Do You Really Need a Mist, Toner or Essence in Your Skincare Routine? An Expert Explains
Yads Cauchi is a Dermal Clinician, Nutritionist (BHSc, MSc) and Beauty Journalist. She's also a mum of four. Evidence based skin health and nutrition are her thing and she works from her own skin clinic based in Canberra - you can find her there, or on Instagram and TikTok @yadscauchiskin.
We’re in a face mist boom and honestly, as someone who cannot survive without her face mist, I’ve been dying for them to take off and the time is now.
However, there’s more to face mists than just a refreshing spritz...they can actually play a serious skincare step!
So let’s break down whether you really even need one for your skin concerns, how they actually work and options you can use instead.
How Do Face Mists Work?
Do face mists really work?
Typically, face mists are designed to hydrate and/or calm so they’re generally water-based formulations infused with humectants (like glycerin or hyaluronic acid), and calming ingredients and/or antioxidants to help protect the skin.
What does mist do to your face?
When misted onto the skin, they deliver a fine veil of hydration, are lightweight and if formulated well, they lock in moisture and help replenish/soothe your skin barrier which is why I love them.
Face mists can also help with:
- Product penetration: applying serums or moisturisers to damp skin (after misting) can enhance absorption.
- Calming irritation: especially if they include ingredients like panthenol or aloe vera.
- Fixing or refreshing makeup: some mists double as setting sprays or can refresh makeup without disrupting it.
- Barrier support: mists with barrier-repair ingredients (like ceramides) are especially useful in winter, or for post-treatment skin.
However, not all face mists are created equal and there are some funky formulas on the market that could irritate sensitive skin.
So if that’s your skin, it might be handy to look for formulas that don’t contain fragrance or high levels of alcohol.
If confused, stick to hydrating formulas (for your skin’s safety).
Try:
- Cosmedix Mystic Hydrating Treatment - This mist is excellent. Bury me with this. Lightweight, fine, very addictive.
- Clinique Moisture Surge Face Spray - This mist is perfect for dry/sensitive skin. Hydrates, soothes and is a great little pick me up.
Difference Between Toner and Mist.
Aren’t toners the same thing?
This is a fair question and one that comes up a lot.
You see, while toners and face mists can sometimes look and even feel similar, they’re not quite the same thing.
Traditionally, toners were used to rebalance the skin’s pH after cleansing, especially when foaming cleansers were harsh and left skin stripped.
However, these days, modern toners are not like that at all.
In fact, they can be SO different, predominantly because there are so many different options.
Good toners are packed with active ingredients (like exfoliating acids, antioxidants, or hydrators) some are designed to prep the skin for the rest of your routine, while others can be the active step in your routine and not for everyday use. (Hence, why it’s so important to know what ingredients are in the products in your routine!)
Think of it this way:
Face mists are more about instant hydration, barrier support, and comfort. These are often used between steps, throughout the day, or post-treatment to calm.
Toners on the other hand, aren’t just about stripping oil, think hydration, balancing pH, and prepping your skin for actives. The best skincare toner will also tend to be treatment-focused and are usually applied with a cotton pad or patted in by hand, but there are many different types now so you need to know which ones hydrate, exfoliate, brighten or calm etc… depending on the formulation.
That said, the lines can blur. Some modern toners are essentially mists in a bottle. And some mists are so sophisticated, they deliver actives like a toner-serum hybrid.
I know, it can be confusing. For a recommended toner try:
- Cosmedix Elite Surface Revival - A hydrating, yet mildly exfoliating toner that can help smooth texture and brighten.
For an affordable toner try:
- Laneige Cream Skin Cerapeptide™ Toner & Moisturizer - A K-Beauty skincare toner that is a toner, cream hybrid.
Ok but What Is an Essence in Skincare?
Now… where do essences fit into all of this?
If facial mists are your comfort step, and toners are your prep step, essences are the softer power players of your skincare routine, and sit somewhere between toners and serums.
They’re usually lightweight, but packed with skin-plumping ingredients and are big in K-Beauty routines. (In fact, I’d even say they are the heart of K-Beauty routines.)
Essences are typically watery or slightly viscous in texture and are designed to deeply hydrate and boost absorption of whatever you layer next.
So while they’re not a mandatory step for everyone, they can make a big difference if you’re dealing with:
- Dehydrated skin.
- Dullness.
- A compromised barrier.
- Or if you’re just layering for that glazed, bouncy skin feel.
Unlike traditional toners though, essences are less about balancing—and more about delivering targeted ingredients like fermented extracts and hydration in a highly absorbable way. Making sense?
How to use an essence?
After cleansing (and toning, if you use one), gently press your essence into the skin using your hands. You can even layer it. Maybe think of it like giving your skin a drink before you get into your serums and moisturisers.
Try:
- Bioderma Hydrabio Moisturising Essence Lotion for Dehydrated Skin 200ml - This is budget friendly, super hydrating and gives your face a plump/hydrated feel.
Toner, mist, essence… do you need them all?
Not necessarily. It’s about picking the texture and benefits that suit your skin and lifestyle.
Love a quick mist between emails? Go for it. Want hydration and a bouncy skin? Reach for an essence. Need gentle exfoliation? A treatment toner might be your go-to.
Skincare is personal, and these steps are flexible, not fixed.
So which one should you use?
It really depends on your skin type, your routine, and how you like your skincare to feel. You might find you love none, or all three and there’s definitely room for all of that.
If you’re still confused, book in with a dermal clinician and we can help!
Catch up on more of Yad's recent expert beauty advice below:
