Despite promising myself that 2025 would be the year that I cut down my screen time, as a beauty editor I find myself perpetually online finding inspiration for the biggest beauty trends of the year and trying to spot emerging ones. And chances are, if you spend any time scrolling social media at all, you will have noticed that there’s been something of a buzz around milky toners at the moment. However, unlike other more questionable skincare trends, this one is actually for good reason.
“Milky toners have gone viral on TikTok, thanks to trends like glazed skin which focus on deep hydration and a radiant glow,” explains Dr Emma Cunningham, aesthetic doctor and founder of Dr Emma Clinics. “They’ve become a must-have for anyone looking to boost their glow and maintain a healthy skin barrier—combining a traditional toner’s refreshing feel with a moisturiser’s nourishing benefits.”
Promising plump, dewy, hydrated skin, adding a milky toner to your skincare routine might sound like an extra step that you don’t need, but it’s actually a really hassle-free way of achieving a juicy complexion. “The rise of ‘skinimalism’—a minimalist skincare routine—has made milky toners even more appealing as they offer hydration and toning in one simple step, which is perfect for those who want a practical, fuss-free routine,” explains Dr Cunningham. “They’re a real multitasker with a creamy, lightweight texture that helps calm, hydrate and balance skin.”
Known for their ability to boost moisture levels, soften and smooth, and really bring the glow, milky toners are a surprisingly versatile product that work for a whole host of skin types. “Milky toners are perfect for dry, sensitive or dehydrated skin, because they provide deep hydration without feeling heavy or greasy," says Dr Cunninhgam. “But that doesn’t mean they’re only for dry skin types—lightweight, non-comedogenic formulas can also balance oil production and keep combination or oily skin hydrated without clogging pores.” This makes them a great option for those who want to get their oil in check without having to rely on a mattifying moisturiser for oily skin.
Even better, adding a milky toner to your skincare could actually make the rest of your routine more efficacious. “They’re packed with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, niacinamide and botanical extracts, to lock in moisture, strengthen the skin barrier and reduce redness. Plus, they actually hydrate and preps the skin, making serums and moisturisers absorb better for maximum benefits,” says Dr Cunningham.
Trust me, this might just be the secret step you needed for effortlessly dewy skin. Ready to invest? Ahead, the best milky toners for every skin type.
1. Rhode Glazing Milk
Best Overall Milky Toner
Probably the most viral milky toner of them all, I’m happy to report that Hailey Bieber’s Rhode Glazing Milk actually does live up to all of its TikTok hype. A lightweight yet unctuous texture, it really does feel like you’re treating your skin to a nourishing drink of hydration before getting on with the rest of your skincare. Packed with ceramides, magnesium, zinc and copper, it works for all skin types—from sensitive to acne-prone—by strengthening your skin barrier, easing irritation and calming inflammation. The result is skin that feels bouncier and looks brighter in mere moments. My only gripe? The packaging means that I always pour out way more than needed, so I end up flying through a bottle of this. (Not that my skin minds.)
For
- Beautiful silky texture
- Leaves skin so luminous
- Calms irritation
Against
- I find that I often use more than needed due to it pouring out quickly
2. Ilia The Base Face Milk
Best for: Mature skin
A cross between a skin essence and a lightweight moisturiser, this milky toner from Ilia drenches skin in moisture and keeps hydration locked in all day thanks to a strengthening barrier renewal complex. Alongside hyaluronic acid and microalgae extract to plump, protect and replenish the skin, there’s also prickly pear flower extract to boost brightness and leave skin looking more radiant. Even better? If you’re prone to redness then this really does calm inflammation and leave your skin looking more even and smooth. And the glass bottle that it’s housed inside makes the whole experience feel incredibly premium too.
For
- Toner and moisturiser in one
- Deeply hydrating
- Luxurious packaging
Against
- It's quite expensive
3. Laneige Cream Skin Cerapeptide Toner and Moisturiser
Best for: Oily skin
Taking a 2-in-1 approach to toning and moisturising, this milky toner has such a creamy texture that oily skin types will find they can skip applying a standalone cream afterwards. In summer particularly, I’ll cleanse, use this and then apply an SPF—no separate moisturiser needed. Infused with a blend of ceramides, peptides and white leaf tea extract, it offers moisture without heaviness—focusing instead on protecting your skin barrier and fighting off free radicals. Skin is left firm, plump and subtly glowy rather than overly shiny.
