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When I spoke to dermatologists about the best toners for this story, they all said it really depends on an individual’s skin goals. The days of harsh, drying astringent toners are gone (thankfully), and newer toners on the market are more targeted. They can rebalance the pH level of your skin after cleansing, help remove residual dirt or makeup, or exfoliate to help improve skin tone and texture. To help you pick the best toner for your skin concern, I asked four dermatologists for their recommendations, scoured our archive of skin-care content, and have started testing some of the toners out for myself. Below, you’ll find formulas for taming greasiness, adding hydration, smoothing out texture, and more.
Update on October 29, 2024: Updated prices and checked stock for all products.
What we’re looking for
Active ingredients
A toner typically either hydrates or exfoliates (though there are formulas listed that do both). Hydrating ingredients to look out for are hyaluronic acid, glycerin, squalene, and ceramides. Exfoliating ingredients include AHA and BHAs, like glycolic acid, mandelic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid, and antioxidants.
Price point
To make shopping a bit easier, I’ve broken down the price per ounce for each toner. I tried my best to include affordable formulas in every category to accommodate different budgets.
Best toner overall
Active ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, ceramides | Price point 6.8 ounces at $1.45/ounce
CeraVe’s Hydrating Toner is an excellent toner to start with for most skin types. Dr. Hope Mitchell, dermatologist and founder of Mitchell Dermatology, suggests looking for a toner that’s gentle and hydrating so it can help rebalance the skin’s pH without stripping away any natural oils. Formulated with skin-nourishing ingredients, like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and ceramides, this affordable toner helps remove residue from the skin while locking in moisture. When I tested it myself, I would apply it after cleansing with a cotton pad. There was nearly always lingering gunk after swiping my face, so I knew it was helping my cleansing routine. It sank right in, leaving my skin hydrated but not greasy (an issue I was worried about in the summer when my skin is oilier). And while I haven’t had the chance to test it in the winter, I’m anticipating it’ll help with my dry patches during cold months. Cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Blair Murphy-Rose also points out that because it’s fragrance- and alcohol-free, it’s non-drying and suitable for sensitive skin. I picked it as the best overall because it works for most skin types, and it’s an affordable way to add a toner to your routine.
Best exfoliating toner
Active ingredients: Lactic acid, azelaic acid, tranexamic acid, panthenol, colloidal oatmeal | Price point: 5.07 oz at $8.28 per ounce
I’ve been testing out Eadem’s Cashmere Peel, an exfoliating toner that was released earlier this year. Out of all the exfoliating toners I’ve used, this one is my favorite because it’s effective yet gentle. Even if I use this for days consecutively, my skin never feels dried out. Instead, it feels smoother and moisturized. It uses AHAs and PHAs rather than the BHA salicylic acid (more on the differences between the actives here), so it’s gentler and best for normal to dry skin types. After months of testing it out, I’ve noticed that my skin texture has improved. I also think any dark spots I’ve gotten have cleared up quicker than usual.
Best less expensive exfoliating toner
Active ingredients: Propolis lactic acid, glycolic acid, azelaic acid, kojic acid, bearberry extract, vitamin C | Price point: 4 ounces at $4.50 per ounce
Versed’s affordable toner has been on my radar since our beauty columnist Rio Viera-Newton called it a P50-ish dupe (the highest compliment a budget exfoliator can receive). I’ve been testing it myself for the past month and can say it’s lived up to the hype. My skin looks brighter and smoother, and a couple of lingering post-acne scars seemed to be evening out quicker than usual. It’s made with a blend of AHAs — including azelaic acid, glycolic acid, kojic acid, and lactic acid — which help remove dead skin cells. The biggest difference between this and Eadem’s toner is that my skin felt slightly drier after using the Versed. I chalk that up to Eadem’s use of soothing colloidal oatmeal, making it great for everyday use. With Versed, I found myself using it every other day and applying thicker moisturizer for extra hydration.
Best toner for acne-prone skin
Active ingredients: Salicylic acid | Price point: 4 ounces at $8.75/ounce
If you have oily or acne-prone skin, you want a toner that controls excess oil production, unclogs pores, and reduces inflammation. “Salicylic acid, in particular, is effective at penetrating deep into the pores to remove impurities and prevent breakouts,” says Dr. Mitchell, adding that the BHA also has anti-inflammatory properties to help reduce redness and swelling from acne. La Jolla Laser Derm dermatologist Dr. Azadeh Shirazi and MDCS Dermatology dermatologist Dr. Lauren Penzi recommend Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant because of its salicylic-acid content. When I’ve used this in the past to spot-treat acne, it helped calm down breakouts almost instantly. Over time, I also noticed that my skin was less oily in my T-zone. While I was able to use it every day without any issues, Dr. Mitchell recommends starting this product at a few times a week to minimize risk of irritation. From there, you can increase the frequency of application as tolerated.
