If you’re trying to establish a solid skincare routine, you’ve probably wondered if a toner can help. Using a toner is a bonus step to remove excess oil, makeup, or dirt, says Lauren Fine, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Chicago. Some toners have additional ingredients that offer hydration and exfoliation, depending on your skin’s needs.
To pick the best toners on the market for every type of skin concern, we tested 24 toners on various skin types and age groups, paying close attention to each formula’s feel, absorption, hydration, and appearance on the face. We then narrowed the contenders down to the 8 best products.
Ingredients to Look for and Avoid in Toners
The ingredients you prioritize in a toner depend on your skin type and the function you want it to serve, be it hydration, cleansing, exfoliation, or a combination of the three:
- Hydration: Marisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and clinical assistant professor at Cornell University, recommends opting for hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and aloe vera.
- Exfoliation: If you need exfoliation, Garshick says to look for hydroxy acids like lactic, glycolic, and salicylic acids.
- Cleanliness: If you want to ensure skin cleanliness, look for gentle ingredients like rose water, green tea, or aloe vera, says Garshick.
- Texture or acne: Exfoliants like glycolic or salicylic acid can help address texture or acne.
- Dry or sensitive skin: If you have dry or sensitive skin and want to strengthen your barrier, reach for a toner with hydrators and calming ingredients like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, or glycerin.
Garshick recommends avoiding harsh alcohols, which can dry out your skin. If you have sensitive skin, it’s also best to avoid toners that contain fragrance.
What Healthcare Providers Want You to Know
- Dryness side effects: Toners containing alcohol are prone to drying out the skin. Witch hazel can also be drying when used on sensitive skin. Garshick explains that not all toners are created equal, though, adding that some actually contain hydrating ingredients to promote healthy skin.
- Efficacy: Depending on the ingredients, a toner may be used once or twice a day, Garshick says. Exfoliating toners, on the other hand, are usually only required a few times per week. She adds that, depending on the ingredients, you can use toner on your legs, arms, chest, and neck.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
It may be best to consult a dermatologist if you notice any adverse reactions to your toner or have specific skin concerns or conditions.
Our Top Picks
Best for Oily Skin:
Best for Hyperpigmentation:
Best for Sensitive Skin:
Best Anti-Aging:
Renee Rouleau Elderberry Soothing Toner at Reneerouleau.com$40
Best Brightening:
Freck Beauty Cactus Water Lactic Acid Toner at Freckbeauty.com
Best for Dry Skin:
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Pros
No odor or fragrance
Gentle yet exfoliating
Contains natural enzymes
Cons
Not ideal for sensitive skin
Key Specs
Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, moringa water, papaya enzymes | Size: 4 fluid ounces | Skin Type: Oily | Benefits: Exfoliating, refining
Why We Recommend It
Salicylic acid works on acne-prone skin to absorb excess oil, preventing it from clogging pores, explains Garshick. Farmacy Deep Sweep 2% BHA Toner contains 2% salicylic acid, as well as naturally exfoliating papaya enzymes to kick sebum to the curb without causing irritation.
We found it refreshed and balanced our skin and even minimized the appearance of fine lines around our eyes and on our forehead. We especially loved that it felt lightweight on the skin and had no evident fragrance. After one use, our skin felt cleaner and brighter.And even though we used this product to tame oily skin, it didn't feel too drying.
Keep In Mind
We had a hard time dispensing the toner at first, but subsequent uses were much easier. Also, we didn’t notice a huge difference in how hydrated our skin was after using this toner, but it didn’t dry out our skin, either.
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Pros
Improves hydration
Absorbs quickly
Cleanses excess dirt and oil
Cons
Costs more than other products on our list
Key Specs
Key Ingredients: Alpha hydroxy acids, vitamins, amino acids | Size: 5.4 fluid ounces | Skin Type: All | Benefits: Hydrating, softening, refining
Why We Recommend It
SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion Toner’s lightweight formula has a water-like consistency that doesn’t irritate and feels feather-light on the skin. Our editor, with sensitive skin and enlarged pores,found one use of this toner left her skin feeling smooth, hydrated and soothed. It also noticeably evened out her skin texture.
It prepped the skin for additional serums and creams, leaving behind a refreshed glow. Because it's so lightweight on the skin, it almost felt like we weren't wearing it at all, making it ideal for layering. The light scent is welcome and unobtrusive. Throughout testing, we appreciated that it left our skin feeling hydrated without feeling greasy or oily.
