Yahoo Finance The Best Face Toners You Can Buy, Recommended by Dermatologists
- 1/16
The Best Face Toners You Can Buy, Recommended by Dermatologists
We updated this article in November 2022 to include more information about each of our top picks, and add three new Beauty Lab-vetted recommendations from Dickinson's, Paula's Choice and La Prairie.
Say goodbye to the dehydrating astringents of your teens — face toners have come a long way since those skin-stripping formulas of yore. Today's toners are packed with skin-boosting ingredients — including hydrators like glycerin and exfoliators like glycolic acid — that will leave your skin glowing.
Many of these new non-drying toners (also often labeled as facial essences, tonics or waters) are recommended by dermatologists for all skin type and complexion issues, including acne. "These versions contain treatment ingredients similar to face serums and facial moisturizers, so they’re gentler,” says Joshua Zeichner, M.D., the director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.
But what exactly do toners do? An effective toner will help ensure your skin is totally clean and free of impurities, plus give it an extra dose of active ingredients. After cleansing your face, apply toner using your fingers or a cotton ball before smoothing on other leave-on skin treatments. "The goal of a toner is to remove any excess residue from cleansing and prep the skin for skincare products," explains Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab chemist Danusia Wnek.
To find the best toner for your skin type and concerns, browse our picks, which are researched, vetted and recommended by GH Institute Beauty Lab scientists, who have decades of experience evaluating and testing all types of skincare products.
Our top picks:
Read our full reviews of the best face toners for all skin types — including the best toners for oily skin, the best toners for combination skin, the best toners for dry skin, the best toners for acne-prone skin and the best toners for sensitive skin — then find more information about what to look for when shopping for a toner at the bottom of this guide.
Hearst Owned - 2/16
1) Glow Tonic Exfoliating Toner
Pixi
ulta.com
$18.00
Pixi's cult-classic exfoliating toner has become a go-to for our analysts in the GH Beauty Lab. That's because this does-it-all pick works to address multiple skin concerns, making it especially great for those with combination skin. "It contains oil-nixing astringents, soothing aloe, exfoliating glycolic acid and moisturizing humectants, which are all effective ingredients in a toner," Wnek says. "It smells great and noticeably makes my skin glow in the morning when I apply it before bed." While our product testing experts haven't noted any drawbacks of using this alcohol-free formulation, it does contain 5% glycolic acid and acids in skincare products can bring the risk of reactions for those with sensitive skin, so proceed with caution if that's you.
Pixi - 3/16
2) Original Witch Hazel Pore Perfecting Toner
Dickinson's
amazon.com
$4.79
A drugstore bargain at only 49 cents per ounce, Dickinson's toner is a GH Beauty Lab expert favorite, not to mention incredibly popular with consumers (it has over 20,000 five-star reviews on Amazon!). Made with only one ingredient, distilled witch hazel, this astringent has been part of Wnek's skincare routine since she was a teen, thanks to its purifying and pore minimizing benefits for her oily skin. Just take note that because it only contains witch hazel, it may not provide enough hydrating and softening effects for dry skin types.
Dickinson's - 4/16
3) Jasmine Green Tea Balancing Toner
Herbivore Botanicals
dermstore.com
$39.00
If you have oily skin, using a toner with astringents like witch hazel can help clarify and minimize shine. To combat a greasy complexion, try this toner spray made with oil-reducing witch hazel and willow bark (a form of salicylic acid), plus jasmine water for a subtle floral, not medicinal, scent that GH's beauty director loves. Meanwhile, antioxidant-loaded green tea extract helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and won't leave your skin feeling stripped after use. "It immediately makes my face feel less oily," one of our testers raved. Just note that the glass bottle makes it difficult to take on the go, so it's not ideal for travel.
Herbivore - 5/16
4) CLEAR Extra Strength Anti-Redness Exfoliating Solution
Paula's Choice
amazon.com
$34.00
For acne-prone skin, Wnek recommends seeking out toners that contain salicylic acid and looking for a label that lists drug facts, as acne reduction is regulated as a drug claim, according to the FDA.
You can tackle both breakouts and facial redness at once with this exfoliating toner. "It absorbs quickly, reducing the appearance of redness and pores," Wnek says. "It also contains salicylic acid to fight acne, so checks off many boxes for my unique skin." But because it contains acids, note that this liquid could be irritating for those with sensitive skin.
Paula's Choice - 6/16
5) Witch Hazel Pore Clarifying Toner
Bioré
amazon.com
$6.49
Infused with the skin-clearing active ingredient salicylic acid plus astringent witch hazel and alcohol, this Bioré toner helps dissolve oil and prevent clogged complexions and enlarged pores. It also has over 11,000 five-star reviews on Amazon. "It made my blackheads disappear!" one online reviewer raved. That said, you may want to steer clear of this pick if you have a dry or sensitive complexion as its combination of acid, astringent and alcohol combination could irritate or dehydrate your skin.
Bioré - 7/16
6) Rose Deep Hydration Facial Toner
Fresh
nordstrom.com
$45.00
Yes, toners can be useful for people with dry skin! Just look for moisturizing ingredients on product labels, like glycerin, aloe vera and rose water, and steer clear of any with drying ingredients like alcohol and salicylic acid.
Fresh's nourishing treatment toner, made with glycerin, rose flower water and oil, proves that not all toners strip skin and leave it dehydrated. This all-in-one formula works to remove impurities and soften skin. "My parched skin drinks this right up and it feels really quenching," says one of our testers. "Plus, I love that you can see the real rose petals floating inside — so luxurious." Note that this toner isn't an astringent, so it will not provide the clarifying benefits that may be needed for oily or acne-prone skin.
