Yes, you should moisturize after toner.
Toner preps your skin by balancing its pH and hydrating it, but it doesn’t seal in moisture. Following up with a moisturizer helps lock in hydration, restore the skin barrier, and ensure your skin stays soft, smooth, and nourished.
Types of toners
Toners come in a variety of formulations, each designed to address specific skin concerns. Understanding the different types of toners can help you choose the one that best suits your skincare needs:
1. Hydrating Toners
These toners are formulated to boost moisture levels in the skin. They often contain ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, or aloe vera, making them ideal for dry, dehydrated, or sensitive skin types. Hydrating toners leave the skin feeling plump and refreshed.
2. Exfoliating Toners
Exfoliating toners contain active ingredients like AHAs (glycolic acid, lactic acid) or BHAs (salicylic acid) that gently remove dead skin cells, unclog pores, and improve skin texture. These are great for dull or acne-prone skin but should be used with caution to avoid over-exfoliation.
3. Astringent Toners
Astringent toners are typically alcohol-based and are designed to tighten pores, reduce oiliness, and combat acne. While effective for oily skin, they can be drying and may not be suitable for sensitive or dry skin.
4. pH-Balancing Toners
These toners are specifically formulated to restore the skin’s natural pH after cleansing. They help maintain the skin barrier and ensure better absorption of subsequent skincare products.
5. Brightening Toners
Brightening toners contain ingredients like vitamin C, niacinamide, or licorice extract to target dark spots, hyperpigmentation, and dullness. They leave the skin with a more radiant and even-toned complexion.
Benefits of moisturizing After Toner
Applying moisturizer after toner is a key step in any effective skincare routine. Here’s why this combination works so well:
1. Locks in Hydration
Toners often leave the skin damp and hydrated, but without a moisturizer, this moisture can evaporate quickly. Moisturizing after toner seals in hydration, ensuring your skin stays plump and nourished.
2. Restores and Strengthens the Skin Barrier
Moisturizers help repair the skin barrier by providing essential lipids and humectants. This protective barrier prevents water loss and shields the skin from environmental aggressors like pollution or harsh weather.
3. Enhances the Benefits of Toner
Using a moisturizer allows the benefits of toner—like hydration, soothing, or brightening effects—to be locked in and maximized. It acts as a follow-up step that amplifies your toner’s effects.
4. Prevents Dryness and Tightness
Some toners, especially those with active ingredients or astringent properties, can leave the skin feeling tight. A moisturizer replenishes lost moisture and keeps the skin feeling soft and comfortable.
5. Balances Oil Production
Even oily skin benefits from moisturizing after toner. By hydrating the skin, a moisturizer can help balance oil production, preventing the skin from overcompensating with excess sebum.
6. Preps Skin for Makeup Application
Moisturizing after toner creates a smooth, hydrated base for makeup, ensuring it goes on evenly and lasts longer.
The general recommendation to follow toner with a moisturizer
Dermatologists and skincare experts widely recommend using a moisturizer after applying toner as part of a balanced skincare routine. While toner hydrates and prepares the skin by balancing its pH, it doesn’t lock in moisture. Moisturizer acts as a sealant, ensuring that the hydration and benefits provided by the toner remain within the skin.
Skipping moisturizer can leave your skin vulnerable to dehydration, as the moisture delivered by toner may evaporate without a barrier. By layering a moisturizer over toner, you not only enhance the toner’s effectiveness but also protect your skin barrier, keeping your complexion healthy, smooth, and radiant.
Perfect Time Moisturizer Is Essential After Toner
There are specific scenarios when following toner with a moisturizer becomes especially important to maintain skin health and hydration:
1. After Using an Exfoliating or Astringent Toner
Toners with active ingredients like AHAs, BHAs, or alcohol can strip the skin of natural oils, leaving it dry or sensitive. Moisturizing afterward is crucial to replenish lost hydration and restore the skin’s protective barrier.
2. For Dry or Dehydrated Skin
If your skin feels tight or flaky after applying toner, it’s a clear sign that moisturizer is needed. Toner hydrates, but moisturizer ensures that hydration is sealed in and provides additional nourishment for dry or dehydrated skin.
3. During Colder Weather
In winter or cold climates, skin tends to lose moisture more rapidly due to dry air and low humidity. Moisturizer becomes essential after toner to prevent dehydration and protect against environmental stressors.
4. Post-Sun Exposure or Irritation
After being in the sun or experiencing skin irritation, toner can provide immediate relief, but moisturizer helps calm and repair the skin while locking in hydration.
5. Before Applying Makeup
Using a moisturizer after toner creates a smooth, hydrated canvas for makeup application. Skipping moisturizer can lead to patchiness or uneven makeup coverage.
Toners with Active Ingredients
Toners with active ingredients are designed to target specific skin concerns, making them more than just a basic step in your routine. These toners often contain potent compounds that exfoliate, brighten, or treat acne. Here’s an overview of common active ingredients found in toners and their benefits:
1. Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs)
- Examples: Glycolic acid, lactic acid.
- Benefits: Exfoliate the surface layer of the skin, improving texture and radiance. Ideal for dull, dry, or aging skin.
2. Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHAs)
- Example: Salicylic acid.
- Benefits: Penetrates deeper into pores to remove excess oil and reduce acne. Best suited for oily or acne-prone skin.
3. Niacinamide
- Benefits: Soothes inflammation, reduces redness, and helps minimize the appearance of pores. Suitable for sensitive or combination skin types.
4. Hyaluronic Acid
- Benefits: Attracts and retains moisture, making it perfect for hydrating toners. Works well for all skin types, especially dry or dehydrated skin.
5. Vitamin C
- Benefits: Brightens skin tone, reduces dark spots, and protects against free radical damage. Great for dull or uneven skin.
6. Witch Hazel or Alcohol
- Benefits: Tightens pores and controls oil production. Common in astringent toners, though they may be too drying for sensitive or dry skin.
7. Peptides and Ceramides
- Benefits: Support skin barrier repair and improve elasticity, making them ideal for mature or damaged skin.
Expert Opinions and Dermatologist Recommendations
Dermatologists widely acknowledge the importance of incorporating toners and moisturizers into your skincare routine. Here’s what experts have to say about their use and relationship:
Dr. Joshua Zeichner, Board-Certified Dermatologist
“Toners are no longer just astringents that dry out the skin. Modern formulations focus on hydrating, balancing, and preparing the skin for additional products. Following toner with a moisturizer is essential to seal in the hydration and prevent trans-epidermal water loss.”
Dr. Whitney Bowe, Renowned Dermatologist
“I always recommend moisturizing after using a toner, particularly one with active ingredients like AHAs or BHAs. Toners can create an optimal environment for moisture absorption, and skipping this step can leave your skin feeling tight or dehydrated.”
Dr. Shari Marchbein, Dermatologist and Skincare Expert
“Moisturizers are non-negotiable after toner, especially for dry or sensitive skin types. Even if you have oily skin, lightweight moisturizers can help maintain balance and prevent the overproduction of sebum.”
Conclusion
Incorporating toner and moisturizer into your skincare routine is more than just a beauty ritual—it’s a science-backed approach to achieving healthy, hydrated, and balanced skin. While toner refreshes, hydrates, and preps the skin, moisturizer complements it by sealing in moisture and reinforcing the skin barrier. Together, they work synergistically to enhance your overall skin health.
Experts and dermatologists consistently recommend following toner with a moisturizer to maximize hydration, prevent dryness, and protect the skin from environmental stressors. Whether you’re using a hydrating toner or one with active ingredients, finishing with a moisturizer ensures your skin stays nourished and resilient.
