The Best Toners Are Actually Found at the Drugstore—These Are Our Picks
Finding the right toner for your skin type and budget can be overwhelming with all of the options on the market. But your neighborhood drugstore actually offers some of the best tried-and-true toners money can buy. What's more, these are the formulas that won't bust your budget.
There is often discourse about whether you really need a toner, but it’s a step I absolutely never skip during my evening routine, especially on days when I wear makeup or have a long workout. (Even with a thorough double cleanse, I find there can still be some residue!)
Keep scrolling for some helpful information to have in your back pocket as you shop for a toner in addition to our top drugstore picks that fit every budget. The 15 best drugstore toners are just ahead.
The Best Drugstore Toners, Listed
- Bioderma Sensibio H20 Micellar Water
- Thayers Alcohol-Free Witch Hazel Facial Toner
- Bevel 2-in-1 10% Glycolic Acid Toner Pads
- La Roche-Posay Effaclar Clarifying Solution Acne Toner
- Dickinson's Fragrance-Free Original Witch Hazel Pore Perfecting Toner
- CeraVe Alcohol-Free Hydrating Toner for Sensitive Dry Skin
- Pixi Glow Tonic 5% Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Toner
- Clean & Clear Essentials Acne Toner
- Bioderma Hydrabio H20 Micellar Water
- The Lip Bar Snap Back Toner Serum Drops
- Hero Cosmetics Clear Collective Balancing Capsule Toner
- Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water All-in-1 Cleanser & Makeup Remover
Best Overall: Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Water
Pros: Made with pharmaceutical-grade water; noncomedogenic, hypoallergenic
Cons: Pricier than other drugstore options
With a nearly five-star rating, this fragrance- and alcohol-free micellar water removes fine particles, pollution, and face and eye makeup while soothing and hydrating the skin.
Glowing customer review: "Leaves your skin clean. If you have sensitive skin, this will help a lot in cleansing without stripping oils off the skin. This is an important step in my nighttime routine."
Size: 16.7 oz.
Best Value: Thayers Alcohol-Free Witch Hazel Facial Toner
Pros: Helps control oil and provides eight-hour hydration
Cons: Honestly, none
This Thayers toner is made with 98% natural origin ingredients and is a cult favorite. It's formulated with aloe vera and witch hazel to cleanse and soothe without drying out your skin. It comes in multiple varieties: rose petal, lavender, cucumber, coconut water, and unscented.
Glowing customer review: "I used to always use high-end toners from major brands. Used this once, and I was hooked. Affordable, cooling, and smells fantastic."
Size: 12 oz.
Best for Treating Dark Spots: Bevel 2-in-1 10% Glycolic Acid Toner Pads
Pros: Smooths texture, reduces the appearance of dark spots
Cons: Could be too strong for sensitive skin types
For dark spots and ingrown hairs, these alcohol-free toner pads are packed with 10% glycolic acid. Plus, soothing aloe vera helps improve skin tone and texture without drying out the skin.
Glowing customer review: "This product is the best! I have used everything for my skin, and nothing has worked until this. I started off using it every day, which made my skin peel, but now I’m using it every three days or so, and it’s been working perfectly."
Size: 2.25 oz., 45 pads
Best for Treating Acne: La Roche-Posay Effaclar Clarifying Solution Acne Toner
Pros: Oil- and fragrance-free, dermatologist and allergy-tested
Cons: Its active ingredients could irritate extra-sensitive skin
This drugstore toner contains acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid and glycolic acid to unclog pores, reduce black and whiteheads, and remove dead skin cells. It's also safe and gentle enough for those with sensitive skin.
Glowing customer review: "Everyone's skin is different. I have combination skin and was suffering from closed comedones on my cheeks and foreheads, and my pores looked big. I don't have sensitive skin, so I started using this product every night after cleaning my face, and within five days, my face looks soooo smooth, and the comedones disappeared completely."
