Toner Versus Micellar Water
We all have our own different skincare routines that we work to perfect by finding the right products that serve a specific purpose, address a unique concern, or deliver a particular result.
With all the different skin care products on the market, there is an instinctive need to try new formulas to help take our routine to the next level.
It is easy to see how certain products can be tricky to differentiate from one another.
Toner and micellar water, for example, are two products that target similar areas of the face but serve different purposes in your skin care routine.
Both toner and micellar water have been popular skin care staples for decades.
In recent years, popularity has been resurgent, with a spotlight on both products to highlight their benefits.
Toner is a crucial part of K-Beauty-inspired skincare routines, while micellar water is a perfect way to capture the essence of the French skincare method.
The popularity of both products has also led to innovations in their formulas, which have been enhanced and expanded to include versions that suit a wide range of skin types and concerns.
So, what is the difference between toner and micellar water?
While both products are similar, toner is meant to balance the skin’s pH and prepare it for the rest of your skincare routine, while micellar water is a gentle cleansing water that can be used to remove makeup without stripping the skin.
There are many versions of each product type that work for different skin types or target various skin concerns.
Below, we’ll discuss the differences and similarities between toners and micellar water, when to incorporate them into your routine, and how to determine which product is best for your needs!
What Is A Toner?
Over the years, toners have evolved with different versions to cater to various skin types and skin concerns.
Decades ago, toners were focused on clearing acne-prone skin and included harsh astringents to rid the skin of excess oils, which could be stripping and intense for most skin types.
However, toners are now available to comfort, soothe, hydrate, or balance the skin, depending on your personal needs.
Toners (we love this one with witch hazel from Thayers can help to hydrate and treat the skin, while also balancing the skin’s pH levels.
They are formulated with a blend of ingredients designed to target your skin concerns while also removing excess dirt, oil, makeup, or debris.
By removing any excess grime your cleanser may have missed, toners help the skincare products that follow in your routine absorb more thoroughly.
Through removing build-up of dead skin cells, excess oil, or any remaining makeup on the skin, toner essentially can be seen as a “primer” for your skincare serums, creams, and oils.
It prepares the skin to receive the benefits of the other products in your routine at a deeper, more effective level.
For a tutorial on using a toner, watch this helpful video from ehowbeauty on YouTube.
Who Should Use Toner?
As the market for toner has expanded over the years, toner is available for every skin type. Anyone can use toner, regardless of the concerns you are looking to address.
Most skincare brands offer several toner options in their product lineups to cater to the unique skin combinations and concerns we aim to target.
If you are finding that your skin care routine is addressing most of your skin needs, but you want the products to be elevated.
Adding a toner to your routine will help you see and feel the benefits of your serum, oils, and creams for the best results.
When Do You Use Toner?
Regardless of your skin type or concern, toner is recommended for use both day and night.
After cleansing your skin with your regular face wash, you can use toner as the next step in your skin care routine.
It is best to use the toner immediately after cleansing your skin to receive the most benefits from the product.
When applying toner, you can use it in a couple of different ways, depending on your preference.
One of the most common ways to apply toner is to saturate a cotton round with the product and gently sweep it across the face.
Using a cotton round, you can lightly exfoliate away dead skin cells and remove any excess oil or makeup that remains on the skin.
Another application method that became popularised with the increased attention to K-Beauty skincare routines is to pour the toner into your hands and then gently pat it into your skin.
Oftentimes, this method is used several times in a row, allowing time for the skin to absorb each layer of toner in between.
This method helps the product penetrate the skin quickly and be absorbed deeply, while providing a bright, plump appearance.
What Is Micellar Water?
Micellar water (we love the line from Bioderma) is a cleansing water that contains small particles of cleansing oil molecules to gently remove dirt, oil, and makeup from the skin without stripping it of its moisture.
The unique cleansing oil particles, called micelles, are meant to trap debris on the skin so it can be wiped away.
It is also designed to dissolve impurities on the skin and remove makeup, preparing the skin for thorough cleansing.
Micellar water is a gentler alternative to makeup wipes and helps balance the skin’s pH levels, unlike some facial cleansers.
The oil-in-water suspension on the cleansing molecules helps to clean the skin without compromising any of the skin’s natural moisture, while also hydrating the skin on its own.
As it originated in France to help calm and cleanse the skin, while offering hydration against harsh water, it is meant to provide an easy, gentle clean feeling on the skin.
While the product is a cleansing water, it does remove makeup, dirt, and oil from the skin; however, it does not clean as deeply or thoroughly as a facial cleanser would.
However, it is recommended to use it as part of your cleansing routine rather than as a cleanser on its own.
For a tutorial on using micellar water, watch this helpful video by Oluchi Onulgbo on YouTube.
Who Should Use Micellar Water?
Much like toners, micellar water can be used on any skin type or to address various skin concerns.
There are a variety of micellar waters on the market, some formulated for sensitive skin.
Some with added ingredients to hydrate dry skin, or formulas that will work well with oily skin.
