Applying toner by fingers or cotton pads?
Monday, 1 June 2009
A few weeks ago, a reader by the name of Jenny Li sent me an email to ask about the pros and cons of applying toner using cotton pads and using fingers.
I think I read that you apply toner with your fingers as opposed to a cotton ball? I’ve been doing that as well because I ran out of cotton balls, but the new toner I’m using is really runny so I find that I can’t do that anymore. I’m interested to hear your opinion on whether toner should be applied with cotton balls or fingers and the pros and cons of each.
Jenny’s question was interesting and in fact, not too long ago, I also read Kimoko’s take on this topic of applying toner. Anyway, my answer to Jenny was that I use more cotton pads to apply toner actually. It’s a habit which was formed in my early 20s when I started with Clinique’s 3-step skin care system. I only started using fingers recently when I was testing the Phyto Balancing Tonic from True Bio Skin Care because that’s how Susan of True Beauty taught me how to use their toner.
Using fingers to tap on goodies from toner
I would say how you apply your toner depends on two things. One, personal choice and the other, the function of your toner. Those who use cotton balls/pads may like to give their face a clean sweep to get rid of any traces of dirt or their cleansers. The toner in this case is also part of the cleansing process. However, if you’re confident that your cleanser is doing a good job of removing all traces of debris, then there’s no need to use a cotton pad but you can use your fingers to tap the tonic and deliver the goodies from the toner to your skin. Doing so means you won’t waste more of your toner as cotton pads tend to absorb more than needed.
Using cotton pads to prevent wastage
However, having said that, I would also qualify that it also depends on the packaging of your toner. In my case, I was using hydrosols and Lavera Faces Calendula Toner before using Phyto Balancing Tonic from True Bio Skin Care. Both types of toners come in bottles with open tops which meant it was highly possible for me to pour out more onto my palm. So no, I don’t like using fingers to tap on my toner unless I can squirt the liquid out. And to save on my toner, I sometimes damp the cotton pad with mineral water so that I don’t have to pour out so much.
So what about you ladies who use toner in your skin care regime? Do you use cotton pads? Fingers? Or you simply spray it on?
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June 1st, 2009 at 9:13 am
fingers! Coz i’m too lazy and cheap to buy cotton pads. Haha!
sesame Reply:
June 1st, 2009 at 12:22 pm
Haha…also save more toner!
June 1st, 2009 at 10:15 am
I have to use cotton pads, I am too paranoid about the dirts or makeup residues even if my cleansers are doing a great job or even when i double cleanse!
sesame Reply:
June 1st, 2009 at 12:23 pm
I was like that too…especially after wearing makeup.
June 1st, 2009 at 10:52 am
fingers! i tend to use less product that way
sesame Reply:
June 1st, 2009 at 12:23 pm
Yeah…agree. I also have to pour quite a bit on the cotton pad until I dilute it with water.
June 1st, 2009 at 11:19 am
I usually decant into a small spray bottle and either spray onto my palm and pat on, or just spray on the face and pat into the skin.
sesame Reply:
June 1st, 2009 at 12:25 pm
I’ve never decanted…always very lazy. But spraying on is a good way.
June 1st, 2009 at 11:29 am
I use both – I prefer cotton pads because I like patting it on my face and it seems to cool down my face. When I use my fingers I use less but I sometimes wonder if I’m using “enough”.
sesame Reply:
June 1st, 2009 at 12:26 pm
Should be suffficient if your entire face is wet no?
June 1st, 2009 at 12:40 pm
I use a cotton pad when I use my cleansing lotion.
Currently, I introduced a day toner as I feel that my skin wld be stripped if I use my cleansing lotion as toner in the morning.
2 weeks before I watched the taiwanese beauty show Nu Ren Wo Zhui Da, a celebrity makeup artist/skincare specialist showed a bunch of cotton pads with different textures.
If she felt that she requires some gentle exfoliation, she will use the cotton pad with a rougher surface. If she does not, then she will use a softer surface one. She even use those 8×10 ones as a mask with her toner.
sesame Reply:
June 1st, 2009 at 9:04 pm
Cotton pads with different textures? Sounds interesting…it’s been awhile since I watched the program.
June 1st, 2009 at 12:45 pm
I just spray directly from my spray bottle and pat it dry
sesame Reply:
June 1st, 2009 at 9:10 pm
I’ve should try a toner that sprays one day.
June 1st, 2009 at 12:47 pm
oh i forgot….I use my palms to slap on my day toner. Actually, one of the reason is because I find that my skin is sorta getting thinner nowadays. The cotton pads which felt fine previously all feels very rough now.
I can even see the blood veins on my eyelids now.
sesame Reply:
June 1st, 2009 at 9:11 pm
Skin getting thinner? I had this problem…mine is due to a loss of collagen.
June 1st, 2009 at 2:25 pm
Great info! Good to read your thoughts.
I used to use cotton because I haven’t been using a very good cleanser but my cotton scratches my face and I’m too cheap to buy the expensive ones :p So now that I’ve had proper cleansing, I spread toner in between my palm then sweep it all over my face
sesame Reply:
June 1st, 2009 at 9:13 pm
I actually quite like to tap the toner on with my palm and fingers. Feels rather refreshing!
June 1st, 2009 at 2:48 pm
I apply with a cotton pad, of course! My toner is just too liquid and watery.
sesame Reply:
June 1st, 2009 at 9:20 pm
Actually you can still pad the watery type of toner if you want to try.
