturizer before other middle-weight products, it creates a protective layer, and the toner gets washed out and not absorbed in the way it should be.
The Golden Rule of Skincare Layering
As the rule of thumb in skincare layering is to use the thinnest to thickest forms of product, this explains why toner comes before moisturizer. Toners are hydrating and watery; thus, toners are applied immediately after cleansing. Creams are more creamy and oily and, as such, should follow after all your other products in the routine to seal everything in.
Applying this method in just the opposite order, the toner will not be able to penetrate through the skin moisturizer barrier, depriving your skin of its benefits. This is similar to attempting to feed a plant that is wrapped in plastic – the soil can never get the water. It is no different with your skin.
The steps of how to apply toner correctly.
It is not difficult to apply toner, though there are a few tricks to make it work even better. Pat a small volume of toner on a cotton pad or, in the case of a hydrating formula, put a few drops in your hands and press them into the skin. This assists in giving an even distribution and enhancement of absorption. Most contemporary toners can even be stacked on- each other- simply applying two or three very thin layers when your skin is feeling especially dry.
The toner must be refreshing as opposed to burning. When your toner generates a stinging sensation or makes your skin feel tight, you are likely using a toner that is opposite your skin type. In that situation, it is better to switch to a more gentle hydrating toner, particularly in case you intend to apply it daily.
Ways to Better Apply Moisturizer
After your toner has been applied and moisturised on the skin, you then apply the moisturizer. How much you use will be determined by the product; however, a single pea amount can be enough to cover the entire face. Rub it in an upwards motion and use your moisturizer to seal the toner and any serums applied in between.
Application of moisturizer is also important. Skin is most hydrated when products are applied to damp skin, so moisturizing after toner will help the skin receive the maximum amount of moisture. The toner moisturizes the skin, and the moisturizer keeps the water content. The blend prolongs the life of your skin- it is plump and nourished longer.
What Is the Place of Serums?
A frequently asked question is where serums would fit into this sequence. Serums are normally applied after toner and before moisturizer. However, skincare products with a very similar consistency are often used simultaneously. The cleansing aspect of skin care includes toner and preps the skin; serums are used to establish a wide array of active ingredients like vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, or retinol; and moisturizers seal it all in. By omitting toner, serums may not penetrate the skin, and with the omission of moisturizer, serums can evaporate and not deliver maximum impact to the skin.
This is how the proper sequence looks in order: the cleanser, toner, serum (not essential), moisturizer, and sunscreen, lastly in the morning. This sequence gives each product the opportunity to compete without interfering.
Do You Really Require a Toner?
Understandably, not all regimes of the skincare in question need a toner. Though toners can be used to further hydrate and balance the skin, there are individuals who make use of their cleanser and find that their skin isn’t too badly affected, and creating an extra step is not beneficial. If this is someone with very minimal routines, or has sensitive skin, using cleanser and then moisturizer is fine. Nonetheless, when you like the refreshing effect of toner or a well-formulated product to address your skincare issues, it can be a worthwhile addition.
The trick is being able to listen to your skin. Based on toners, they make your skin feel smooth, more centered, or hydrated. Continue to use them. You can do without it and still have healthy skin when it feels to you unnecessary and irritating. A moisturizer, though, is not negotiable. Any skin type requires a moisturizer, even oily types, because moisturization is not the same as oiliness.
Some Common Mistakes Employees need to avoid
Most individuals apply toner incorrectly, and hence the misunderstanding of the advantages. The most common error is to use simultaneously harsh toners, which may contain high amounts of alcohol. These are capable of stripping the skin and bringing about dehydration. The other error is to apply toner and then moisturize, thus rendering the toner useless. There is also a problem of overusing active toners containing acids that cause irritation when used with other strong products such as retinol.
To maximize the benefit of your routine, it is essential to use a toner perfect for your skin type, apply it after you cleanse, and conclude with a moisturizer to lock in hydration. Totally organized consistency is something that brings out long-lasting results.
The Ultimate Answer
Which product should precede the other when it comes to moisturizer or toner? The response is obvious: toner must be applied prior to moisturizer. Toner cleanses and deep hydrates your skin, and moisturizer seals everything in. As a team, they offer powerful effects that maintain your skin balanced, healthy, and glowing. The skincare routine can be most effective when we stick to the right order of application and specifically select the formulas that better suit our skin type.
Ultimately, skincare does not always have to be complex, but applying a specific order is important. Imagine that the toner acts as the cleansing initial working of water into the skin, and that the moisturizer sits on the skin like the last splash of water, so it does not evaporate. When they are combined in a harmonic process, they make your skin look and feel its best.
