Everything You Need to Know About Face Toner

Face toner is the step between cleansing and the rest of your routine. The right one hydrates, soothes and gives your serums and moisturiser a better base to work on. The wrong one, often packed with alcohol, can leave skin tight and dry.

In this guide we explain what toner actually does, which type suits your skin, and how to use it.

What is a face toner?

A toner is a water-light liquid you apply after cleansing and before serums and moisturiser. Older toners were mostly alcohol-based and designed to strip away oil. Today's toners are much gentler, and most fall into one of three types:

• Hydrating toners use humectants such as hyaluronic acid to add moisture. They suit almost every skin type, including dry and sensitive skin.
• Exfoliating toners contain acids such as glycolic or salicylic acid to clear away dead skin cells. They suit oily or congested skin but can irritate if overused.
• Astringent toners use alcohol or witch hazel to remove oil. They can feel refreshing on very oily skin but often dry out and irritate other skin types.

You'll also see the word essence. An essence is a toner-like liquid, usually a little richer in active ingredients, and it's used at the same step in your routine.

The benefits of using a toner

• Removes the last traces: Swiped on with a cotton pad, toner lifts away leftover makeup, sunscreen and cleanser residue.
• Restores comfort after cleansing: Some cleansers, especially bar soap, can leave skin feeling tight. A gentle toner helps bring it back into balance.
• Adds a first layer of hydration: A hydrating toner tops up moisture straight after cleansing, when skin can feel at its driest.
• Helps the rest of your routine: Serums and moisturisers spread more evenly over skin that's already slightly damp and hydrated.
• Refines the look of your skin: With regular use, skin can look smoother, brighter and more even, and pores less noticeable.

Which toner suits your skin type?

An alcohol-free hydrating toner works for almost everyone. Use this guide to fine-tune your choice.

Skin type	Look for	Avoid
Dry	Hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, panthenol and urea	Alcohol and strong acids
Oily or acne-prone	Lightweight, alcohol-free hydration, with a gentle exfoliating product a few times a week	High-alcohol astringents, which leave skin dry and irritated
Combination	A hydrating toner all over, with exfoliation only where you're oily	Harsh astringents on your drier areas
Sensitive	Soothing ingredients such as chamomile, liquorice and panthenol	Fragrance, alcohol and strong acids
Normal	A hydrating toner to keep skin balanced	Anything that leaves skin feeling tight

How to use a toner

1. Cleanse first. Wash your face and gently pat it dry.
2. Apply your toner. Pour a little onto a cotton pad and sweep it over your face and neck, avoiding the eyes. Or press a few drops into your skin with clean palms.
3. Layer while damp. Follow straight away with serum, then moisturiser, plus sunscreen in the morning.
4. Repeat twice a day. A gentle, alcohol-free toner can be used morning and evening.

A cotton pad is best when you want to lift away residue, such as in the evening after makeup. Using your hands wastes less product and is gentler on sensitive skin.

The key ingredients to look for

Whatever your skin type, choose an alcohol-free toner with hydrating and soothing ingredients. Our pick for every skin type is the HD Skin Activating Treatment Essence.

HD Skin Activating Treatment Essence (150ml)

A gentle, water-light treatment essence that you use as your toner step. It hydrates instantly, leaves skin looking brighter and more refined, and preps your face for serums, moisturiser and makeup.

• Hydroxyethyl urea and sodium PCA: Two humectants that draw water into the skin. Sodium PCA is part of the skin's own natural moisturising factor.
• Hyaluronic acid (sodium hyaluronate) and imperata cylindrica root extract: Help skin hold on to moisture, so it feels plump and comfortable.
• Chamomile, rose water and dipotassium glycyrrhizate (from liquorice root): Soothing ingredients that help calm the look of redness.
• Panthenol (vitamin B5): Conditions the skin and supports a healthy-looking skin barrier.
• Also contains: Arginine and lentil fruit extract.

Free of parabens, MI/MCI, colourants, fragrance and alcohol. Suitable for all skin types, morning and evening.

Frequently asked questions

Do I really need a toner?

Not strictly, but a gentle hydrating toner is an easy way to add moisture and prep your skin. It's especially helpful if your skin feels tight after cleansing or during dry Highveld winters.

Is a toner the same as an essence?

They're used at the same step in your routine. Essences tend to be slightly richer in active ingredients, and our HD Skin Activating Treatment Essence works as both.

Can toner shrink my pores?

Pore size is largely genetic, so no product can permanently shrink pores. Keeping them clear and your skin well hydrated makes them look smaller and less noticeable.

Can I use toner morning and night?

Yes, a gentle alcohol-free toner can be used twice a day. If you use an exfoliating toner, start with a few evenings a week and build up slowly.

Is toner good for oily skin?

Yes, as long as it's alcohol-free. Stripping oily skin with alcohol leaves it dry and irritated. If your skin is normal to oily, our HD Calendula Herbal Extract Essence is another gentle, alcohol-free option with soothing calendula and centella.

Can I use toner on sensitive skin?

Yes. Choose one without alcohol or fragrance and with soothing ingredients, and test a little on your inner arm first. The HD Skin Activating Treatment Essence is free of both.

Is a face mist the same as a toner?

Not quite. A mist is sprayed rather than swiped, so it won't lift away residue, but it's ideal for a hydration boost during the day or for setting makeup. Our HD Skin Hydrating Mist does both and is suitable for sensitive skin.

Can toner replace my cleanser or moisturiser?

No. Toner works between the two, so cleanse first and follow with moisturiser to seal in the hydration.

What makes Fly Up's toner different?

Many toners still rely on alcohol for that "squeaky clean" feel, which can leave skin tight and dry. The HD Skin Activating Treatment Essence takes the opposite approach.

• If your skin feels tight after cleansing: It puts moisture straight back with a blend of three humectants, hydroxyethyl urea, sodium PCA and hyaluronic acid, with no alcohol to dry it out again.
• If your skin is sensitive or easily red: Chamomile, rose water and liquorice-derived dipotassium glycyrrhizate help calm and comfort, and the formula is fragrance-free.
• If you wear makeup: It's the first step in our pre-makeup hydration routine. Fly Up began making makeup for HD film and television, where a smooth, hydrated base makes all the difference on camera.
• If you share skincare at home: One gentle formula suits every skin type, in a generous 150ml bottle for morning and evening use.