The 14 Very Best Toners

Whatwe’relookingfor

Activeingredients:Lactic acid, azelaic acid, tranexamic acid, panthenol, colloidal oatmeal| Price point:5.07 fluid ounces at $8.28 per ounce

Eadem’s Cashmere Peel was released in March 2024, and it’s since become a go-to toner for a number of skin issues. It is technically an exfoliating toner, so it helps clear out any active breakouts I have and stubborn blackheads I typically get on my nose. But, unlike some of the other exfoliators I’ve used, it’s also gentle and surprisingly quite hydrating. Instead of feeling dried out immediately after using it, my face feels smoother and moisturized. I chalk this up to its formula. It uses AHAs and PHAs, rather than the BHA salicylic acid, which can be drying for me. After using it for over a year, I’ve noticed it has helped smooth out my scaly winter skin and control the greasiness I typically get in my T-zone in the summer. I also think any dark spots I’ve gotten have cleared up quicker than usual. Because it’s so effective and can be used on a number of different skin types, I’m now giving it the top spot on this list.

Active ingredients:Propolis lactic acid, glycolic acid, azelaic acid, kojic acid, bearberry extract, vitamin C| Price point:4 fluid ounces at $4.50 per ounce

Versed’s affordable toner has been on my radar since our beauty columnist Rio Viera-Newtoncalled 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 thickermoisturizerfor extra hydration.

Active ingredients:Salicylic acid| Price point:4 fluid 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 dermatologist Dr. Hope Mitchell, adding that the BHA also has anti-inflammatory properties to help reduce redness and swelling from acne. La Jolla Laser Derm dermatologistDr. Azadeh Shiraziand MDCS Dermatology dermatologistDr. Lauren Penzirecommend 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, 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.

Active ingredients:Salicylic acid |Price point:6.76 fluid ounces at $2.81/ounce

At about half the price of the above is La Roche-Posay’s Acne Toner, which also uses salicylic acid. Shirazi says it’s another excellent option for acne-prone skin. The biggest difference between this and the Paula’s Choice toner is that is has a significantly lower percentage of salicylic acid — 0.5 percent instead of the 2 percent found in Paula’s Choice. This does contain 2 percent glycolic acid, though, so it also helps to smooth and brighten the skin.

Active ingredients:Salicylic acid, moringa-seed extract, papaya enzymes| Price point:4 fluid ounces at $8.50/ounce

Strategist writer Ambar Pardilla has gone through many toners to tame her combination oily skin and landed onFarmacy’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.

Active ingredients:Mandelic acid, lactic acid, yarrow extract| Price point:3 fluid 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.Penzilikes 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, Mitchell recommends using this a couple times a week and gradually increasing the frequency.

Active ingredients:Cloudberry, coenzyme Q10, glycerin| Price point:2.53 fluid 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. 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.

Active ingredients:Glycerin, amino acids, malachite extract, hydroxyacetophenone, biosaccharide gum-1 |Price point:7.3 fluid ounces at $5.89 per ounce

EltaMD’s toner is a gentle option that also soothes and hydrates the skin. Both Shirazi and Penzi recommend it for dry skin. It doesn’t contain any exfoliators, but it does use hydroxyacetophenone (an antioxidant) and malachite extract (a mineral-rich copper complex), which detoxify skin from free-radical damage and have soothing properties.

Active ingredients:Micellar water, xylitol, mannitol, and fructooligosaccharides |Price point:16.9 fluid ounces at $1.18 per ounce

If you’re looking for something to remove residual makeup and dirt, Bioderma’s micellar water is a great option. Its main ingredients are, of course, micellar water (a mix of purified water and a low concentration of mild soap or detergent molecules) and sugars (xylitol, mannitol, and fructooligosaccharides), which cosmetic chemist Dr. Julian Sass says keeps the skin hydrated after rinsing off. It works for all skin types, which is why it gets the top spot in this category.

Active ingredients:Glycerin, hyaluronic acid,succinic acid, and panthenol B5 |Price point:5 fluid ounces at $2.6 per ounce

For oilier skin, try Rael’s clarifying toner. It’s formulated with succinic acid and panthenol B5, two ingredients Shirazi says absorbs excess oil and controls shine. Because it also has glycerin and hyaluronic acid in the mix, it won’t strip or dry out your skin.

Active ingredients:Micellar water and glycerin |Price point:5 fluid ounces at $2.6 per ounce

On the other side of the coin, if you’re dealing with dry skin, Shirazi recommends La Roche-Posay’s micellar water for sensitive skin. It has a gentler formula that sweeps away residual debris while also hydrating skin with humectants. While it does have a very mild scent, it should still be suitable for sensitive skin.

Active ingredients:Hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, ceramides| Price point6.8 fluid ounces at $1.60/ounce

CeraVe’s Hydrating Toner is an excellent hydrating option for all skin types. 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 it helped with my dry patches during cold months. Cosmetic dermatologistDr. Blair Murphy-Rosealso points out that because it’s fragrance- and alcohol-free, it’s non-drying and suitable for sensitive skin.

Active ingredients:Propolis extract, honey extract, panthenol| Price point:9.46 fluid ounces at $3.17/ounce

CosRx makes some of my personal favorite affordable skin-care products, like itsgentle-yet-effective cleanserand reader-favoritesnail mucin. While I haven’t tried this toner myself,Viera-Newton saysit’s an excellent choice for dehydratedacne-proneskin.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.

Active ingredients:Colloidal oatmeal, honey, hyaluronic acid| Price point:6 fluid ounces at $4/ounce

If you have sensitive skin or are prone to inflammation, 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.

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