While it's well worth the investment, this may be out of some budgets. Tower 28 SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray with Hypochlorous Acid is highly effective while being easier on the wallet. Our pores instantly felt more open and less clogged, and our skin looked brighter and more evenly textured. The only downside is that it has a tricky dispenser that makes it easier to waste product.
Keep In Mind
The product comes out of the bottle quickly, so be sure to dispense it carefully to avoid waste. It’s marketed as a clear lotion, but the consistency is more watery and lightweight.
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Pros
Calms redness
Cleans pores
Leaves behind a radiant glow
Cons
Difficult to dispense
Key Specs
Key Ingredients: Green tea, hyaluronic acid, panthenol | Size: 5.4 fluid ounces | Skin Type: Acne-prone, dry | Benefits: Calming, soothing, hydrating
Why We Recommend It
We found Innisfree Green Tea Seed Intensive Hydrating Toner’s soothing formula to be effective at calming irritated, hormonal, acne-prone skin. Just minutes after application we noticed a decrease in redness, and a budding pimple began to flatten thanks to the formula’s soothing green tea extract, an antioxidant that protects from environmental stressors.
The toner is also a good secondary cleanser. It lifted makeup residue after a standard wash, leaving our pores feeling refined, bright, and balanced. The added panthenol and hyaluronic acid provide a welcome moisture boost.
Keep In Mind
Once we successfully dispensed this toner, the results were gold, but the application wasn’t easy. It took us quite a bit of work to get three drops from the bottle.
Best for Hyperpigmentation
Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Toner
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Pros
Removes impurities and dead skin
Absorbs quickly
Lightly hydrating
Cons
Semi-intense rose scent
Key Specs
Key Ingredients: Rose, hyaluronic acid, angelica leaf extract | Size: 8.4 fluid ounces | Skin Type: All | Benefits: Cleansing, hydrating, brightening
Why We Recommend It
We loved the lightweight texture of Fresh Rose and Hyaluronic Acid Deep Hydration Toner. It noticeably evened out and brightened our skin tone byreducing the appearance of hyperpigmentation, dark spots, and irritation,giving us a vibrant and healthy glow.
Rosewater, rose flower, and angelica leaf extract work together in this elixir to restore balance and relaxation to the skin. We found it also removes lingering dirt and oil post-cleanse, leaving our skin feeling clean and refreshed. It's also designed to be gentle enough for daily morning and night use.The bottle is one of the bigger ones on this list, meaning you won't run out of it too quickly if you choose to use it twice a day.
Keep In Mind
The price tag might make some people pause, but for the bottle size (8.4 fluid ounces) and the effectiveness, it’s well worth the initial investment.
Best for Sensitive Skin
Absolute Joi Balancing PH Skin Toner
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Pros
Hydrating jelly consistency
Convenient pump dispenser
Minimal ingredients
Cons
Takes a full minute or two to dry down
Key Specs
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, oat, aloe vera | Size: 6.8 fluid ounces | Skin Type: Sensitive, dry | Benefits: Hydrating, calming
Why We Recommend It
Absolute Joi Balancing pH Skin Toner is unique because it has a thicker, more gel-like texture than most watery toners on this list. That makes it extra soothing and hydrating, as it’s more likely to hang around on the skin and continue to work its magic minutes—or even hours—after it’s applied.
It left our face feeling pleasantly hydrated and refreshed. It’s also dermatologist-formulated and fragrance-free, making it safe for sensitive skin, and added oat extract gives it healing, soothing powers. We particularly liked the glowing effect it gave our skin immediately after application. It also noticeably brightened our face.
This product takes slightly longer to absorb into the skin. If time is of the essence,Neutrogena Alcohol-Free Toneris another strong option that dries down fast and is sensitive-skin friendly. It felt refreshing, and it was easy to dispense and non-irritating. It didn't improve hyperpigmentation or fine lines, but it did leave us feeling fresh and clean.
Keep In Mind
The toner did a great job brightening our skin and left our face with a healthy glow, but it didn’t do much to minimize fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots. It also left a slight residue, but not so much that it bothered us.
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Pros
Antioxidant-rich
Fresh scent
Hydrating
Cons
Easy to dispense too much
Key Specs
Key Ingredients: Elderberry, sodium PCA, Biosaccharide Gum-1 | Size: 6fluid ounces | Skin Type: All | Benefits: Hydrating, anti-aging
Why We Recommend It
Renée Rouleau Elderberry Soothing Toner earns our anti-aging badge because it delivers immediate results while also helping improve skin health over time. The fluid formula contains hydrators that soften and plump fine lines after application. The added elderberry extract is rich in antioxidants to protect the skin from environmental pollutants that can cause signs of aging.
