Toners often get a bad rap. I blame the 2000s. If you're anything like me, your foray into toners was a trip to the pharmacy as a teenager and picking up a toner for the first onset of hormonal acne. Raise a hand if it left your skin feeling like it was on fire?
Thankfully, toners have come on leaps and bounds, with more sophisticated formulas that cater to a number of skin types and concerns. But what exactly do toners do? "Toners are designed to hydrate and balance the skin, leaving the complexion toned, level and fresh," explains facialist Rhian Truman. "Lots of modern toners are used as a mild exfoliant, rich with AHAs [alpha hydroxy acids, which exfoliate the skin] to regenerate and brighten."
With so many options available, we've rounded up some of the best toners for each skin type and concern. Keep scrolling for expert-backed picks.
The Best Toners, At a Glance
- Best Toner for Acne: Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
- Best Toner for Dry Skin: Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Toner
- Best Toner for Sensitive Skin: The Body Shop Aloe Soothing Toner
- Best Toner for Dark Spots: Medik8 Press and Glow Tonic
- Best Toner for Oily Skin: La Roche-Posay Effaclar Clarifying Solution
The 12 Best Toners of 2025
Best Toner for Acne: Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
If you want to reduce blackheads and those spots that seem to overstay their welcome, you'll love this toner. It contains salicylic acid, which melts away dead skin cells and oils that can build up in pores to remove congestion and leave skin clearer. Beauty editors and skincare lovers swear by this trusty toner for a reason.
Pros: Clears blackheads and prevents breakouts like no other
Cons: Might be too harsh on sensitive skin
Key ingredients: Salicylic acid, green tea extract, methylpropanediol
Size: 4 ounces
Best Toner for Combination Skin: Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner
Combination skin can be finicky. Your chin, nose, and forehead might be oily, whereas your cheeks might be dryer or more sensitive. But don't worry—Paula's got you. Another hero product from the brand, this toner contains niacinamide to balance oily areas and glycerin to hydrate drier areas without causing congestion.
Pros: Gently purifies skin and balances oil without exacerbating dryness
Cons: Doesn't exfoliate, if you're looking specifically for skin resurfacing
Key ingredients: Niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, ceramides, chamomile and burdock root extracts, glycerin
Size: 6.4 ounces
Best Toner for Dry Skin: Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Toner
Not just a pretty bottle (which has rose petals inside, how cute!), this hydrating formula contains hyaluronic acid to quench skin, while the rose oil leaves skin feeling protected.
Pros: Soothing for sensitive skin, gently balances oil
Cons: Has a strong rose fragrance, if that bothers you
Key ingredients: Damask rose extract, rose oil, rose petals, hyaluronic acid
Size: 8.4 ounces
Best Toner for Sensitive Skin: The Body Shop Aloe Soothing Toner
If you're prone to sensitive skin, you might write off toners for causing stinging. However, there are still some great options for sensitive skin types, such as this offering from The Body Shop. It's free from fragrance and alcohol, which are often responsible for that stinging sensation, and instead contains calming aloe vera to soothe irritated skin.
Pros: Contains 98% natural-origin ingredients with no fragrance, reduces redness and inflammation
Cons: While it's great for hydration, those looking for brightening or purifying toners might want another option
Key ingredients: Community fair trade organic aloe vera, glycerin
Size: 8.4 ounces
Best Toner for Dark Spots: Medik8 Press and Glow Tonic
If acne scarring and stubborn sun damage are your bugbears, Medik8's Press & Glow helps to gently fade away pigmentation to leave skin looking clear and bright.
Pros: Gently resurfaces skin, fragrance-free, lightweight formula that absorbs instantly
Cons: Might not be hydrating enough for super dry skin
Key ingredients: Gluconolactone PHA, prickly pear extract, aloe vera juice, glycerin
Size: 6.7 ounces
Best Toner for Oily Skin: La Roche-Posay Effaclar Clarifying Solution
If you find that your T-zone becomes slick throughout the day, this toner is for you. It contains salicylic acid to power through excess oil but is still gentle enough to leave your complexion feeling refreshed.
Pros: Lasts a while, great for preventing breakouts
Cons: Might be too harsh for sensitive skin
Key ingredients: Salicylic acid, glycolic acid
Size: 6.8 ounces
Best Toner for Resurfacing: Alpha-H Liquid Gold Exfoliating Treatment
If you've been using an exfoliating toner for a while and are looking for something stronger, this toner from Alpha-H is for you. Described as an overnight peel, this glycolic acid formula works to even skin texture and tone as you sleep, leaving you with an unrivaled glow come morning.
Pros: Great for smoothing fine lines and fading dark spots
Cons: Pricey for a smaller size
Key ingredients: Glycolic acid, glycerin, hydrolyzed silk, licorice root extract
Size: 3.4 ounces
Best Budget Toner: The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution
Having reached cult status on TikTok, this toner has developed a loyal following for its impressive results and purse-friendly price tag. At 7% glycolic acid (which exfoliates the top layers of your skin), it is quite punchy, so use this a couple of times a week at first to see how your skin adjusts.