Best toner for oily skin
Active ingredients: Salicylic acid, moringa-seed extract, papaya enzymes | Price point: 4 ounces at $7.65/ounce
Strategist writer Ambar Pardilla has gone through many toners to tame her combination oily skin and landed on Farmacy’s Deep Sweep toner as a holy grail. Like the Paula’s Choice toner above, Farmacy’s toner contains 2 percent salicylic acid, but it’s also formulated with hydrating moringa-seed extract and smoothing papaya enzymes. That cocktail of ingredients tames greasiness and lessens the appearance of blackheads and visible pores.
Best hydrating toner
Active ingredients: Hyaluaronic acid, glycerin, squalene, green tea, centella asiatica | Price point: 6.76 ounces at $3.25/ounce
On the flip side, if your skin’s dry or dehydrated, you want a toner with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid or glycerin. Dr. Mitchell says hyaluronic acid is a powerful humectant since it can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water, making it incredibly effective at hydrating and plumping the skin. It’s also lightweight and easily absorbed. This Olivarrier toner — part of Viera-Newton’s morning routine — is formulated with both hyaluronic acid and glycerin, as well as squalene for retention, calming green tea, and soothing centella asiatica. “Whatever my skin is dealing with, whether that’s breakouts, dehydration, or a bit of irritation, this product helps heal, hydrate, and calm all of it down and leaves my skin looking a whole less red and blotchy,” Viera-Newton says.
Best less expensive hydrating toner
Active ingredients: Propolis extract, honey extract, panthenol | Price point: 9.46 ounces at $1.90/ounce
CosRx makes some of my personal favorite affordable skin-care products, like its gentle-yet-effective cleanser and reader-favorite snail mucin. While I haven’t tried this toner myself, Viera-Newton says it’s an excellent choice for dehydrated acne-prone skin. That’s because it contains propolis (a resinlike substance made by bees) that’s both anti-inflammatory and antibacterial, plus hydrating ingredients such as honey and panthenol. “It does an equally good job of calming inflammation and redness (whether that be breakouts or just cold-weather flaky bits) as it does moisturizing my skin,” she says.
Best brightening toner
Active ingredients: Cloudberry, coenzyme Q10, glycerin | Price point 2.53 ounces at $15.02/ounce
A brightening toner can help if your skin’s dull or you’re dealing with dark spots or hyperpigmentation. Here, you should look for ingredients like vitamin C, AHAs, or niacinamide to even out skin tone. Dr. Penzi likes this one from Glow Recipe because of its use of vitamin-C-rich cloudberry. “It helps to inhibit melanin production, which combats dyspigmentation and brightens overall complexion,” she says, adding that it also helps stimulate collagen for firmer skin.
Best smoothing toner
Active ingredients: Mandelic acid, lactic acid, yarrow extract | Price point 3 ounces at $12.33/ounce
AHAs also help with smoothing out skin texture, since they increase cell turnover on the skin’s surface through gentle exfoliation. Dr. Penzi likes this specific Paula’s Choice toner, which uses two AHAs: mandelic acid and lactic acid. Both are well-tolerated acids, so you shouldn’t have any issues with sensitivity. With that said, Dr. Mitchell recommends using this a couple times a week and gradually increasing the frequency.
Best toner for sensitive skin
Active ingredients: Colloidal oatmeal, honey, hyaluronic acid | Price point: 6 ounces at $4/ounce
If you have sensitive skin or are prone to inflammation, Dr. Murphy-Rose likes First Aid Beauty’s Ultra Repair Oat Hydrating toner. As its name suggests, it’s moisturizing and soothing because it’s packed with colloidal oatmeal, honey, and hyaluronic acid. Colloidal oatmeal and honey are both natural humectants and have anti-inflammatory properties, and hyaluronic acid boosts moisture.
Our experts
• Dr. Hope Mitchell, dermatologist and founder of Mitchell Dermatology
• Dr. Blair Murphy-Rose, cosmetic dermatologist
• Ambar Pardilla, Strategist writer
• Dr. Lauren Penzi, board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology
• Dr. Azadeh Shirazi, board-certified dermatologist at La Jolla Laser Derm
• Rio Viera-Newton, Strategist beauty columnist
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