If skincare products had a publicist what all would they want you to know? For beginners they’d like to elucidate the distinction between essence, serum, toner and mist……

Getting overwhelmed by the intricate world of skincare products? What’s the difference between toner and serum? Well we are all in the same boat! All these skincare essentials serve a different purpose and are equally important in your regime. 

We have simplified a guide for you to effectively understand each product to help you tailor your skincare needs: 

Facial Essences

Facial essences are basically a vital everyday skincare regime to address explicit skin concerns like ageing, dullness and pigmentation. Their water-like texture is intended to be absorbed swiftly by your skin, pervading in with their powerful elements. 

An essence is the primary stage of your skincare to assist in replenishing your skin of moisture and nutrients. In fact, essence virgins will be delighted to find that their skin is really smoother and even after a single application. 

Moreover, it helps in the absorption of subsequent products while serving to hold hydration and nutrients in your complexion. They are formulated with concentrated actives which are intended to infiltrate deep into your skin and help transfer active ingredients precisely where they are required. Being water based they are a frivolous yet effective way of modifying your skincare regime depending on what your skin needs at that point. 

How to Use?

The key difference between an essence and a toner is that once you are done with cleansing and toning, you can follow up with an essence. Take a little bit of the product on your palms and apply it to your skin working all the way up from the neck to the chin and your entire face. The water-like consistency renders it perfect for quick absorption, so you don’t really have to wait for it to absorb in your skin. 

Serum

If you have hit 25, this means you must inculcate serums in your routine. This is because collagen synthesis begins to drop at this stage and your skin requires essential nutrients to stay fresh. Serums contain active ingredients and are rich in antioxidants that aid to fight free radical damage. The consistency of a serum totally depends on the brand, they can either be gel-like, milky or even watery. Though serums do address skin concerns effectively, being a concerted blend, your skin might have to build some tolerance for the ingredients. 

For this you will have to begin with the lowest concentration and conduct a patch test before integrating it in your skincare. more so, you must know that some serums are permeable while others are semi-permeable depending on the key ingredient present. 

How to Use? 

When choosing to opt between a serum and toner you can use serums twice a day in your skincare but make sure to apply it before a moisturiser. Since a single splurge may go a long way, only applying a few drops of serum on your face is enough. This targeted approach allows serums to penetrate deep in your skin to address specific concerns. So, when considering which is better serum or toner, it is not about how you pick one over the other but how the two can complement each other to achieve your desired complexion. 

Toner

Are you familiar with the CTM method? If you are then you must also be aware that toning comes after cleansing. This product has a water-like consistency which evaporates quickly. Since cleansing eradicates accumulated dirt, makeup residue, bacteria along with other pollutants on your skin, chances are, a few obstinate particles may stay behind. Here comes the role of toners. 

Toner aids in removing any impurities that remain post the cleansing process. More so, they shrink your pores and balance the pH levels of your skin. it's suggested to opt for toners without alcohol which are well suited for every skin type and won’t cause over drying. 

Now, let's identify the difference between toner and serum. While toners mainly focus on cleansing and balancing the skin, serums are a separate sort of skincare product. Serums are more concentrated and formulated with specific active ingredients to target particular skin concerns. They are designed to penetrate deeper into the skin, delivering potent ingredients like antioxidants, vitamins, and peptides.

How to Use?

To derive maximum benefits from your toner, right after you are done with cleansing, just soak in a cotton pad with a little bit of toner and rub it all over your face. Before you proceed to the next skincare product, you need to wait for a bit for it to evaporate. 

Face Mist

Often considered great but not essential, face mists warrant a slightly more credit than this! Mists comprise watery extracts that condition your skin. They keep your skin hydrated and smooth as they fight all the environmental stressors that may impact your skin. Cocos nucifera, butylene glycol, sodium hydroxide, capric triglyceride etc are some of the elements common in these facial mists. The butylene glycol is the ingredient that makes the product sprayable.

How to Use?

To understand the use of a facial mist, let's probe into the difference between toner and mist. While both serve as skincare products, toners are typically used after cleansing to balance the skin's pH levels and prepare it for subsequent treatments, such as serums or moisturisers.

Mists are meant to be sprayed onto clean skin and then followed up by facial oil, moisturiser or serum whatever your skin regime needs. That being said, you don’t have to wait for the mist to dry before you move on to other products. This is because the moistness and hydration provided will evaporate off your skin. 

Mists are also very versatile products as they can be applied all through the day to refresh your complexion and provide thorough hydration. 

The Final Verdict

So, girls whether you are a skincare expert or novice, taking one glimpse at our helpful guide will demystify all your worries. Try these on as per your skin and align these in accordance with your specific concerns.