For
- Glides onto skin
- Hydrates without adding excess shine
- Balances combination skin
Against
- Drier skin will still need a separate moisturiser
4. The Ordinary Saccharomyces Ferment 30% Milky Toner
Best for: Rough, uneven skin
If you have sensitive skin then you’ll know the struggle of trying to find a product that can help to smooth uneven texture without causing irritation. Enter, this milky toner from The Ordinary. It uses saccharomyces ferment—an ingredient derived from yeast that’s rich in enzymes to help gently exfoliate and decongest skin to leave it smooth and even. Over time, everything from dark spots to rough patches will be reduced, while hydrating squalane works to protect your moisture barrier and boost hydration. Hello plump, dewy skin.
For
- Gently exfoliates
- Refines texture
- Good for sensitive skin
Against
- Congested skin might want more potent exfoliation
5. Byoma Hydrating Milky Toner
Best for: Affordability
Bolstering your skin barrier is the aim of the game with the entire Byoma lineup, and this milky toner is no exception. Coming in at just under £12, it has an impressive ingredients list that some of the more expensive toners on the market could do with emulating. First up, there’s ultra-hydrating polyglutamic acid along with smoothing cica—great if you’re looking for a toner that will help to smooth and calm. Plus, Byoma’s very own lipid complex boosts radiance, strengthens skin and locks in hydration so your skin will remain supple and soft for the whole day.
For
- Skin-strengthening ingredients
- Affordable
- Great for all skin types
Against
- Slightly tacky in texture before it dries down
6. Paula’s Choice Calm Nourishing Milky Toner
Best for: Reactive skin
Whether you have skin that’s prone to redness and sensitivity, like rosacea, or you’re in the midst of a reaction to a product or just experiencing some irritation, this milky toner from Paula’s Choice is specially formulated to calm and balance. It is packed with soothing ingredients like allantoin, marshmallow root extract and ophiopogum japonicus root extract which work together to hydrate, reduce redness and soothe the skin—while the instantly cooling feel means that any inflammation will be instantly calmed.
For
- Eases redness
- Cooling on the skin
- Soothing allantoin
Against
- Not as moisturising as others
7. Aveeno Calm and Restore Soothing Toner
Best for: Sensitive skin
The clue is in the name with this one, but this milky toner really does deliver when it comes to calming sensitivity and restoring your skin barrier. It uses prebiotic oats—known for their soothing capabilities—along with calming feverfew extract which is naturally rich in antioxidants to protect vulnerable skin and support a stronger barrier. Best applied after cleansing and before any further serums and moisturisers, it improves the absorption of other products applied on top and adds an extra layer of hydration.
For
- Soothes and nourishes
- Rich in prebiotics and antioxidants
Against
- Slightly thin consistency
8. Good Light Moon Glow Milky Toning Lotion
Best for: Dull skin
This is basically brighter skin in a bottle. Rich in natural alpha hydroxy acids to buff away dead skin cells and meadowfoam seed oil to calm inflammation, this is a beautifully lightweight milky toner that does so much more than just hydrate. If your skin is prone to breakouts or congestion like mine, but it’s dehydrated in other places, then this contains niacinamide to balance and snow mushroom to hydrate, meaning that your skin gets all of that brilliant exfoliating action alongside plenty of moisture and pore-smoothing benefits. If you’re looking for brighter skin fast then you won’t regret adding this step to your skincare routine.
For
- Contains AHAs to exfoliate and brighten
- Really boosts glow
Against
- Might be too harsh for very sensitive skin
9. Pixi Milky Tonic
Best for: Dehydrated skin
Doing exactly what you’d hope from a milky toner, this deeply quenching formula from Pixi uses jojoba, oat milk and oat extracts to act like a big glass of water to dry skin. The texture is beautiful—rich and milky to really nourish the skin—and it really does add a juiciness to parched complexions. Applied after cleansing, it adds a fresh, dewy glow to skin and plays nice with the rest of your products that you’ll apply on top.
For
- Nourishes and hydrates
- Leaves skin dewy
Against
- Slightly scented, which won't be to everyone's tastes
