What is toner?

Toner is a water-based skincare product used after cleansing and before applying moisturizer. This fast-penetrating liquid works to balance the skin’s pH levels, remove any remaining impurities left after cleansing, and prepare the skin to better absorb the rest of your routine. Depending on the specific formula, toners can include various beneficial ingredients like acids, glycerin, antioxidants, herbal extracts, and anti-inflammatory agents.

What do toners actually do?

Generally, there are three main types of toners: astringent, hydrating, and exfoliating. Astringent toners are formulated to remove excess oil and reduce blemishes, while hydrating toners can soothe, brighten, and moisturize, and exfoliating toners help remove dead skin cells and improve the look or texture.

Regardless of your skin needs (we’ll talk more about that below!), your toner’s primary purpose should be to help balance and restore the skin’s natural pH levels after cleansing. This balanced state is essential to a healthy skin barrier and helps it absorb the treatments in your routine.

The right toner should also prepare the skin for serums and moisturizers by providing initial hydration after cleansing. This not only helps enhance the absorption of any treatment, but can also help prime and smooth skin before makeup.

Do we really need to use a toner?

In short, not necessarily. Unlike SPF, toners aren’t exactly a necessary step in a skincare routine, but as outlined above, they can be an amazing addition that helps the other products in your regimen work better.

With that being said, if you’ve tried a handful of different treatments in your routine and aren’t seeing desired results, the right toner could make all the difference.

The Best Toners by Skin Type

Many toners are designed to deliver targeted treatments to address specific skin concerns.

For oily and/or acne-prone skin

Contrary to what we were told in junior high, that “good burn” from toner can make acne and irritation even worse. Instead, reach for an alcohol-free toner like Moon Juice Acid Potion Resurfacing Exfoliator. It contains 25% AHA (alpha-hydroxy acid) and BHA (beta-hydroxy acid) to help clear dead skin cells that can clog the pores and lead to congestion. It’s also formulated with adaptogenic reishi and niacinamide to regulate oil production, reduce signs of inflammation, and improve skin tone.

Alcohol-free toners with niacinamide can also help regulate oil production, reduce signs of inflammation, and improve skin tone, like ROSEN Skincare’s Acne-Fighting Tidal Toner. It contains silver ions and sea salt to fight acne-causing bacteria without that dreaded tight feeling many toners leave behind.

For combination skin

Combination skin can be tricky, especially when picking the right toner. For skin that’s oily in some areas and dry in others, shop alcohol-free toners with balancing formulas, like Mila Moursi pH Balancing Toner. It contains oil-fighting AHA and BHA, along with moisture-boosting humectants to hydrate and balance.

For dry and/or mature skin

If your skin tends to be on the drier side, search for alcohol-free toners with proven hydration boosters, like Good Molecules Sakura Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Essence. It contains a blend of three molecular weights of hyaluronic acid to draw moisture into the skin’s deeper layers, so your skin feels smooth and hydrated without a heavy, greasy feel.

For sensitive skin

If some toners have irritated your skin in the past, look for a gentle, alcohol-free formulation powered by aloe vera, like Indie Lee CoQ-10 Toner. It’s powered by hyaluronic acid to gently hydrate while aloe vera, cucumber, and sage extracts soothe and calm the skin.