Nowadays almost every one is concerned with their appearance. It may be the physical appearance of a body or a fresh beautiful looking face. Everyone is trying to use expensive and sometimes idiotic beauty products that claim to have miraculous effects, but their promises are empty. Many people use Expensive toners to get better skin which is ready to effectively utilize the effect of moisturizers. But still, many of us still stuck in age old question of what comes first, Toner before or after moisturizers. Or toner or moisturizer first.
But I have a better idea for you, forget expensive chemical based beauty products. If we tried to look around in our kitchen, many daily ingredients have such great properties that actually works for your face without spending a fortune. And yes, we also answer the age old question of toner before or after moisturizers.
So here is how it works. First of all we check the type of our skin. It is way more important that it sounds. To do that we do a simple 2 step procedure, which I will talk about later.
Then, We select two ingredients that are not random, from our kitchen that have proven skin caring properties. One of them acts as toner and the other of them acts as moisturizer.
We apply both of them in systemic order. And note the results. And give a rating from 1 to 10 based on three things.
- Irritation
- Dryness
- Overall skin freshness
So without any further talking let’s get into it.
Procedure for Checking Skin Type:
Knowing skin type is way more important for any beauty product to work properly, then it looks. People have different type of skin and the overall procedure for skin care will vary based upon it.
There are three common types of skins.
- 1. Oily skin. To determine whether you have oily skin, wash you face with soap and let it dry in the air for a couple of minutes. If you feel oiliness along with your nose side, chin or forehead, you may have oily skin.
- 2. Dry skin. Do the same procedure of washing face and drying, but instead this time you may feel dryness or itchiness on these same areas, this means you have dry skin.
- 3. Sensitive skin. If you feel redness or irritation, after washing your face you have sensitive skin and we do not recommend doing any experiment with your skin.
But instead take advice from a skin care expert.
Toner Before or after moisturizers? – The Answer.
Toner Always before moisturizers, doesn’t matter your skin type. The toner is a thin liquid specially made to leach deeper into the skin and open pores for better results of after applied moisturizers. So always use toner before moisturizers.
The Experiment. – DIY Toner and Moisturizers – No side effects.
As I mentioned earlier, this experiment has a few sets of rules.
- First, we only use household ingredients.
- Second, we will not randomly choose ingredients such as a toner or moisturizer.
- We will rate them from 1 to 10 based on results.
- We do 1 experiment each day (1 toner – 1 moisturizer – a day), although it may not feel ideal, however it’s an experiment.
- There should not be any side effects, as we use natural proven skin caring ingredients.
- People with sensitive skin may feel uncomfortable with some ingredients, so it is recommended not to do this experiment.
So let’s Start with Day – 1.
Day – 1 — Rose Water Toner + Glycerin Moisturizer
Ingredients Required:
- 100 mL pure rose water
- Vegetable glycerin
- 2 cotton pads
- Small glass jar (≥100 mL)
- Timer or stopwatch
Procedure:
Cleanse: The first and obvious thing is to wash your face, because we don’t want to apply different things on colorful gunky skin. Wash your face with your usual gentle cleanser and be sure to pat your skin dry.
Prep toner: As we are using rose water as toner, this is for a reason, or a couple of reasons. The first thing is, the rose water has Vitamin C, which is very good for skin health, it also normalizes skin pH level. Any way, Pour 30 mL rose water into the jar.
Apply toner: Now you have to Soak a cotton pad, sweep in horizontal strokes across cheeks, forehead, nose, chin. Flip pad and repeat if needed.
Wait: Start timer for 30 seconds—let the rose water absorb. Don’t wipe any of them, let it naturally absorb and dry.
Prep moisturizer: Now you have to Dispense 2 drops of glycerin into the palm; rub hands together to warm.
Apply moisturizer: Gently pat glycerin over the same areas you toned.
Results:
How does skin feel? (tight, cool, tacky?)
Any shine or dryness?
End of day: Overall comfort and oil balance.
Day – 2 — Aloe Vera Gel Toner + Vitamin E Oil Moisturizer
Ingredients Required:
- Fresh aloe vera gel (1 tsp)
- Distilled water (1 tsp)
- Vitamin E oil capsules or pure oil
- 2 cotton pads
- Small bowl & spoon
Procedure
Cleanse & pat dry. The first and obvious thing is to wash your face, because we don’t want to apply different things on colorful gunky skin. Wash your face with your usual gentle cleanser and be sure to pat your skin dry.
Mix toner: Now take a small bowl and In a small bowl, stir 1 tsp aloe gel + 1 tsp water into a uniform liquid. Mix well till it becomes suspiciously pasty (Don’t judge me).
Apply toner: Then you have to Dip cotton pad into aloe mix, and let it sock the liquidy goodness. Then slowly and gently glide over the face. It feels good – sorry I am a bit distracted. Anyways:
Wait 30 seconds. Let this liquidy goodness sink deep into your skin. It may cause some soothing cooling effect at start.