When we first applied this toner, our skin felt a little tight. However, after just a few minutes our skin relaxed and we noticed a beautiful, healthy glow. This toner also helped with hyperpigmentation, which we appreciated. And while we did detect a scent at first, it didn't linger or disturb us throughout the rest of the testing period.
Keep In Mind
Because the formula of this toner is a bit watery, it's easy to over-dispense the product, which means you may run through it faster than others. It's also not the cheapest option on our list to begin with, so you may want to be extra cautious during application.
Best Brightening
Freck Beauty Cactus Water Lactic Acid Toner
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Pros
Antioxidant-rich
Fresh scent
Hydrating
Cons
Clunky packaging
Key Specs
Key Ingredients: Lactic acid, cactus flower, kelp extract | Size: 6.5 fluid ounces | Skin Type: Dry, textured | Benefits: Hydrating, refining
Why We Recommend It
Lactic acid is a gently exfoliating alpha hydroxy acid that sloughs away dead skin and improves tone and texture without sucking the moisture from your skin. That’s exactly how the ingredient performs in Freck Beauty Cactus Water Cleansing Lactic Acid Toner. One of our editors who has dry skin called this product a “drink of water” for their face.
We loved the ultra-luxe glass bottle, and the added cactus flower and kelp extract deliver hydration and antioxidants for a more refined complexion. We noticed improved skin quality after one use, although consistent use would likely yield the best results. After just one application, our skin felt plumper, brighter, more hydrated, and refreshed. It gave us the look of being more awake, which made us want to come back for more.
Keep In Mind
If you have dry skin, you might feel like you need to use a lot of this toner since it’s pretty lightweight. Because it’s water-based, it absorbed almost immediately into our skin, and we even found ourselves wanting to apply a second round.
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Pros
Plumps the skin
Contains natural ingredients
Safe for use on all skin types
Reduces hyperpigmentation
Cons
Doesn’t do much for the appearance of pores
Key Specs
Key Ingredients: Honeysuckle, baobab, sodium hyaluronate | Size: 6.75 fluid ounces | Skin Type: All | Benefits: Hydrating
Why We Recommend It
Does cleansing your dry skin ever leave it feeling tight and uncomfortable? Belif Aqua Bomb Hydrating Toner is the solution. We found it relieved that feeling in one use while also minimizing the look of dark spots and fine lines. Natural ingredients like honeysuckle and baobab help calm skin and prevent moisture loss, while sodium hyaluronate offers ultimate hydration.
Before using this product, our skin looked dehydrated and dull. But immediately after application, we noticed a healthy glow. We also appreciated the almost instant reduction in hyperpigmentation and a slight plumping effect that helped with fine lines. And while it is slightly scented, we found it refreshing and not at all overwhelming.
Keep In Mind
The toner takes about two minutes to fully absorb into the skin. Also, if you’re looking for a toner that minimizes pore size, this one didn’t seem to have a huge effect in that area. If that's your priority, we recommend Fenty Fat Water Hydrating Milky Toner. Our pores felt cleaner and less clogged after using this lightweight vegan formula. The consistency is milky, as the name suggests, which may not be ideal for people who prefer a more watery texture.
How We Tested the Best Toners
We participated in lab-based testing of 24 toners. We cleansed our skin before each test, then dispensed the product onto a cotton pad and applied it. We assessed our skin before and after application, rating each product based on the following criteria:
- Feel: We took note of each formula's consistency and texture. We paid attention to whether it felt watery or milky, and if it felt lightweight, oily, or greasy on the skin.
- Absorption: After each application, we analyzed how well each toner absorbed into the skin, if it left behind any residue or film, and how long it took to feel fully absorbed.
- Hydration: We noted if the toners made our skin feel more hydrated or dryer during and after application.
- Appearance on the face: Once the toners had fully absorbed into our skin, we paid attention to whether or not our skin felt clean and refreshed as a result, and if there was any residue or dirt on the cotton round we used for application. We also examined our pores and whether or not they felt more open or more clogged. Lastly, we noted if we saw improvements in hyperpigmentation, acne, brightness, fine lines, and wrinkles.
Our Experts
We consulted two experts during the research and writing of this article on the best toners:
- Marisa Garshick, MD, board-certified dermatologist and clinical assistant professor at Cornell University
- Lauren Fine, MD, board-certified dermatologist based in Chicago
Why Trust Verywell Health
Kayla Blanton is a freelance writer with a bachelor's degree in journalism and a specialization in public health and women, gender, and sexuality studies. She's covered health, nutrition, lifestyle, and beauty at various outlets for five years and has interviewed dozens of dermatologists about skincare.