Pros: Can use on the face and scalp to reduce dryness and flakes
Cons: Not the best for sensitive skin
Key ingredients: Glycolic acid, ginseng root, aloe vera
Size: 8 ounces
Best Luxury Toner: Augustinus Bader The Essence
You might have spotted this iconic blue bottle on the vanity tables of beauty experts. It contains a cocktail of ingredients to smooth, brighten, and hydrate the skin.
Pros: Great for aging concerns like fine lines and sunspots
Cons: Very potent, so those with sensitive skin should proceed with caution
Key ingredients: TFC8 technology, glycerin, gluconolactone
Size: 3.4 ounces
Best Toner for Redness: Ren Clean Skincare Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic
This gentle formula contains azelaic acid, which has been shown to be beneficial for skin types that are prone to redness. This formula can be used daily and leaves skin glowing and comfortable.
Pros: Lasts a while, gently exfoliates and resurfaces skin tone
Cons: Contains fragrance and essential oils, if you're sensitive to those
Key ingredients: Lactic acid, willow bark extract, azelaic acid
Size: 8.5 ounces
Best Toner for Dull Skin: Pixi Glow Tonic
For when your skin is looking a bit "meh," this exfoliating toner gives dead skin cells the boot, paving the way for those sparkly new skin cells to shine through and give your complexion its glow back.
Pros: Great for prepping skin before makeup, budget-friendly
Cons: Contains fragrance, if you prefer fragrance-free options
Key ingredients: Glycolic acid, ginseng, aloe vera
Size: 4.2 ounces
Best Toner for Hydration: Biossance Squalane and Hyaluronic Toning Mist
Parched skin? This toning mist is great to refresh skin after cleansing and also throughout the day whenever your skin needs a boost. It contains hyaluronic acid and squalane, a hydrating duo that leaves tight skin feeling comfortable.
Pros: Easy, hands-free applicator, great to use as a midday refresher or to set makeup
Cons: Strictly moisturizing, if you're looking for exfoliation or brightening properties
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, squalane
Size: 2.5 ounces
How to Apply Toner
Truman explains that toners should be used after cleansing and before applying serums, moisturizers, or SPF. "Alternatively you can tone in the mornings rather than a big cleansing ritual, especially if you've thoroughly cleansed the night before," she says. Simply pour a little on to a reusable cotton round and swipe over the skin.
What to Look for in a Toner
When selecting a toner, the first thing you'll want to consider is your skin type. Everyone's skin is different, but you can find some general expert guidelines below.
- Oily and acne-prone skin: "If your skin has excess oil, I would recommend a salicylic-based toner to nibble away at the dead skin cells and clear congested skin," Truman says.
- Combination skin: "When it comes to toning combination skin types, it's best to stick to gentle to mild exfoliants. Keywords to look for are 'balance' and 'purifying' because the goal is to create a balance between the dehydration and oily zones," dermatological nurse and celebrity aesthetician Natalie Aguilar previously told WWW about toners. She recommends looking for ingredients like alpha-hydroxy acids, hyaluronic acid, aloe vera extract, ceramides, chamomile, vitamins, or ginseng.
- Dry skin: "Those with dry skin should opt for toners containing ingredients that help to boost moisture and soothe the skin," board-certified dermatologist Marisa Garshick, MD, FAAD, shares with us. "This can include humectants such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin as well as aloe vera, rose water, and nourishing fruit and plant extracts."
Skin type aside, you'll also want to think about which skincare concern or goal you'd like to target. Toners have multiple benefits, from brightening to purifying to hydrating, so consider how, exactly, you'd like to use your product of choice. Below, discover some ways to incorporate them into your routine.
- Exfoliating: Some toners contain AHAs and BHAs to purify and resurface the skin. These can work wonders, as long as you make sure to stick to one exfoliating product per night. "It is important to avoid using too many products in the same routine that also exfoliate to avoid any potential irritation that can occur with over-exfoliation," says Garshick.
- Hydrating: Other toners provide an extra layer of hydration, which can be especially helpful for dry, sensitive skin. These can include skin-calming ingredients, too, to help dial down redness and inflammation.
- Mild cleansing: "If you use heavier mineral makeup and SPFs, the extra cleaning power of toner will help skin feel and be cleaner, getting more of the buildup out of the pores," SkinSpirit lead aesthetician Karen Fernandez once shared with WWW. "People who exercise on the go and can't get a shower or face-washing after a workout or practice will benefit from using a toner after sweating." Ingredients like rose water and witch hazel have gentle astringent properties that can help absorb excess oil (or sweat).
- Brightening: Many toners also contain antioxidant-rich ingredients to give the skin a healthy glow Think: niacinamide, licorice extract, etc. If your complexion is feeling dull, these vitamin-enriched solutions are like an instant pick-me-up.
This post originally appeared on Who What Wear UK at an earlier date and has been updated.
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