Is Toner a type of “second cleanse”?

No, toners are prepping the skin to absorb your following skincare products. if your cleanser doesn't cleanse then it's time to change it. or you can use a micellar water as a second cleanse but then you'll still have to use a toner afterwards.

nahh, i use it like a toner, not a second cleanse. the main function of a toner is to tone meaning, it allows our skin to be balanced back to its original pH level. a toner should be used after cleansing, not in place of micellar water as a first cleanse. i’ve tried this before and it didn’t really remove anything significant since toners do not contain surfactants that can cleanse the skin the ways cleansers do. however there are some toners that are able to remove surface dirt/grime usually exfoliating ones. but not enough to count as a cleanser imo

I use toner after fully cleansing my face to start moisturizing my skin. I believe a few years back, before Kbeauty was a thing on the western hemisphere, toners like Neutrogena or Clean & Clear were actually meant to cleanse after your soap

I think older toners which contain lots of drying ingredients or alcohols were used as a second cleanse but these days the cleansers work well enough to remove the dirt so toners are more of a hydrating step. if your toner is still removing makeup then you need a better cleanser

No. I apply toner with my hands, not a toner pad.