The beauty industry has come up with numerous skin care products in the past years. Two such products are face serum and face toners.


Face serums and toners are well-known yet confusing products to many. Although both products are crucial in your skin care routine, they have different purposes with unique perks. 

Continue reading to understand the differences between face serums and toners and when and why to include these in your skin care routine. 

Article Contents
Differences Between Face Serums and Toners
Why Should You Add Serums and Toners to Your Skin Care Routine?
How to Include Toners and Serums in Your Skin Care Routine?
General Queries
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Differences Between Face Serums and Toners
Face serums and toners are different in several ways.

Definition
Serums are lightweight moisturizers with a thicker consistency that contain active ingredients in high concentrations to hydrate skin without adding too much weight. They also target specific conditions by penetrating the skin deeply. 

Toners are water-based skin care products with a lighter consistency that gently clear dirt and impurities from the pores. They moisturize, refresh, and protect your skin.

Toners are ideal for sensitive skin as they don’t strip out its natural oils. 

Packaging
Face serums come in slightly smaller bottles. They come in opaque glass/plastic bottles with a pump dispenser or dropper to prevent the exposure of their active ingredient to light and air. 

Face toners come in larger bottles. They come in plastic/glass bottles with a flip-top for easy dispensing. 

Texture and Consistency
Face serums have a silky and lightweight texture with a thicker consistency. They are translucent with a nongreasy feel.

This nongreasy feel makes them ideal for layering with other skin care products such as sunscreen and moisturizers. 

Toners have a watery consistency that provides quick absorption. They are transparent. Unlike other products, they have a high water content that provides a refreshing feel. 

Function
Serums contain a high concentration of active ingredients that target specific skin issues such as wrinkles, fine lines, and pigmentation. 

Toners restore the pH balance of the skin. They are exfoliants and contain skin-balancing ingredients.

Serum application comes after toner. Simply dispense a quarter-size serum on your face and gently massage it onto your skin in circulation motions. 

Toner application comes after cleansing. Take a microfiber cloth and soak it with the toner, and then gently sweep it on your skin in an upward motion. 

Ingredients
Face serums contain active ingredients that target particular skin issues such as hyperpigmentation and fine lines. These ingredients include hyaluronic acid, peptides, vitamins, and antioxidants

They also contain specialized compounds that renew, brighten, and exfoliate the skin. These compounds include niacinamide, glycolic acid, and alpha arbutin

Toners contain hydrating agents that replenish skin moisture and hydrate the skin after cleansing. These agents include hyaluronic acid and glycerine

Some toners also contain mild astringents that tighten and tone the skin while balancing its pH. These astringents include chamomile and witch hazel.
Serum application comes after toner. Simply dispense a quarter-size serum on your face and gently massage it onto your skin in circulation motions. 

Toner application comes after cleansing. Take a microfiber cloth and soak it with the toner, and then gently sweep it on your skin in an upward motion. 

Ingredients
Face serums contain active ingredients that target particular skin issues such as hyperpigmentation and fine lines. These ingredients include hyaluronic acid, peptides, vitamins, and antioxidants

They also contain specialized compounds that renew, brighten, and exfoliate the skin. These compounds include niacinamide, glycolic acid, and alpha arbutin

Toners contain hydrating agents that replenish skin moisture and hydrate the skin after cleansing. These agents include hyaluronic acid and glycerine

Some toners also contain mild astringents that tighten and tone the skin while balancing its pH. These astringents include chamomile and witch hazel.