However, it is a product suitable for all skin types.
It is an ideal product for those with dry skin, those who are especially sensitive, or those prone to acne breakouts.
When Do You Use Micellar Water?
There are numerous instances throughout your skincare routine where micellar water can be used.
It is a multi-functional product that can be used as a makeup remover, cleanser, or even a toner.
It is commonly used as a makeup remover in many skincare routines, as it is gentler and more hydrating than other makeup-removing alternatives.
However, if you prefer full-coverage or full-glam makeup, micellar water may not be the best choice for removing makeup.
Although it can be used as a cleanser, it is not meant to replace your deep-cleansing routine or facial cleanser.
It is an ideal cleanser for flights, travel, or quick cleanings to refresh the skin.
While micellar water removes impurities from the skin, it does not provide the thorough cleanse your skin requires daily.
As a toner, micellar water balances the skin’s pH and removes any remaining dirt, oil, or makeup before other skin care products are applied.
However, it is not meant to ready the skin for the following products to penetrate deeper layers of the skin like a toner does.
Micellar water is ideal to use at the beginning of your cleansing routine.
Micellar water can be used in various ways, but most commonly, it is applied by saturating a cotton round and sweeping it across the face to initiate cleansing.
For a more sustainable option, consider pouring micellar water onto a reusable makeup-cleansing towel instead of using a cotton round.
Using a makeup remover towel can also be an excellent application method for those with sensitive skin, as the towels are often made of soft microfibers that can be gentler on the skin compared to the texture of a cotton round.
If you are using micellar water as the first step in your cleansing routine to remove makeup, it should be followed by a more thorough cleanse.
If you typically wear waterproof makeup, like mascara or eyeliner,
It is best to saturate a cotton round or makeup towel with micellar water and let it sit on the eye for about 15 seconds.
So it can begin to break down the waterproof bond and make the makeup easier to remove without tugging or pulling on the delicate eye area.
Is Micellar Water A Toner?
While it can be used similarly, and both products share similarities, micellar water is not a toner and is not intended to be one.
While they share many similarities, they are different products formulated to perform various tasks in your routine.
Micellar water is a cleansing water made with oil-based molecules to remove and dissolve impurities on the skin, beginning the cleaning process.
Toners are designed to balance the skin’s pH, which can become unbalanced after using a cleanser or makeup remover.
They are meant to prepare the skin for the rest of the skincare routine, enabling the products to perform at their best.
Toner Or Micellar Water First?
If you are looking to add a micellar water or a toner to your routine,
However, if you are unsure where to start, it is helpful to use micellar water first to remove makeup, dirt, or oil from the skin.
As part of the cleansing routine, micellar water helps break down makeup, allowing the facial cleanser to work more efficiently and thoroughly.
However, if you are wearing full glam or more intense makeup, a cleansing balm may be a more effective option for you.
Toner can then be used after your regular facial cleanser to remove any remaining impurities and lightly exfoliate.
The toner will rebalance the skin and prepare it to receive serums, oils, or creams deeply into the skin.
Should You Use Both?
Though these two products seem similar, you can use both in your routine as they serve different purposes and target the skin in various ways.
Depending on your skin type, you can find both micellar water and toner beneficial for your overall skin appearance.
Similarly, depending on your skin concerns, either of these products can be customised to fit seamlessly into your makeup and skincare routine, helping various products deliver the best results for your skin.
Specific skin concerns, such as oily skin or full-coverage makeup, may require either of these products to be adjusted to provide a thoroughly cleansed and primed base for your skin care.
However, both can be used together to create the perfect skin care routine for your unique skin type and concerns.
Final Thoughts
Overall, toner and micellar water are similar products; however, their differences are enough to make both fit easily into your regular skin care routine.
Toner is meant to balance the skin’s pH levels that the cleanser can alter, while micellar water is a cleansing water that can be the first part of your skin care routine.
Based on your skin type, you can find a toner or micellar water that will treat, calm, and cleanse your skin while targeting your specific skin concerns.
If you have acne-prone or oily skin, a toner can be a perfect addition to your skin care routine.
You can ensure the skin is thoroughly cleansed of dead skin cells and other impurities that can clog the pores or cause future breakouts.
On the other hand, if your skin type is more on the dry, dehydrated, or sensitive side,
You may benefit from adding micellar water to your routine, as it is gentler on the skin than other potentially harsh makeup removers and won’t strip the skin of moisture.
However, no matter your skin type, anyone can benefit from incorporating one or both of these products into their cleansing routine.
Micellar water is a perfect first step in a skin care routine because it prepares the skin for the facial cleanser, providing a more thorough clean.
While trapping any dirt or impurities with the oil-based molecules, and also breaking down makeup to be removed.
Toner is an ideal middle step to complete immediately after cleansing, as it primes the skin to absorb the other serums, oils, or lotions that follow, allowing them to deliver their full benefits.
Incorporating both micellar water and toner into your skin care routine will help further protect your skin and deliver the best results.
