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Having a solid skincare routine can be a transformative experience. Whether you’re a three-step, five-step or 10-step routine lover, there’s nothing better than finding the right regime for your unique skin, and the products to match it. That’s why searching for your skin’s ideal cleanser, serum, moisturizer, and toner is a worthy (yet daunting) journey.
Speaking of toner, this powerful potion is a bit of an unsung hero. Not quite a cleanser and certainly not your main moisturizer, toner is meant to be applied post-cleanse in the form of a spray, tonic or light lotion. It’s meant to refresh and cleanse the skin while shrinking the appearance of pores and it helps combat acne. A good toner also provides a boost of moisture when you need it most.
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Here, we’ve rounded up nine great skin toners that continue to receive rave reviews — from Rihanna’s bestselling formula, to a Korean beauty wonder, and a luxury toner with glowing reviews to match.
Thayers Witch Hazel Facial Toner
Featuring high-quality ingredients and a wallet-friendly price tag, Thayers’ facial toner is an absolute steal. Made with certified organic witch hazel and aloe vera, this alcohol-free tonic is formulated to cleanse, tone, hydrate and help reduce the look of pores. Apply with a cotton ball after cleansing or anytime throughout the day for an instant boost of hydration.
Clinique Acne Solutions Clarifying Face Lotion
For acne-prone skin, Clinique’s clarifying lotion is a medicated (salicylic acid, acetyl glucosamine) yet gentle liquid exfoliator that aims to reduce excess oil while unclogging pores. The reviews are in, and fans swear by this toner to help their most soothe stubborn acne. One reviewer says the Clinique toner “clears acne super quickly, removes makeup pretty well, prevents acne and clears pores and blackheads.”
Paula’s Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Face Toner
Paula’s Choice is known for creating products that get to the root cause of the concern. The brand’s pore-reducing toner is a bestseller for its unique formula of antioxidants and hydrating ceramides that help make oily areas less noticeable. Key ingredients include niacinamide to minimize pores, hyaluronic acid and Ceramides to restore the skin’s moisture barrier, and chamomile and burdock root extract to soothe sensitive skin.
Milky Toner With Hyaluronic Acid
Quench your skin’s thirst with Ulta’s bestselling toner. This toner comes in a thick, milky texture that’s packed with ingredients that visibly plump skin and support a strong moisture barrier — think hyaluronic acid for suppleness and hydration, as well as sugar cane extract for exfoliation. Ulta says its milky toner is certified cruelty free and formulated without parabens, sulfates, and phthalates.
Tower 28 SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray
Tower 28’s award-winning SOS facial spray aims to soothe and purify stressed-out skin. This spray’s alcohol-free formula includes hypochlorous acid to help calm skin and reduce redness. Bonus: it can be used daily — no cotton swap needed.
Fenty Skin Fat Water Pore Refining Toner Serum
Quench your skin’s thirst with Fenty Skin’s cult-favorite Fat Water. This toner-essence combos comes in a thick, milky texture that’s packed with hydrating ingredients to visibly plump skin and support a strong moisture barrier. Ingredients include tamarind, hyaluronic acid, mineral PCAs and panthenol. This one is selling out quickly but we’ve spotted it in stock at Amazon.
Glow Recipe PHA + BHA Face Toner
Another cult-favorite hydration hero is Glow Recipe’s Watermelon Glow toner, which is a gentle PHA- and BHA-infused tonic that hydrates skin and minimizes the appearance of pores. This toner’s secret sauce ingredient is cactus water, used to intensely hydrate skin. Watermelon extract helps to refresh and soothe while delivering a dose of essential vitamins and amino acids.
Anua Heartleaf 77 Soothing Toner
Korean beauty fanatics swear by Anua’s Heartleaf soothing toner, as it features Heartleaf extract to soothe, tone, hydrate, and balance the PH level of skin. Amazon reviewers have called this toner everything from “magic in a bottle” to “liquid gold” to a “red and sensitive skin holy grail.” It’s great to help calm and purify your skin too, and gentle enough to use every day.
SK-II Pitera Facial Treatment Essence
Speaking of flattering nicknames, how about “Miracle Water”? SK-II’s award-winning Pitera essence has earned this generous nickname across Asia for its powerful formula that visibly softens texture, reduces the appearance of dark spots and enhances the skin’s overall radiance. Packed with 50 micronutrients, including vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and natural acids, SK-II’s 40-year-old prized product has certainly deserves its luxury price tag.