Size: 6.7 oz.
Best for Sensitive Skin: Dickinson's Fragrance-Free Original Witch Hazel Pore Perfecting Toner
Pros: Great value for the price, formulated with 100% natural distilled witch hazel
Cons: May not be ideal for dry skin types
This drugstore formula has been around for years and is still at the top of the "best-ever" toner list. Made with witch hazel to gently remove oil and help clear skin, you won’t have to worry about it drying out skin as it lifts dirt, makeup, and oil. It's also fragrance-free, making it extra great for anyone with sensitive skin.
Glowing customer review: "This bottle lasted me over a year! I agree with other reviewers; the smell isn't great, so I limit [myself] to using it only in the evenings before bed. I don't find it irritating, but because I have dry skin, it's not necessarily moisturizing for me. It's my go-to place for make-up removal and toning."
Size: 16 oz.
Best for Dry Skin: Alcohol-Free Hydrating Toner for Sensitive Dry Skin
Pros: Alcohol, fragrance, and oil-free, supports a healthy skin barrier
Cons: Could be too hydrating for oily skin types
Developed with dermatologists, this pH-balanced toner is formulated with hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and three essential ceramides (1, 3, 6-II) to effectively moisturize the skin. Since it’s noncomedogenic, you don’t have to worry about it clogging your pores.
Glowing customer review: "It doesn’t do the best at hydrating, but if you use a moisturizer afterward, you can tell a difference from using just moisturizer alone! It does a great job at removing residue and dirt from your face even after washing your face! It pulls dirt from the pores and makes your pore areas very hydrated and smooth!"
Size: 6.8 oz.
Best for Brightening: Glow Tonic 5% Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Toner
Pros: Non-drying, gentle formula that reduces the appearance of dark spots
Cons: Because of the active ingredients, overuse could irritate the skin
This drugstore toner is a cult classic and for good reason: It just works. Formulated with glycolic acid, ginseng, and aloe vera, this toner refines the appearance of pores, soothes, and injects your complexion with brightness.
Glowing customer review: "I have eczema and very dry skin that’s prone to hyperpigmentation. I started using glow tonic a few months ago and ran out for a few weeks recently. I quickly learned that my skin truly thrives on this, so I bought the bigger bottle and will continue to do so. I have sensitive skin and never experienced burning or breaking out by introducing this into my routine every other day for a month. I now use it every day!"
Size: 4.2 oz.
Best for Oily Skin: Clean & Clear Essentials Acne Toner
Pros: Oil-free formula works to unclog pores and prevent acne
Cons: Not a great option for dry skin types, reviewers note a strong smell
This facial astringent is formulated with oily and acne-prone skin types in mind, cleansing the skin of excess oil while helping fight stubborn breakouts.
Glowing customer review: "This is some serious stuff. Swiping just my cheeks and forehead with a soaked cotton round almost makes my eyes water. The smell is strong, but it calmed down my face overnight. I had been dealing with recurring problems and angry redness for days with no results. I used this one time, and problem solved. Perfect for my needs, just be aware of the strong chemical smell."
Size: 8 oz.
Best for Mature Skin: Bioderma Hydrabio H20 Micellar Water
Pros: Alcohol-free formula boosts the skin's hydration and glow
Cons: Pricier than other drugstore options
This noncomedogenic, ultra-hydrating formula gently removes fine particles, pollution, and makeup from the skin without tugging at or over-stripping the skin, making it a great option for those with dry or mature skin.
Glowing customer review: "I have very dry and sensitive skin; this product is a savior! I used the OG Bioderma with the pink cap for such a long time, but this blue one is the best. No irritation for the eyes, and it moisturizes my skin very well. I barely get pimples since I started using this. I very highly recommend it for those who have extremely dry skin like me!"
Size: 16.7 oz.
