Hydrating Toner

A hydrating toner is a watery, non-exfoliating liquid used after cleansing to add a first layer of moisture and prepare the skin for the products that follow. In a routine it sits right after cleansing and before essence, serum, and moisturiser, unlike traditional astringent toners meant to strip oil.

These toners are water-based and rich in humectants such as glycerin, hyaluronic acid, panthenol, and various plant extracts, which draw and hold water in the upper layers of skin. Some also include soothing or barrier-supporting ingredients. Rather than removing anything, the goal is to leave skin damp and comfortable so that serums and creams spread and absorb better and the surface feels plumper.

They suit most skin types and are especially helpful for dry, dehydrated, or tight-feeling skin. Applied by hand (patted in) or on a cotton pad, they can also be layered in several thin passes, as in the seven-skin method, for extra hydration.

• Apply to slightly damp skin and follow promptly with moisturiser to seal the water in.
• No rinsing is needed.

Hydrating toners add water but little oil, so on their own they do not replace a moisturiser for most people.