11 toners for every skin type

Toners have long been an underrated part of skin care routines. At a basic level, they balance and condition your skin, but many products are packed with even more benefits for different skin types. Interest in toner is increasing. Spate recently discovered that consumers are turning to ChatGPT for personalized toner recommendations tailored to their individual skin concerns. That’s why we’ve curated a list of the most popular searches.

featured experts

Gabrielle Taylor is Borghese National Esthetician and Skin Specialist Cecily Braden is Esthetician and Spa Educator

What is toner?

“Toners can be used as a second step after cleansing and can have different benefits depending on the formulation, preparing your skin for the next steps in your skin care routine, such as serums and moisturizers,” says Gabrielle Taylor, Borghese National Esthetician and skin expert. “A properly formulated toner is an important step in skin cleansing and overall skin health,” says Taylor. “Please note that I say ‘well-formulated’ because there are a lot of inferior toners out there that are almost as good as scented water.” Don’t waste your time and money using toners that have no real benefit. Check our recommendations in advance.

Advantages of toner

Cleansing can disrupt the acid mantle, so using the right toner will restore your skin’s pH balance after cleansing. The acid mantle is “your skin’s natural buildup of oil and sweat that helps keep your skin balanced and healthy,” says Taylor. “Toners return skin to its optimal pH balance of 5.5. Additionally, toners improve the visible appearance of pores, reduce inflammation, brighten and even skin tone, and protect against environmental aggressors.” Esthetician and spa educator Cecily Braden loves toners’ versatility. The effects vary depending on the combination, so it is important to find the one that suits you.

Lotion tailored to each skin type and problem

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Korean beauty is quickly becoming known for its sunscreens, and this rice milk lotion is just as amazing. Featuring an innovative dual-layer formula, it hydrates the skin while balancing sebum levels for glowing, but not greasy skin.

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This toner contains a powerful blend of vitamin C, vitamin E, and B vitamins. “Plus, this essence toner uses a powerful cocktail of oats, banana, shiitake mushrooms, and citrus lemon flower water to brighten, refine, and protect skin from environmental aggressors,” says Taylor. “The results? Fewer visible pores, brighter, more even skin, and powerful antioxidant protection. I think of this as a multivitamin for your skin.”

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Toners are great tools to combat hyperpigmentation, but avoid products that are too harsh on your skin. This milky toner from EADEM is formulated with the brand’s FastFade Complex to exfoliate and safely remove dark spots on skin, pigmented and otherwise.

Cashmere Peel Exfoliating AHA + PHA Toner

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This daily BHA toner combines salicylic acid and Danish purple willow ferment to visibly improve dark spots and clear skin in just one week. Plus, it can help prevent future breakouts. Shine and surface oil are instantly reduced, and 94% of users say they feel more confident in their skin after using the toner.

OLEHENRIKSEN Detox Drops 2% Salicylic Acne Toner

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If your skin tends to get red or irritated, you may want to add a skin-soothing toner to your routine. This K-Beauty formula soothes and deeply hydrates skin to improve irritation and leave skin looking more even and glassy.

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Treat dry skin with a tall glass of this milky toner. It moisturizes your skin and you will see the redness disappear instantly. Dry skin is often more sensitive, so this formula strengthens the skin barrier and microbiome, increasing skin elasticity over time. It’s very gentle, so it’s a great option for people with rosacea or other sensitive skin conditions.

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Medicube has quickly become a leading K-Beauty brand in America, and its PDRN products are among its most popular. This milky toner is loaded with niacinamide. It gives even acne-prone skin a soft glow and hydrates without feeling heavy. One reviewer wrote, “My skin is amazing. I haven’t worn makeup once since using this.”

Medicube PDRN Pink Niacinamide Milky Toner

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Mario Badescu’s toner is popular. The brand offers a variety of toners with key ingredients from glycolic acid to witch hazel, so there’s something for everyone. Aloe Vera Toner is perfect for soothing and moisturizing your skin while providing the plant extract’s signature anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.

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Unscented toner for sensitive skin: Anua Heartleaf 77+ ($23)

You’ve probably seen this toner, which is a top seller on Amazon and has gone viral on TikTok. And I’m here to tell you that it lives up to the hype. Contains 77% heart leaf extract, popular for its calming and moisturizing properties. It’s fragrance-free and extremely calming, making it perfect for sensitive and reactive skin types.

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Alcohol-free toners are often searched for, but fortunately, toners that rely on alcohol as a major ingredient are becoming less and less common. This gentle, soothing herbal toner helps reduce redness and minimize excess oil, making it the perfect daily go-to for balancing normal to oily skin.

Kiehl's Calendula Herbal Extract Alcohol Free Toner

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This gentle daily exfoliant contains sPHA and green tea enzymes to smooth rough skin and hydrate dry skin. After just one use, 95% of users noticed a visible change in their skin.