In recent decades, skincare shelves have gone through an evolution all their own. Whereas there were once just cleansers, toners, and moisturisers, there are now serums, essences, ampules, floral waters ... and surprisingly, that's just the beginning of the list!
Which surely brings you to ask what the differences are amongst all these products. If you use one, do you need to use the others? If you use two, do you get double the benefits? And if so, which one do you apply first?
Let’s break down everything you need to know about toner vs serum.
What's the difference between a toner and a serum?
Toner vs serum? It’s an important question that, unfortunately, doesn’t have an easy answer. If you visually compare them, the tell-tale difference is the consistency. Toning products tend to be waterlike and come in jumbo containers, whereas serums tend to be thicker yet still lightweight and come in preciously small bottles. Generally, serums are costlier than toners too.
While it's helpful to understand how to tell the difference, this doesn't answer the heart of your question. What you really want to know is what toners and serums DO differently and which is more important.
Toner vs Serum: Benefits of Using a Facial Toner First
Considering whether to use toner vs serum, it is essential to look at the advantages of using facial toner. Ideally, these products are intended to refresh the skin without removing the much-needed moisture that keeps skin healthy. It also acts as a base, leaving your skin prepped to absorb moisturiser and treatments in your skincare routine.
In general, modern toning products are formulated to:
● Provide lightweight hydration—perfect for dehydrated oily and combination skin types
● Balance your skin's naturally acidic pH—great for dry, irritated, and uncomfortable skin
There are, in fact, three significantly different types of toning products, which you can learn more about in our Ultimate Guide article, 'What are skin toners for?' Each type of toner excels specifically in one of the above benefits.
Toner vs Serum: Is Serum or Toner More Important?
Deciding on toner vs serum is something you will need to consider carefully for your skin type. After all, they are two separate products that do entirely different things.
When building an effective skincare regime, one cannot be substituted for another. However, considering both advantages, using a facial serum first will provide more immediate benefits to all skin types than toners. That said, a toner is an essential part of any beauty routine and is well worth the investment.
Be sure to check the formulations and ingredients of each product to ensure that you are making the best decision for your needs.
Do you need to use a toner and a serum?
The answer to this important question depends on what you want to achieve for your skin. Do you want to treat or prevent a targeted skincare concern? If so, then integrating the perfect serum into your skincare routine will benefit your complexion. For example, in the case of hyperpigmentation, we'd recommend first integrating a product with vitamin C, such as asap super c serum 30ml. If you're more concerned about fine lines and wrinkles, then we'd recommend HydroPeptide Power Serum or something similar.
What these products have in common is a concentrated and targeted dose of effective active ingredients, which you're unlikely to find in a toner. So, although you can certainly use a toner alone and skip the serum, there are definitely benefits to using both.
If you use both a toner and a serum, will you get double the benefits?
Now you know that you don’t need to think of it as toner vs serum, as a combination, the two can benefit your skin. Whether you see extra benefits depends on how you select and apply toner.
For example, if you use asap super c serum 30ml to even your skin tone, then you would also benefit from an exfoliating toner such as Pixi Glow Tonic 250ml. These two products contain different active ingredients that address the same concern. We can't promise a literal doubling of benefits, but you'd definitely see some additional benefits by using both products.
Again, if you were to useHydroPeptide Power Serum for fine lines and wrinkles, you'd definitely see additional benefits from a complementary toner such asDermalogica Multi-Active Toner 50ml.
Understanding the key active ingredients and aims of each of your skincare products is the key to achieving optimal benefits from your routine. If you need more clarification, our skincare experts are always happy to help at service@adorebeauty.co.nz
