The 7 Best Toners of 2023, Tested and Rated

These proven formulas have been tested and approved by Byrdie editors. Today’s toner formulas are more advanced than ever. Not only do they offer multiple skincare benefits (like hydration, pore shrinking, dirt and oil removal, and more), but they also deliver active ingredients directly to your face. According to board-certified dermatologist Lucy Chen, MD, a good toner is either acid-based (to exfoliate and renew the skin) or hydrating (to lock in moisture). To get the most out of a toner, we recommend using it after cleansing. Whether your skin is sensitive and needs soothing, acne-prone and needs to remove excess oil, or dry and thirsty and needs to be hydrated, the right toner can address the problem and treat it accordingly. There are hundreds of options available. To take the guesswork out of choosing the right toner for you, we selected 24 of the most popular toners and asked our testers to give them an honest try.

After testing the toners in our Manhattan testing lab, testers evaluated each toner’s feel, absorbency, hydration, and appearance. The highest-rated products made this list. Keep reading to find the best toners

of 2023, as reviewed by our testers.

Best Overall: Tower 28 SOS Daily Rescue Face Mist: Tower28 is known for its delicate, skin-friendly makeup and skincare formulas. This toner, which comes in a fire-engine red spray bottle, is beloved for its uncanny ability to soothe, cleanse, and repair stressed skin.

It’s approved by the National Eczema Association, so it’s proven effective for relieving eczema flare-ups, but you’ll also find plenty of fans who swear by it for soothing inflamed acne and perioral dermatitis.

Hypochlorous acid is also considered a key ingredient, which is why this formula is so effective at calming redness and irritation. According to the brand, hypochlorous acid is similar to the hyaluronic acid and ceramides that our skin produces.

“Hypochlorous acid is naturally found in white blood cells and has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties that help fight foreign pathogens and promote healing,” the brand’s website says. With all that goodness in one bottle, you’ll want to savor every drop.

Luckily, the spray bottle ensures there’s no mess, spills, or accidentally applying too much product. Our lab tester loved the ability to apply the toner to a cotton pad or directly to the face. She said the watery, lightweight toner was easy to dispense from the bottle and “absorbed into the skin in seconds,” noting that her skin felt “more hydrated, brighter, and fresher” after use. Although the formula has a water-like consistency and comes in a spray bottle, it can be a little trickier to apply than your average toner. Our tester needed about five pumps to fully saturate the cotton area. Best Treatment: SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Emulsion Toner. If a product has a proprietary ingredient, you know it’s going to be good. In the case of the SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Emulsion Toner, the superstar ingredient is Pitera™, a signature ingredient that contains 50 micronutrients. Along with alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), these nourishing ingredients work to improve the skin’s overall appearance, starting with uneven skin texture. Our tester can attest to that. She shared that it felt “hydrating” and “soothing” when she used this toner, and that it seemed to help her dull and uneven skin texture almost immediately. She was also impressed by the toner’s ability to “deep clean” her pores. Although she washed her face before using the toner, she noticed that it absorbed excess dirt and grime that would otherwise stick to her face. The clear, light-colored solution is slightly liquid and comes out of a small opening at the top of the bottle. So be aware that you may pour too much product out of the opening if you’re not careful. Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Murad Clarifying Toner. Toner can be a valuable tool in the fight against skin imperfections. The key is choosing the right remedy that fights excess oil and keeps pores open without over-drying the skin (which, ironically, can lead to more oil and more breakouts). That’s where this toner comes in, with a minimal but effective base of witch hazel and algae extracts to regulate oil production and tighten pores. This combination helps refresh skin, clean pores, and fight oil.

Plus, added vitamin E protects against free radical damage. Our testers loved its consistency compared to water. It’s not too thick or greasy, making it perfect for a mid-day refreshment or after cleansing.

One tester even said it “wakes up” her skin and absorbs into her pores right away. However, keep in mind that while you’ll feel the effects (witch hazel has a subtle firming effect), if you have dry skin, you might find it a little too drying.

Skin is already dry. Best for Redness: Innisfree Green Tea Hyaluronic Acid Toner Green tea is praised for its anti-inflammatory properties and can help reduce skin irritation, redness, and swelling, making it a great choice for those who want to calm angry, red skin.

Innisfree’s Green Tea Facial Toner captures the balancing benefits of green tea leaves in a liquid formula that feels “incredibly light and gentle” on skin. According to our tester, the toner absorbed into her pores immediately after application and made a huge difference in the appearance of her hormonal acne.

She admitted that redness was significantly reduced, and even noticed a “significant decrease” in the number of zits. What’s more, she even claimed that the product reduced the appearance of her acne in about three minutes. So much to love, but there’s a downside: The toner is very slow to come out of the bottle. Normally, this would be a good thing, but since our tester admitted that she had to use “quite a bit of elbow grease” to get the toner out of the bottle (thanks, little donor head), it wasn’t exactly ideal.

Best for Sensitive Skin: Renee Rouleau Elderberry Toner If you hate the tight, dry feeling your skin feels after cleansing, you’ll love this toner from Renee Rouleau. This antioxidant-rich elderberry toner is designed to be used after cleansing to balance and relax irritated skin. Our tester, who has sensitive skin that’s prone to breakouts and dryness, admitted that this toner saved her face from the effects of post-wash tightness and lack of movement. Instead, her skin felt “relaxed” and had a “healthy glow.”

She also noticed a difference in the appearance of hyperpigmentation. She also said she loves that this toner is low in ingredients and has multiple anti-aging benefits. One thing that might be even better is how hydrating it is.

While it helps nourish tight and irritated skin, we wish it was a little more hydrating and did a better job retaining moisture.

Best for Oily Skin: Farmacy Deep Sweep 2% BHA Pore Clearing Toner The right toner can go a long way in controlling excessive shine for oily skin, and this toner is key. It combines oil-soluble salicylic acid,

exfoliating papaya enzymes, and purifying moringa seed extract to unclog pores and refresh oily skin. Additionally, chlorella, an antioxidant-rich natural ingredient, nourishes and soothes the skin and eliminates irritation

and prevents overdrying.

Our tester was impressed by how light this formula felt on her skin, noting that she almost forgot she had applied it. She was also happy that the product didn’t cause any stinging. But remember that toners

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

Water-Clear Lactic Acid Toner Dark spots are caused by sun damage, genetics, hormones, and acne scarring, none of which can compete with the exfoliating and anti-inflammatory properties of a toner.

Combining lactic acid to minimize discoloration, hydrating cactus flower extract, and antioxidant-rich seaweed extract, this toner targets the hyperpigmentation problem from every angle at Freck Beauty. Our tester was thrilled and compared the consistency of the toner to micellar water. It absorbed into the skin quickly and effectively, to the point that she said her skin “absorbed it so quickly” that she wanted to “apply more.” Since the container is made of glass and looks more like a perfume bottle than a toner, there’s nothing that can be squeezed out. You have to carefully (and evenly) pour a small amount from the bottle into your hand or onto a cotton pad, or you risk spilling it.

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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