Best Two-in-One: The Lip Bar Snap Back Toner Serum Drops
Pros: Glycerin-infused formula calms inflamed and dry skin
Cons: Could be too dewy for oily skin types
This über-moisturizing formula is made with multiple types of hyaluronic acid that hydrate and plump the skin over time while soothing and strengthening the skin barrier.
Glowing customer review: "It's been a month now, and I can say I wish I'd taken a before picture to show the visible difference. I use this at night, and it's definitely made a difference in my skin tone."
Size: 1 oz.
Best for Combination Skin: Hero Cosmetics Clear Collective Balancing Capsule Toner
Pros: Alcohol-free formula is great for combination skin
Cons: May be too hydrating for oily skin
This serum toner is formulated with witch hazel and zinc PCA to control your skin's natural oil production while a mixture of green tea water and hyaluronic acid offer eight levels of skin-soothing hydration. Its tiny oil release a bevy of nutrients upon impact to strengthen the skin barrier over time.
Glowing customer review: "Medical Aesthetician here. I use this after every cleanse, and it’s a staple in my skincare! I truly hope they don’t discontinue this product! The hydration afterward is unbelievable, and I love that it calms dry, irritated skin."
Size: 4.4 oz.
Best Multitasker: Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water All-in-1 Cleanser & Makeup Remover
Pros: Fragrance- and oil-free formula is dermatologist-and ophthalmologist-approved
Cons: None we could find
Garnier’s all-in-one micellar cleansing water is an essential skincare product. From facial cleanser to makeup remover to toner, it gently cleanses the skin while removing makeup, dirt, sunscreen, and excess oil all in one step.
Glowing customer review: "I have very sensitive skin and a lot of toners or makeup remover liquids and wipes break me out. Or, my face turns red and burns. This does not do that. It takes the makeup off with ease and will last a long time as you don't need much. Even my eyeliner and shadow wipe away smoothly and does not hurt my eyes. Great product!"
Size: 13.5 oz.
More Drugstore Toner Options We Love
Simple Kind to Skin Facial Toner
Pros: Its gentle formula is made without artificial perfume and dyes
Cons: Not as great of a value as Thayers
For dry and sensitive skin types, this alcohol-free, pH-balanced toner infused with witch hazel, chamomile, and allantoin refreshes the skin without dehydrating it.
Glowing customer review: "This toner is great and awesome for sensitive skin. It doesn't have an overwhelming smell, and it feels nice going on. It feels sort of cooling, especially during the hot months. I use it year-round. It does feel like it softens my skin after use, as well."
Size: 6.7 oz.
Burt's Bees Calming Toner With Witch Hazel & Rose
Pros: Helps reduce excess oil and shine, great for all skin types
Cons: Scent can be overwhelming
This natural astringent minimizes the appearance of pores and cleanses the skin while moisturizing glycerin and aloe vera seal moisture into the skin.
Glowing customer review: "I purchased this as my face was breaking out with many whiteheads and needed something to clean out the pores. This did the trick, and now my skin is back to normal with little to no whiteheads and my pores are minimized compared to before."
Size: 12 oz.
What do toners actually do, and when should you apply them?
So you’ve washed your face. It looks and feels clean, but with the swipe of toner, you still see residue from makeup, dirt, and even oil. Toners essentially lift leftover dirt or makeup without stripping your skin of hydration to ensure your skin is prepped and ready for the next step in your skincare routine.
Toners are used after cleansing. Then after toning, you'll want to go in with your serums, treatments, and moisturizers. (Oh, and remember to always work thinnest to thickest to maximize efficacy and absorbency!)
What should you look for in a toner, depending on your skin type and goals?
For oily or acne-prone skin types, exfoliating toners are especially helpful in addressing excess oil production, enlarged pores, and breakouts. You’ll want to look for ingredients like AHAs (think glycolic acid) and BHAs (think salicylic acid).
In contrast, dry and mature skin types should invest in alcohol-free formulas with hydrators like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, peptides, and ceramide.
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