Is Toner Supposed To Burn Or Tingle?
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Have you ever applied a skincare product and wondered why your face feels like it’s on fire? Don’t worry, you’re not the only one! A lot of people feel a burning or tingling sensation after they apply certain skincare products. One common complaint about toners is that they burn the skin or cause a stinging sensation. But is toner supposed to burn your skin? Does that just mean the product is working? Let’s find out!
What Is Toner
When you think of toners, you probably think of harsh, drying astringents that leave your skin feeling tight and uncomfortable. But today’s toners are nothing like that! Most modern toners are actually gentle, alcohol-free formulas that help to restore your skin’s pH balance and prepare it for the rest of your skincare routine.
Facial toners are designed to remove any remaining impurities like dirt and oil from the skin after cleansing. Toners can also help rebalance the skin’s pH levels and prep the skin to better absorb serums and moisturizers.
Toners tend to have a lot of hydrating ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid. Toners can also focus on treating certain skin concerns like acne, clogged pores, dryness or signs of aging.
While most toners are thin and liquid, like water, some may be slightly thicker and creamier. All toners are liquid, however, and can be applied with your hands or with a cotton pad.
Benefits Of Toner
- Cleanses Skin – while cleansers are not meant to cleanse the skin per say, but when they’re used on a cotton pad and swept across the skin, they can help to remove any excess impurities your cleanser may have missed. However, if you just use them by pressing them into your skin with your hands, you will not get this cleansing action
- Balances pH – cleansers will typically alter the skin’s pH slightly and toners will help to balance the pH to skin’s optimal level (around 5). This is important to keep the skin barrier healthy and strong as well as to help defend against any pathogens
- Enhances Product Absorption – like cleansers, toners can also help product absorption. Toners will typically have humectants like hyaluronic acid or glycerin and these can help enhance penetration of your other skincare products like serums and moisturizers
- Preps Skin – toners can prep the skin for the rest of your skincare routine by keeping the skin clear of any impurities and enhancing product absorption
Like cleansers, toners can have additional benefits, depending on the formulation. They can help soothe sensitive skin, exfoliate, fight acne and aging and more.
Is Toner Supposed To Burn?
Now that we know what toners are and what they can do for the skin, let’s answer the burning question: should toner burn my face?
The short answer is no. Toners should not burn, sting or tingle. If your toner does any of those things, it’s likely a sign that it’s too harsh for your skin. Toner should never burn or sting and if it does, it’s a sign that it’s not the right product for your skin.
Harsher toners may contain ingredients like alcohol, menthol or essential oils which can all irritate the skin. Everyone should steer clear of these ingredients, but especially those with sensitive or irritated skin.
Toner burning your skin is never good – even if the toner contains active ingredients like glycolic acid or salicylic acid. These chemical exfoliants can sometimes cause a tingling sensation on the skin but they should never burn. And if they do, it means the formulation is too strong for your skin.
Why Toner Burns Your Skin
If you’ve applied your toner and immediately felt some stinging and burning, you’re probably wondering why does my toner burn?
There are a few reason why toner might burn your skin.
- The toner has irritating ingredients like alcohol, menthol, fragrance or essential oils
- Your skin barrier is damaged
- The toner is too harsh for your skin
- You are over-exfoliating your skin
If your toner is burning your skin or stinging, it’s best to look at the ingredients and make sure that it doesn’t contain any irritating or sensitizing ingredients like alcohols, menthol, fragrance or essential oils. These are the most common culprits toner burning your skin.
Another reason why toner might burn your face is because your skin barrier is damaged. Your skin barrier protects your skin from the environment and keeps your skin hydrated. When it’s damaged, it’s more susceptible to irritation and inflammation, especially when you’re using chemical exfoliants or other irritating ingredients.
Toner can also burn your skin if it’s too harsh for your skin type. For example, if you have sensitive skin, it’s best to use a toner with soothing and hydrating ingredients as opposed to one with chemical exfoliants and other potentially irritating ingredients. This is why it’s always important to do a patch test before using any new skincare product, especially if you have sensitive skin.
Finally, you might be over-exfoliating your skin if your toner is burning it. Over-exfoliation can damage the skin barrier and lead to sensitization, inflammation and other skin problems. If you’re using a toner with active ingredients like glycolic acid or salicylic acid, make sure that you’re not using it more than 2-3 times a week.
What To Do If Toner Burns Your Face
If you find that your toner is burning your skin, stop using it immediately. It’s also a good idea to check the ingredients. If it contains any irritating ingredients like alcohol, menthol, fragrance or essential oils, it’s best to stop using it and toss it.
If you’ve just applied toner and it’s burning your skin, quickly rinse it off and cleanse the skin with a gentle cleanser to make sure you got all of the product off. You can also apply a soothing mask or serum to help calm the skin.
It’s also a good idea to check your other skincare products to see if they might be contributing to the problem. If you’re using other products with irritating or sensitizing ingredients, it’s best to stop using them until your skin has calmed down.
How Should Skin Feel After Toner?
Toner should never burn or sting your skin. If it does, it’s a sign that it’s too harsh for your skin. The right toner will leave your skin feeling clean, refreshed and hydrated – never tight, dry or irritated.
Why Does Toner Make My Face Red?
If you find that toner burns and turns your face red, it means that it’s too harsh for your skin. Toner should never make your face red. If it does, stop using it immediately and check the ingredients to see if there are any irritating or sensitizing ingredients like alcohol, menthol, fragrance or essential oils.
Is Toner Suppsed To Burn FAQ’s
Can Toner Damage Your Skin?
Toner can damage your skin and your skin’s protective moisture barrier. This usually happens when the toner contains irritating ingredients like alcohol, but it can also happen with chemical exfoliants like salicylic acid which can lead to over-exfoliated skin.
Damage to your skin’s moisture barrier can cause a number of problems like dryness, redness, irritation, and inflammation. It can also make your skin more susceptible to the environment.
Is The Ordinary Toner Supposed To Burn?
One of the most popular The Ordinary products is their Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution. This product contains glycolic acid, an AHA that speeds up cell turnover and exfoliates away dead skin cells.
No, The Ordinary Toner is not supposed to burn or sting your skin.
While some people find this product to be very effective, others have reported that it burns their skin. If you find that The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution is burning your skin, it’s best to stop using it and try a different product.
How Often To Use Toner?
Most toners can be used daily, even 2x a day. While it may depend on the type of toner you’re using and the ingredients, as a general rule, you can use toner as often as you need to.
Any kind of hydrating or soothing toner can be used 2x daily, but if the toner has any kind of exfoliating ingredients, it should only be used 2-3 times a week, or you might end up over-exfoliating your skin and damaging your skin barrier.
Is Toner Supposed To Burn Wrap Up
Toners can be a great addition to your skincare routine to help balance the skin’s pH, remove excess impurities after cleansing, hydrate and balance the skin. But if you’ve ever used toner and had a less than stellar experience with stinging and flushing, you’re probably left wondering is facial toner supposed to burn your skin or is stinging and tingling normal? The bottom line is that toner should never burn or sting your skin and if it does, it means that your skin does not agree with the product. Toner should leave your skin feeling clean, hydrated and soft – not red, irritated and sensitive. If your face toner burns, stop using it immediately and cleanse the skin to remove the product and avoid skin damage.
