Be honest: do you cleanse your face, apply moisturiser and consider the job done?

Toner is probably one of the most misunderstood and most frequently skipped parts of a skincare routine. I often describe it as the rinse cycle of your washing machine.

You wouldn’t wash your clothes and pull them out before they had been rinsed, would you? In the same way, cleansing your skin without toning can mean stopping before the cleansing process is properly finished.

Modern toners are also very different from the harsh, alcohol-heavy formulas some of us may remember. Choose the right one and toner can cleanse, balance, refresh, hydrate and treat your skin.

What does toner actually do?

1. It removes the final traces of cleanser and dirt

Even after you have cleansed and removed the product with a warm flannel, tiny traces of cleanser, make-up, oil and everyday grime can remain on the skin.

Toning acts as that final rinse, sweeping away anything that has been left behind and leaving your skin properly clean and ready for the products that follow.

A little test I often suggest is to use toner on a cotton pad after cleansing. You may be surprised by what still comes off!

2. It helps rebalance the skin’s pH

Your skin naturally has a slightly acidic protective surface. Cleansing products and even water can temporarily disturb that balance.

This is one reason your face may sometimes feel tight after cleansing or showering. That tight feeling does not necessarily mean you have naturally dry skin. It may simply mean that the skin’s pH balance has been temporarily disturbed or that it has become dehydrated.

A gentle toner helps the skin feel balanced and comfortable again, while preparing it for serum and moisturiser.

3. It helps refine the appearance of pores

Despite the phrase we often use, pores do not physically open and close like little doors. However, toner can help remove the oil, dead skin and debris that can make pores appear larger or contribute to congestion.

Keeping the skin thoroughly cleansed and balanced can therefore leave it looking smoother, fresher and more refined.

4. It adds hydration

A good alcohol-free toner should not leave your face feeling dry or squeaky. It can actually add a valuable layer of hydration before you apply your serum or moisturiser.

Applying your next products while the skin is still slightly damp can also help everything feel more comfortable and absorb beautifully.

Which Temple Spa toner is right for you?

Temple Spa currently has four lovely options, depending on what your skin needs.

TONING ESSENCE: the refreshing all-rounder

TONING ESSENCE is a light, alcohol-free balancing mist that helps remove the last traces of cleanser and impurities while refreshing and hydrating the skin.

You can spray it directly over the face and allow it to settle, or apply it to a cotton pad and sweep it over the skin for a more thorough final cleanse.

My hot-weather tip: keep your TONING ESSENCE in the fridge during this heatwave. A cool mist feels wonderfully refreshing and helps top up hydration.

You could even keep a second bottle in your handbag, car or desk drawer for an easy spritz during the day. Just avoid storing skincare in a car that becomes extremely hot.

GLOWCOLIC: the resurfacing one

GLOWCOLIC is an exfoliating toner containing a blend of acids that helps lift away dead skin cells, smooth uneven texture and bring radiance back to dull or congested skin.

Apply it to a cotton pad and sweep it over clean skin, avoiding the delicate eye area.

Because this is an active exfoliating toner, it does not necessarily need to be used twice every day. Introduce it gradually, perhaps a few evenings each week, depending on your skin.

And, of course, daily SPF is especially important when you are using exfoliating acids.

BE QUIET: the soothing one

BE QUIET is a weightless milky toner designed for sensitive, stressed or unsettled skin. It helps calm redness, hydrate dry areas and support the skin barrier.

You can sweep it over the skin with a cotton pad, but I also love using it more generously and leaving it on like a light soothing layer. Allow it to sink in before applying your serum and moisturiser.

It is particularly lovely when your skin feels hot, irritated or slightly sun-caught.

And if that is you… where was your SPF?! 😉

Please remember that badly sunburnt, blistered or very painful skin needs proper sunburn care rather than active skincare products.

EASY ON THE EYE: the gentle multitasker

The skin around the eyes is thinner and more delicate than the rest of the face, so it deserves its own gentle product.

EASY ON THE EYE removes eye make-up while refreshing and soothing tired eyes. Apply it to cotton pads, rest them over closed eyes for a few moments to begin dissolving the make-up, then gently sweep it away. Avoid rubbing or dragging the delicate eye area.

It can also be used as a gentle facial toner, making it a brilliant two-in-one product for holidays when you want to save space in your wash bag.

You can cool it in the fridge too, for an especially refreshing treat for tired or puffy eyes.

Spritz, sweep or leave on?

How you apply toner depends on both the product and what you want it to do.

A cotton pad gives you that satisfying final sweep and helps remove any remaining cleanser or impurities.

A facial spritz is quick, refreshing and ideal when you want an extra layer of hydration.

A milky toner, such as BE QUIET, can be pressed or swept onto the skin and left to absorb before the rest of your skincare.

There is no need to wash your toner off. Once it has settled, follow with your serum, eye product, moisturiser and SPF in the daytime.

The current toner offer

Temple Spa’s current offer allows you to choose any two from:

TONING ESSENCE, GLOWCOLIC, BE QUIET and EASY ON THE EYE.

They are normally £25 each, making the usual value £50. The current offer is two for £35, saving £15.

You could choose two different products for different skin needs, perhaps TONING ESSENCE for everyday refreshing and GLOWCOLIC for occasional resurfacing.

You could pair EASY ON THE EYE with another toner, use it as your eye make-up remover and keep it as your holiday facial toner too.

Or you could simply stock up on the one you already love. Click here for the offer.

Just don’t skip the rinse cycle!

Love, Julia 🤍