June 1st, 2009 at 3:18 pm
I would prefer to spray toner on my face but sometimes I’m just too lazy to pour new toner into spray can. Thus my normal routine on toning is by using fingers. I don’t like the idea of tugging my face, although I know toner is also a form of cleansing but maybe I’m too used to my own way of toning. Hahaha… just my 2 cents…
sesame Reply:
June 1st, 2009 at 9:23 pm
It sounds fine to me. These days I don’t see toner as a form of cleansing but for its skin care benefits as well as to prep our skin for the next step of skin care.
June 1st, 2009 at 8:56 pm
i too prefer spraying toner and using fingers. but Aesop’s toner is more of a hydrating tonic and it comes with a stopper over the mouth to regulate the liquid coming out so i use my palms and fingers. it gives me an opportunity to give my face a massage. the times when i use a cotton pad with this toner is when my face doesnt feel oily in the morning and didnt use a cleanser. i avoid using cotton pads as i have the tendancy to apply too much force to sweep my face.
sesame Reply:
June 1st, 2009 at 9:29 pm
Oh Aesop sounds good…I remember a blogging friend raving about the parsley toner.
June 1st, 2009 at 11:40 pm
I would think that, unless one is super-diligent re: washing hands while working with her face, then I vote for using cotton balls/pads.
sesame Reply:
June 2nd, 2009 at 8:29 am
Ah I know what you mean. For me, I apply immediately after my bath and facial wash so my hands are clean.
June 1st, 2009 at 11:47 pm
I use a cotton pad that is soft on one side and has a rougher texture on the other. I always use the cotton pad to ensure I gte off any leftover makeup. However, the side I use depends on if I feel I need some exfoliation. My skin can get flaky, so when it is, I iwll use the “rough” side.
sesame Reply:
June 2nd, 2009 at 8:30 am
So interesting. I must go and check out such cotton pads. I haven’t seen them around.
June 1st, 2009 at 11:53 pm
Omg that’s me!! Haha, I never got a chance to thank you for answering my question!
I started using cotton balls with my new toner (Dickinson’s Witch Hazel) because of how (like you said) the bottle pours out the toner but I’m going to try spritzing the toner
Thank you again!!!
sesame Reply:
June 2nd, 2009 at 8:30 am
Hey Jenny, no problem. It was my pleasure as long as the info was useful to you.
June 2nd, 2009 at 2:51 am
Using your fingers sounds like a good idea for applying toners! I’ll have to try that. Btw, do you use alcohol free toners?
On a different note, have you gotten deep cleaning for your face before? The other day an aesthetician was suggesting I go in for a treatment for my facial acne but I wonder if that would really help…
sesame Reply:
June 2nd, 2009 at 8:34 am
Yes, strictly alcohol free toner for me now. Alcohol when used long term can cause skin to dry out.
Deep cleansing? I’m not exactly sure what your aesthetician has in mind but I expect it involves steaming and extraction? I go to True Beauty for their facial and their products provide the deep cleansing.
June 2nd, 2009 at 8:17 am
I using a spray to spread around my face and followed up by tapping with my finger. This will reduce a lot of waste
sesame Reply:
June 2nd, 2009 at 8:39 am
Ya, and also savings on the cotton pads!
June 2nd, 2009 at 9:06 am
Fingers! Cleansers should do a good job of cleansing the face. When you use your fingers for applying toners, you can feel how squeaky clean your face is. If otherwise, you should change your cleansers.
A spray mist toner is best. I love L’occitane’s Brightening Toner. It refreshes and moisturises. Renew Rose Hip Mist is also another of my fave. I simply lurve these two toners.
sesame Reply:
June 2nd, 2009 at 3:02 pm
Haha…then a lot of cleansers need to go to the bin. But yeah, toners shouldn’t be to remove the dirt and impurities cos it would mean the cleansers are not doing a good job.
June 2nd, 2009 at 11:55 am
I’m not sure what my skin thinning is due to. Perhaps loss of collagen as well since I’m not getting younger by the minute.
However, for my eye area, I’m suspecting its due to my new eye treatment. I have never used eye stuff regularly before until I have dark smudges at my undereye area. I’m worried of dark circles forming. So, I bought the Kiehl’s eye brightening/line reducing serum with vitamin C.
After using for about 3 weeks or so, I begin to notice the blood veins on my lids. Weird…
Anyways, I’m keen to check out the facial cotton of different textures as well. Sounds very interesting.
sesame Reply:
June 2nd, 2009 at 3:08 pm
Oh…most probably the new product has caused a change then.
June 15th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
I use cotton pads, always have. Didn’t actually think of applying toner with my fingers. Hmmm. Although a recent facial I went to, the beautician sprayed toner from a bottle all over my face. I haven’t experienced that before, so I had a bit of a shock
August 21st, 2009 at 12:58 am
Is it safe to rub the toner on (with my fingers) the same way I use the cleanser? Cause that’s what I’m doing and all this talk about dapping is making me feel sorry for my skin. Lol..
October 8th, 2009 at 10:56 am
Ha man. I just take the bottle and squirt away at my face! Lol just playin. I use a cotton pad. And dap my face with the toner. I just found out that rubbing the toner is bad… your spreading the acne else where.
November 12th, 2009 at 5:48 am
I tend to use my fingers since it saves me a lot of toner. with a cotton pad I seem to run out of toner faster. :/ anyways, which toner would you recommend for people like me with oily skin and prone to acne? They have soooooooooo many toners out there that are expensive and affordable I just dont know what would be the best. I just bought Laneige toner for troubled skin and have not used it yet…but if you have any recommendations I would love to hear your opinion. thanks
sesame Reply:
November 12th, 2009 at 9:58 am
I suggest you look for toners without alcohol. I was using Kiehl’s before and they’re not bad too.