Should You Wash Off Toner or Leave It On?

If you’ve been following skincare trends, then you’ll know that toners were highly regarded as the it product to have in your skin care regime to fight off acne. Toners are the equivalent to liquid gold, liberating our skin from impurities while giving us a megadose of skin-nourishing ingredients [1].

Given their benefits, you may be wondering how to use face toner. Specifically, you might be asking questions like do you wash off toner? 

In short: no, you don’t have to wash your toner off. You want your skin to soak in the benefits of nourishing ingredients that rejuvenate your skin. So, how does toner work?

What Are Toners, Exactly?

Facial toners are generally considered the bridge between cleansing your face and applying your moisturizer or serum. 

Toners are designed to:

• Serve as the first layer of moisture after washing your face [2]
• Ensure that all pores’ impurities, like dirt, excess oil, bacteria, and makeup have been removed from your skin before applying moisturizer or serum [3]
• Provide targeted nutrients, such as aloe vera, salicylic acid, alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs), and chamomile [4]
• Promotes the balance of your skin’s pH levels [5]

Why Should Toners Not Be Washed Off?

It may seem that because toners can act as a cleanser, they, too, should be rinsed off. And yet, toners are fabricated to deep clean but remain on your face (and neck, and chest, if you so choose). This allows for deeper penetration of a star ingredient, like glycolic acid, that can gently exfoliate your skin.

Like all things in life, there are exceptions to this rule: After applying a face mask following your clean-and-tone routine, for instance. 

Using a toner before applying a mask—whether it’s a sheet, cream, or mud mask—helps ensure that sweat, dirt, bacteria, and makeup have been thoroughly removed before one of these masks sits on your face for a protracted period. Since some masks require a rinse after they’ve done their job, then technically, yes, toners are and can be washed off in this case.

What Are The Benefits of Toners?

First, it’s important to note that there is no “best toner” for all skin types. Everyone has a different skin type, so toners are not one-size-fits-all. So, what does toner do for your face?

Quality toners are formulated to address specific skin concerns. Just as you wouldn’t concentrate your skincare regime (and skincare product dollars) on age-defying products when your focus is on abolishing acne, you wouldn’t use a facial toner crafted for oily skin when you’re concerned with dryness and itchiness.

That behind us, the primary benefits of toners may include:

• Enhanced hydration – Plump, glowing, healthy skin is often the telltale sign of hydrated skin. A hydrating toner may help you lock in moisture, particularly if used immediately after using your facial cleanser when your face is still damp.
• Enriched product absorption – Whether you use a toner before applying your daily moisturizer with SPF or your trusty night cream, a toners’ ability to deep cleanse may result in improved product absorption. (Remember that products applied to dehydrated skin may just sit on the surface rather than soaking in.) As a result, you may be able to use less product, but witness more dramatic results.
• Improved smoothness and skin texture – Using the wrong cleanser (read: one that contains harmful chemicals like parabens, preservatives, and crushed walnuts) can be disastrous [6]. Not only can the wrong face wash make our skin red and exasperated, but it can also strip our skin of its natural oils, leaving it parched and irritated. The soothing ingredients in toners can help properly get rid of dead skin cells and replenish this loss of moisture.

Tired of wasting money on skincare products that don't work for you? PROVEN Skincare takes guesswork out of finding the best product for your skin with our tailored approach. We simplify your routine with our 3-step skincare set, even adding the benefits of toner into your personalized cleanser to achieve clear, glowing skin.

Do You Need a Toner? 

Using a face toner in your skincare routine is completely up to you. While their benefits are impressive, the three most essential skincare products in your skincare arsenal ought to be:

1. A gentle facial cleanser
2. A broad-spectrum SPF
3. A moisturizer for both morning and night

The rest—such as whether you want to add a product with retinol to your routine or use another targeted medicated treatment—is ultimately up to you. PROVEN takes the guessing out of the equation with our AI-powered skincare quiz to develop a custom formula that targets all of your concerns.

Streamline Your Skincare Routine with PROVEN Skincare

Here at PROVEN Skincare, we honor that maxim by matching you with products designed specifically to help you achieve your unique skin care goals. And the best part? Our personalized facial cleanser washes, exfoliates, and tones all in one fell swoop, streamlining your entire skincare routine. 

Put PROVEN front and center on your skincare shelf for healthy, supported, and radiant skin.