Find Your Perfect Toner: Hydration, Clarity, and Glow

These tried-and-true formulas have been tested and approved by Byrdie editors.

Today’s toner formulas are more advanced than ever. Not only do they offer a variety of skincare benefits (like hydration, pore size reduction, dirt and oil removal, and more), they deliver active ingredients directly to your face.

According to board-certified dermatologist Dr. Lucy Chen, a good facial toner is one that’s either acidic (to exfoliate and renew the skin’s surface) or hydrating (to lock in moisture).

For the best results from a toner, we recommend using it after cleansing. Whether your skin is sensitive and seeking relief, acne-prone and needs to remove excess oil, or dry and dehydrated and in need of more hydration, the right facial toner can address the issue and care for your skin accordingly.

There are hundreds of options out there. To help you choose the right toner, we selected 24 of our most popular toners and asked our testers to put them to the test honestly.

After testing the toners in our Manhattan testing lab, testers rated each toner on how it felt, absorbed, moisturized, and looked. The top-rated products made this list.

Keep reading to find the best toners

The best phones of 2023, as voted by our testers.

Best Overall Winner: Tower 28 SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray: Tower 28 is known for its gentle, skin-friendly makeup and skincare formulas.

Packaged in a red fire engine spray bottle, this toner is popular for its magical properties to soothe, cleanse, and repair damaged skin.

It’s approved by the National Eczema Association and has been shown to relieve eczema flare-ups. Many users also swear by it for treating inflammatory acne and perioral dermatitis.

Hypochlorous acid is also a key ingredient, which is why this formula is so effective at soothing redness and irritation.

According to the brand, hypochlorous acid is similar to the hyaluronic acid and ceramides produced by our skin.

“Hypochlorous acid is naturally found in white blood cells and has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that help fight foreign pathogens and promote healing,” the brand’s website says.

With all the benefits in one bottle, you’ll want to savor every drop.

Luckily, spray bottles prevent spills, messes, or accidentally using too much product. Our lab tester was excited about being able to apply the toner to a cotton pad or directly to her face.

She said the watery, lightweight toner squeezed easily out of the bottle and “absorbed into the skin in seconds,” noting that her skin felt “more hydrated, brighter, and fresher” after use.

While the formula has a watery consistency and comes in a spray bottle, it’s a little trickier to use than traditional toners.

Our tester needed about five pumps to fully wet the cotton-covered area. Best Treatment: SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Emulsion Toner. If a product has protected ingredients, you know it’s good.

The star ingredient in SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Emulsion Toner is Pitera™, a unique ingredient containing 50 micronutrients.

Together with alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), these nourishing ingredients can improve your skin’s overall appearance, especially if you have uneven skin texture. Our tester can attest to that.

She says the toner feels nourished, soothed, and improves her dull and uneven skin texture almost immediately. She was also impressed by the deep pore-cleansing properties.

Although she washes her face before using the toner, she finds that the toner removes excess dirt and debris that sticks to her face.

The clear, light solution is slightly liquid and comes out of a small opening in the neck of the bottle.

So be aware that too much product may come out of the opening if you’re not careful. Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Murad Purifying Toner. Toners can effectively improve skin imperfections.

The key is to choose the right product to fight excess oil and keep pores unclogged without over-drying the skin (which, ironically, leads to more oil and more breakouts).

That’s where this toner comes into play. It’s based on a small but potent base of witch hazel and algae extracts to regulate oil production and tighten pores.

This combination helps to freshen the skin, unclog pores, and fight oil.

Plus, the vitamin E protects against damage caused by free radicals. Our testers loved its consistency compared to water.

It’s not too thick or greasy, so it’s perfect for use between or after cleansing.

One tester even said it “wakes up” her skin and absorbs into her pores right away.

But keep in mind that while you’ll feel noticeable results (witch hazel has a slight tightening effect), you may find it a little too drying if your skin is already dry.

Best for Redness: Innisfree Green Tea Hyaluronic Acid Toner. Praised for its anti-inflammatory properties, green tea can help reduce skin irritation, redness, and swelling—a great choice for anyone looking to soothe redness.

The Innisfree Green Tea Facial Toner packs the balancing effects of green tea leaves into a liquid formula that leaves skin feeling incredibly light and soft.

According to our tester, the toner absorbed into her pores right after use and visibly improved the appearance of her hormonal acne.

She admitted that redness was noticeably reduced, and even the number of new pimples she broke out was noticeably reduced.

What’s more, she even claimed that the product reduced her acne in just three minutes. I like it very much, but there is one drawback: the toner flows out of the bottle very slowly.

Normally, this would be a good thing, but since our tester admitted that she had to use quite a bit of force to get the toner out of the bottle (thanks to the small dispensing tip), it’s not ideal.

For Sensitive Skin: Renee Rouleau Elderberry Toner. If you hate the dry, tight feeling your skin has after cleansing, you’ll love this toner from Renee Rouleau.

This antioxidant-rich elderberry toner is designed to balance and relax sensitive skin after cleansing. Our tester has sensitive skin that’s prone to rashes and dryness.

She admitted that this toner helped prevent her face from feeling too tight and stiff after washing. Instead, her skin felt relaxed and had a healthy glow.

She also noticed a change in the look of her hyperpigmentation. She also said that this toner has a variety of anti-aging benefits with so few ingredients.

However, there is one thing it could have done better: hydration.

While it takes care of tight and irritated skin, we wish it offered more hydration and better moisture management.

Best for Oily Skin: Farmacy Deep Sweep 2% BHA Pore Clearing Water. The right toner can significantly reduce the excess shine of oily skin, and this toner is key.

It combines oil-soluble salicylic acid, exfoliating papaya enzymes, and purifying moringa seed extract to open pores and refresh oily skin.

Plus, chlorella, an antioxidant-rich natural ingredient, nourishes and soothes the skin to prevent irritation and overdrying.

Our tester was impressed by how light this formula felt on her skin and noted that she almost forgot she had used it. She was also pleased that the product didn’t cause any burning sensations.

However, keep in mind that toners contain active exfoliants.

Using it on days when you use retinoids and other active ingredients should be avoided to avoid overexposure (like redness, burning, and dryness of the skin). Best for Hyperpigmentation: Freck Beauty Cactus

Clarifying Lactic Acid Toner. Dark spots are caused by sun damage, genetic predisposition, hormones, and acne scarring.

None of that can compete with the exfoliating and anti-inflammatory benefits of a toner.

This toner contains lactic acid to minimize discoloration, hydrating cactus flower extract, and antioxidant-rich algae extract to combat hyperpigmentation, according to Freck Beauty.

Our tester was thrilled and compared the consistency of the toner to micellar water.

It absorbed quickly and effectively into the skin—she said her skin “soaked it up so quickly” that she “wanted to apply more.”

Since the jar is made of glass and looks more like a perfume bottle than a toner bottle, there’s no squeezing out any of it.

Carefully (and evenly) squeeze a small amount of the bottle into your hand or onto a cotton pad, or you risk spilling.

DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek. “Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more. Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals. Sunscreen “We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.” Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup. Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand. Vitamin C Serum “A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging. Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation. Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants. Peptides Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.” Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses. Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively. This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek. At-Home Peel Pads Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate. “The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.” According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says. Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection. KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation. Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids. Emollient Night Cream “In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.” “Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products. Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid. RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme “The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.

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