Toners & essences

You can skip toner if your skin feels balanced afterwards cleansing and your serum delivers sufficient hydration. However, toner removes residual cleanser, restores the skin’s pH to around 5.5, and prepares its surface for faster serum absorption. If you are concerned about dryness or congestion, explore Lancôme skincare by skin concern to find the toner best suited to your specific needs. If your skin feels consistently dehydrated after cleansing, reintroducing a toner such as Tonique Confort can often make a measurable difference.

Toners can be applied twice daily for optimal results. Follow these steps to apply your toner:

• Step 1: After cleansing, pour face toner onto a cotton pad or cotton ball.
• Step 2: Apply toner to the skin, sweeping over the face and neck if desired.
• Step 3: Discard the used cotton pad.

Pro Tip: Wait at least one minute for toner to dry before applying an essence, face serum or moisturiser.

Toner and essence are complementary, not interchangeable. Toner removes impurities and rebalances pH immediately after cleansing. Essence delivers a concentrated boost of active ingredients, usually hydrating or brightening, applied after toner and before serum. Explore the full Absolue skincare line to discover this and other dual-action preparations designed for more mature skin types.

Toner does not permanently reduce pore size, as this is primarily determined by genetics. A clarifying toner can temporarily minimise the appearance of pores by removing dead cells and excess sebum. For oily skin types prone to enlarged pores, explore Lancôme skincare solutions by skin type to find the most complete pore-management protocol. Consistent use 2 to 3 times per week combined with a weekly exfoliating mask provides the best visible results.

Most modern toners are safe for sensitive skin, but alcohol-based astringent toners can disrupt the skin barrier. For sensitive skin, choose alcohol-free, lightly fragranced formulas. Explore Lancôme Skincare for hydration to find gentle formulas that hydrate and soothe without triggering sensitivity reactions. Patch-test any new toner on the inner arm for 24 hours before applying to the full face.