I’m horizontal with my eyes closed at celebrity facialist, Georgia Louise’s, Upper East Side Skin Atelier when she starts to tap my face almost aggressively. Mid-pat (she’s applying SK-II’s iconic Pitera Facial Treatment Clear Lotion), I finally summon the courage to ask her about a trend I’ve seen on TikTok: Should I be applying seven toners to my face?
“Oh my god,” she says without stopping mid-product application. I can feel her eyes roll without even opening my eyelids. “I really want to see the scientific papers backing up this theory.”
Known as the “seven skin method,” it’s a practice that comes from K-Beauty, where either seven different toners or seven layers of toner are applied to the face after cleansing. It’s the latest way to get smoother, more hydrated “glass skin”.
A toner is a feather-light liquid you apply to freshly cleansed skin to help balance its pH post-wash, and there are different sub-categories on the market. Exfoliating versions, like Biologique Recherche’s P50, are akin to paint stripper for the face, removing any hint of leftover grime from the day, as well as helping to clear pigmentation and smooth fine lines. There are also hydrating toners (such as aforementioned Pietra and La Mer’s the Treatment Lotion), which take a more gentle approach to imparting a glow.
So, why seven? Well, it’s really meant to be applied up to seven times — you should intuit how much your skin needs it. But Louise assures us, one go of whichever toner you choose to use is the right amount. “Think of your skincare like it’s medicine, because thats how it’s formulated. It’s dosed to be the right amount of product — and the right amount of ingredients — in a single pass.”
This method can be truly detrimental for your skin if you’re using a toner is a little over-stripping. But Louise adds that it’s not that great for the more hydrating versions, either. “By over-hydrating the skin with too much toner, you’re just setting up a block for other products, like your serums, to work properly. Your regime really should be all about the serums, because that’s where the actives are. Don’t spend all your time and money on layering a toner seven times.”
After her fiery speech, she moved onto the next step of my facial… ice cubes. And for now, I won’t be buying — or applying — the seven toners method.