The Best Face Toners You Can Buy, Recommended by Dermatologists (2024)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 formula from BioEffect is made without alcohol, oil or scent, making it ideal 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."

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.

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? Apart from the price, the glass bottle is not as portable for travel and it contains a smaller amount of product than most toners we've reviewed.

This list is composed of recommendations from GH Beauty Lab scientists and experts who have a range of skin types and rigorously test hundreds of skincare product formulas each year, including toners and other skincare liquids like essences, tonics, waters, solutions and liquid lotions. When testing toners, we evaluate products on factors such as ease of use (including application and scent) and the look and feel of skin after use, both immediately and over time.

We've combined the results of the toners our editors and experts have tried in recent years with the recommendations of board-certified dermatologists as well as our own research to compile this list of the best toners you can buy.

It may take a little trial and error to find which kind of toner you like best. Toners can make many claims, such as removing oil, tightening pores, restoring skin's pH balance and cleaning pores deeply. But before you buy any old toner, you should consider your current skincare regimen and skin type, as well as the strengths of the ingredients in the product. Our advice: When shopping for a toner, look for formulations tailored to your complexion type or primary skin concern or goal. Here are Wnek's suggestions:

✔️ For oily or acne-prone skin or to minimize pores, look for astringents, such as alcohols or witch hazel, that tighten skin. An astringent is a toner formula that's made with ingredients like alcohol that help remove excess oil from the skin.

✔️ For combination skin, to exfoliate or reduce hyperpigmentation, scan the label for hydroxy acids, including salicylic acid and lactic acid, which increase cell turnover and make your skin glow.

✔️ For dry skin or sensitive skin, opt for soothing, hydrating ingredients and humectants like glycerin or hyaluronic acid to hydrate without irritation. If you have extremely sensitive skin, you may want to opt for toner made without alcohol, a potential irritant.

This article was written by GH Beauty Director April Franzino, who has over 15 years of experience researching, writing and editing skincare content, utilizing the expertise of Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab scientists and top industry professionals, including dermatologists and aestheticians.

For this story, she interviewed several dermatologists and worked with Danusia Wnek, a chemist in the Beauty Lab, in order to explain the benefits of face toners and recommend the best products for all skin types.

Wnek has a B.S. in chemistry from St. John’s University, an M.S. in pharmaceutical sciences with a concentration in cosmetic science from the University of Cincinnati and a decade of experience in the personal care industry that includes formulation, product development, claim evaluation and efficacy testing. For over seven years, she has been testing skincare products in the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab, including eye creams, serums, and facial oils. She has experience using specialized lab equipment that gauges changes in levels of skin moisturization, firmness and texture before and after product use.