Toner is an essential part of your skincare routine, but how you use toner really makes a difference. Much like with all other beauty products, you need to make sure you are using the products correctly to ensure that you get the most out of them and are given a chance to work.
When it comes to toner, you might be a bit confused about using it, or you may have run out of cotton balls and are looking for another option.
How do you apply toner without a cotton ball? You can use your fingers to apply toner to your face without using a cotton ball. How you do this will depend on the type of toner you are using and your skin type.
Here is all you need to know about applying toner without a cotton ball, to ensure you get the best skincare possible!
What Are Toners Used For?
Toner is used to remove traces of dirt, oil, and impurities stuck in your pores once you have washed your skin. Used regularly, toners can help to reset your pH balance and fortify and hydrate your skin’s natural barrier.
It is such an important step to include in your skincare routine daily, even though it might not seem like it does much at first. Washing your face with a good face wash sometimes isn’t enough, and a toner helps to remove those stubborn bits of oil and dirt that your face wash doesn’t.
Toner is also particularly helpful with prepping skin before a serum or vitamin C treatment is applied. It clears the skin, prepares the pores, and ensures the skin is kept hydrated.
How To Apply The Different Types Of Toners
While most toners are water-like liquids, there are new versions on the market that come in a variety of forms, such as mists or serums. All of these need to be applied in a slightly different way, so that they are able to effectively cleanse your skin.
Here is how to best apply the different types of toners without a cotton ball:
Water-Like Toners
Water-like toners are the most common, and most people apply this type of toner using a cotton ball.
To apply this type of toner without a cotton ball, you would need to pour some out onto your hands. You need to be careful not to squeeze too much out or let any spill from your hands.
Once you have poured a small amount into your cupped hand, use your fingers to pick up some of the toner and gently tap it into your skin in light motions. The toner will probably absorb quickly into your skin, so make sure you have enough to cover all areas.
Even users with sensitive skin report that this mineral toning water worked wonders on their skin.
Mist Toners
Mist toners are wonderful to use. The light mist evenly sprays the toner onto your skin, and there is no need to worry about spilling or messing.
Hold the misting spray about 12-inches from your space and gently spray the formula onto your skin. Once you have lightly misted your face, use your fingers to gently tap the toner in. Once again, use small pressure motions.
This pore-minimizing toner‘s cucumber smell makes you feel like you’re at the spa in your own bathroom.
Serum Toners
Some toners now have a serum-like consistency. This makes them easier to spread evenly onto the skin.
To apply serum toner to your skin, squeeze a small amount onto your fingertips and gently massage it onto your face, and down your neck if necessary.
Try to massage the serum toner in small circular motions to really get it to penetrate your pores and work well.
If you’re looking for serious hydration, look no further than this toner that treats skin to the strengthening and moisturizing benefits of amino acids.
Is It Better To Apply Toner With Hands Or Cotton?
Whether it is better to apply toner with your hands or cotton actually depends on your skin type. Understanding your skin type really does allow you to alter your skincare routine to be perfect for you, whether you have oily, combination, or dry skin.
These are the ways to apply toner for the different skin types:
Oily/Combination Skin
For oily and combination skin, you should be using a cotton pad to apply toner. Using a cotton pad helps to smooth and soften the skin as it exfoliates your skin cells, but it also picks up any impurities and oils left on the skin surface.
The cotton pad applies the toner evenly to the surface of the skin and removes any of the bad build-up, which helps to prep the skin to be more absorbent to any follow-up treatments, such as a serum.
Gently wipe the skin with a cotton pad with toner, moving from the inner area to the outer part of your face.
Normal/Dry Skin
The best way to apply toner to normal and dry skin is to use your hands. Apply the toner onto your hands, and then gently tap it onto your skin in a tapping motion. You will feel how your skin absorbs the toner immediately, sucking up all of the hydration.
With the gentle tapping motion, along with the natural heat of your hands, the toner will absorb faster into your skin, helping your skin be as hydrated and nourished as possible.
Very Dry Skin
Very dry skin can be tricky to work with, and to apply toner to very dry skin, you should try a sheet mask. You do not need to go out and buy an expensive sheet mask from the store, you can make it at home.
For a DIY sheet mask using cotton pads and toner, just wet some cotton pads with the toner you want to use and apply them to your face.
Lay down and leave the cotton pads on your face for 5 to 10 minutes to allow the toner to absorb into your skin, and then follow this with light cream or lotion to really lock in the moisture.
How Do You Apply Toner With Your Hands?
You cannot just splash toner onto your face and rub it in haphazardly, you need to use the right motion to ensure that the toner does its job and that your skin gets the best treatment.
When applying toner to your skin with your hands, avoid massaging it. Instead, use a gentle tapping motion. A light tapping motion helps the toner penetrate deeper down, and the heat from your fingers helps with this too.
Even just a gentle pressure or push on your skin with the toner helps.
Can I Apply Toner With A Washcloth?
You might not enjoy wasting cotton pads every time you apply toner to your face and think that using a washcloth could be a better idea?
While it is fine if you are desperate, you should avoid using a washcloth to apply toner to your face. It would absorb too much of the toner, and this not only takes away from the amount deposited onto your skin, but it wastes so much product as well.
If you absolutely have to use a washcloth to apply toner, try and dampen it first. This means that too much of the toner will not absorb into the washcloth, and it will be on the surface of the washcloth, ready to be placed onto your skin.
The same should be done with a cotton pad – dampen the cotton pad slightly before applying the toner to it. This stops the toner from absorbing into the cotton pad too much and leaves it on the surface, so your skin gets as much hydration as possible.
Related Questions
Are cotton pads bad for your skin?
Cotton pads are not bad for your skin, you just have to be sure to use the right ones. The wrong cotton pads can irritate and inflame the skin, which could be counterproductive to your usual skincare routine.
Avoid cotton pads that have a rough texture, or those which have been treated with chemicals or bleached. These are particularly bad for sensitive skin.
What is the best time to apply a toner?
The best time to apply toner would be straight after cleansing your face with a face wash, both in the morning and at night. Some face washes strip the skin of oils and can be quite harsh, so a toner helps to balance the skin’s pH and helps to soothe the skin, all while removing leftover residues such as oil or makeup.
Can I use a toner daily?
Yes, you should use a toner daily, and you should use one straight after washing your face. A gentle toner is fine to use each day, as it will soothe and hydrate your skin without being too harsh.
Do you wash toner off?
No, you do not need to wash toner off (unless specifically stated by the manufacturer). Once you have washed your face, apply the toner with a cotton pad or your fingers and let the toner sit on your face and dry naturally. Once your skin has dried, apply some serum or moisturizer to finish off your skincare routine.
Toner does not need to be washed off, and it would defeat the whole purpose if you wash it off!