Prep moisturizer: You may have some vitamin e capsules, at your drawer of your dressing table, if you have not then you should be interrogated. Puncture one vitamin E capsule (or use 2 drops of oil).
Apply moisturizer: Warm between fingers; press gently into skin. And like a wet cotton ball, massage it with a relaxed and gentle manner.
Results:
How does skin feel? (tight, cool, tacky?)
Any shine or dryness?
End of day: Overall comfort and oil balance.
Day – 3 — Cucumber Juice Toner + Fresh Cow Milk Moisturizer
Ingredients Required:
- ½ small cucumber (yields ~2 tbsp juice)
- Fine mesh strainer
- Fresh cow milk (2 tbsp)
- 2 cotton pads
- Jar & bowl
Procedure
Cleanse & dry. I just copy paste this step again. “The first and obvious thing is to wash your face, because we don’t want to apply different things on colorful gunky skin. Wash your face with your usual gentle cleanser and be sure to pat your skin dry”
Juice cucumber: Now Blend or grate half of fresh and healthy cucumber, press pulp through strainer into bowl. You should be left with cold cucumber water, with most of its goodness in it.
Apply toner: Then you have to Dip cotton pad into cucumber water, and let it sock the liquidy goodness. Then slowly and gently glide over the face.
Wait 30 seconds. Let this liquidy goodness sink deep into your skin. It may cause some soothing cooling effect at start.
Apply moisturizer: Now Dip fingertips into chilled cow milk; pat onto skin. And let it soak. Don’t apply too much or otherwise it may cause itchiness.
Results:
How does skin feel? (tight, cool, tacky?)
Any shine or dryness?
End of day: Overall comfort and oil balance.
Day – 4 —Tea Tree Tonic Toner + Almond Milk Moisturizer
Ingredients Required:
- Tea tree oil (5 drops)
- Distilled water (30 mL)
- Almond milk (2 tbsp)
- 2 cotton pads
- Dropper bottle
Procedure
Prep toner: Take a clean dropper bottle and In dropper bottle, combine 5 drops tea tree oil + 30 mL water; shake well. Tree oil is a thing if you are living under a rock, or just TikTok makes your brain stop exploring things, try researching it.
Apply toner: Now you have to Dispense 3–4 drops onto cotton pad; sweep across face. Don’t forget to feel the motion.
Wait 30 seconds. Let this liquidy goodness sink deep into your skin. It may cause some soothing cooling effect at start.
Apply moisturizer: Pour almond milk into your palm; press gently into skin.
Results:
How does skin feel? (tight, cool, tacky?)
Any shine or dryness?
End of day: Overall comfort and oil balance.
Day – 5 —Lemon‑Water Toner + Yogurt Moisturizer
Ingredients Required:
- Fresh lemon juice (1 tsp)
- Distilled water (120 mL)
- Plain yogurt (1 tbsp)
- 2 cotton pads
- Mixing cup
Procedure
Cleanse & dry.
Mix toner: Stir 1 tsp lemon juice into 120 mL water.
Apply toner: Soak pad; sweep across face—avoid eye area.
Wait 30 seconds.
Apply moisturizer: Scoop 1 tbsp yogurt; smooth onto skin in upward strokes.
Results:
How does skin feel? (tight, cool, tacky?)
Any shine or dryness?
End of day: Overall comfort and oil balance.
Day – 6 —Baking Soda Toner + Coconut Water Moisturizer
Ingredients Required:
- Baking soda (1 tsp)
- Distilled water (120 mL)
- Pure coconut water (2 tbsp)
- 2 cotton pads
- Jar & stirrer
Procedure
Cleanse & pat dry.
Mix toner: Stir 1 tsp baking soda into 120 mL water until dissolved.
Apply toner: Soak pad; sweep face in gentle strokes.
Wait 30 seconds.
Apply moisturizer: Press 2 tbsp coconut water onto skin with fingertips.
Results:
How does skin feel? (tight, cool, tacky?)
Any shine or dryness?
End of day: Overall comfort and oil balance.
Day – 7—Salicylic Acid Toner + Store‑Bought Milk Moisturizer
Ingredients Required:
- Salicylic acid powder (0.25 g ≈ 0.5 % solution)
- Distilled water (50 mL)
- Plain grocery‑store milk (2 tbsp)
- 2 cotton pads
- Scale & mixing jar
Procedure
Cleanse & dry.
Weigh & dissolve: Measure 0.25 g BHA powder; stir into 50 mL water until clear.
Apply toner: Soak a pad; swipe evenly.
Wait 30 seconds.
Apply moisturizer: Dip fingers in milk; lightly pat on face.
Results:
How does skin feel? (tight, cool, tacky?)
Any shine or dryness?
End of day: Overall comfort and oil balance.
Theoretical Results – As per General Effect of Ingredients.