Fresh - 8/16
7) EGF Essence
BioEffect
skinstore.com
$99.00
If you have combination skin, you'll want a toner that's alcohol-free, since alcohol can strip the skin and leave it dry. This alcohol-, oil- and fragrance-free formula from BioEffect is perfect for balancing combination skin with both dry and oily areas. “I wasn’t an essence user until this came along — it contains the same potent growth factors found in the brand's top-performing serums,” says GH Institute Beauty Lab Director Birnur Aral, Ph.D. “It refreshes and hydrates skin at the same time, especially in the summer when I don’t need heavy moisturization."
BioEffect - 9/16
8) Hydraflora Probiotic Essence
HydroPeptide
nordstrom.com
$69.00
The ingredients in HydroPeptide's toner essence sound like a refreshing smoothie: skin-smoothing coconut water, balancing probiotics and a laundry list of vibrancy-boosting antioxidants and fruit extracts, from lemon to orange and grapefruit. “I dispense some with the convenient pump, then splash it directly onto my face,” says Aral. “It gives my skin a glistening finish and feels refreshing.”
HydroPeptide - 10/16
9) Watermelon Glow PHA +BHA Pore-Tight Toner
Glow Recipe
sephora.com
$34.00
Inspired by Korean beauty, Glow Recipe is a skincare brand that has gained a cult following. Its popular Watermelon Glow toner is made with salicylic acid and a long list of botanical extracts. "This toner managed to boost radiance, reduce the look of my pores and keep my breakouts to a minimum," one online reviewer raved. But if strong fragrances turn you off, note that some users say they don't like this product's strong sweet, fruity fragrance.
Glow Recipe - 11/16
10) Vinoperfect Brightening Glycolic Essence
Caudalie
dermstore.com
$54.00
Even out skin tone with Caudalie's essence toner, made with exfoliating, brightening glycolic and citric acids, plus nourishing glycerin and grape and orange flower waters. A favorite among GH's beauty editors, it's also earned rave reviews online. "After one week, my dark spots vanished," one reviewer marveled. Note that the large glass bottle isn't portable for taking on the go.
Caudalie - 12/16
11) SuperToner Exfoliating Acid Solution
Glamglow
amazon.com
$27.39
GlamGlow's toner solution is packed with exfoliating and blemish-fighting actives like glycolic, lactic and salicylic acids to remove dead skin cells, plus astringent witch hazel to keep your skin smooth and breakout-free. “It’s really helpful if I’m breaking out, as it cleans out my pores, curbs blemishes and helps clarify,” said one of our testers. “It's also fun to use — it’s an emulsion formula so you shake it to activate, and it looks shimmery and pretty.” Take heed that the high levels of acids and astringents in this toner may be too drying for dry or sensitive skin, though.
amazon.com - 13/16
12) Immortelle Essential Water
L'Occitane
loccitane.com
$34.00
If you have sensitive skin, you know the wrong product can result in irritated or inflamed skin — and that includes using a toner containing harsh astringents or alcohol. That means you're going to want a toner that features gentle ingredients like hyaluronic acid, aloe vera or rose water. L'Occitane's alcohol-free toner water is infused with soothing botanicals like helichrysum (a.k.a. immortelle) extract, rose water and sunflower seed oil to tamp down on redness and calm skin. When one of our beauty editors uses this, she says her face feels instantly cooled and calm. Plus, it smells herbal and warm, like immortelle flowers dried in the Corsican sun, where the ingredient is harvested. This formula doesn't contain astringent ingredients, so may not be as effective for those with oily or acne-prone skin who are looking to minimize oil.
L'Occitane - 14/16
13) Pure Shots Hydra Bounce Essence-in-Lotion
Yves Saint Laurent
neimanmarcus.com
$78.00
Another GH beauty editor favorite for dry complexions, Yves Saint Laurent's essence is formulated with nourishing ingredients like vitamins E and B3. "This toner is more viscous than other more liquidy formulas, so it feels cushiony going on dehydrated skin and leaves it feeling fresh and plump," one GH beauty editor notes. The liquid is made without acne-fighting or astringent ingredients, so it may not be suitable for oily or acne-prone skin.
YSL - 15/16
14) Nourishing Milky Toner
Paula's Choice
paulaschoice.com
$24.00
Calm red areas with this creamy toner, which is infused with soothing allantoin and panthenol. "Even after the first use, there was a noticeable reduction in redness in my face, and my complexion was much better," notes GH beauty assistant Catharine Malzahn. "It truly is calming and I feel like it balanced my oil production really well." Though this formula can help with excess oil, it doesn't contain acne-fighting ingredients for those with breakouts.
Paula's Choice - 16/16
15) Skin Caviar Harmony L’Extrait
La Prairie
nordstrom.com
$820.00
Yes, it's a serious splurge, but La Prairie's unique gel-like liquid is ideal for very dry or aging skin. The luxury formulation, housed in an artful glass dropper bottle, features the brand's signature caviar extract to tighten, plump and smooth skin. A clinical study using ultrasound measurements found a 58% increase in the thickness of the innermost layer of skin and a measurable increase in skin volume. High-resolution, 3D skin imaging also showed an 11% reduction in wrinkles. After application, "my face felt firmer and more lifted," one of our testers noted. The downside? The glass bottle bottle is not as portable for travel and contains a smaller amount of product than most toners we've reviewed.
La Prairie
