Facial Toners

What is a Facial Toner?

Facial toners are skin care products that come in a water-like consistency packed with hydrating and soothing ingredients. Toners should be used in both morning and nighttime skin care routines to help prep skin for the rest of your regimen and to improve the efficacy of your beauty products.

Toners not only provide skin with a quick boost of hydration, but also balance out skin’s pH level post-cleansing. Use a toner at the beginning of your skin care routine after cleansing and before applying serum, moisturizer and sunscreen.

There are two ways to apply toner. One method is to soak a cotton pad with toner, and then gently swipe it all over your face. Another way is to apply toner directly onto the palms of your hands, and then gently pat onto skin until it fully absorbs.

Facial Toner Benefits

When applied using a cotton pad, toners can help remove skin impurities by wiping away any last traces of makeup, dirt or sunscreen left behind after cleansing. In addition to hydrating benefits, face toners are great for treating various skin concerns including dehydration, redness, inflammation and aging.

Besides hydrating toners, there are also toners that offer exfoliating benefits through chemical exfoliants. Exfoliating toners are suitable for all skin types, but they are most ideal for oily or acne-prone skin. Exfoliating toners help get rid of dead skin cells and unclog pores to reveal a smooth and bright complexion.

Facial Toner for Your Skin Type

Every skin type can benefit from using a toner. To make the most out of a toner, use one suited for your skin type. You can also choose a toner that treats a specific skin concern. Whether you have oily, dry, combination or sensitive skin, there is a toner that works for your skin type. Below are some of YesStyle’s best facial toners for various skin types.

Best Face Toners for Oily Skin

Those with oily skin should select toners that control excess sebum, tighten pores and contain anti-inflammatory and antibacterial ingredients. Look for toners formulated with exfoliating ingredients such as beta hydroxy acids (BHA) to help slough away dead skin cells and treat blemishes. Isntree’s Clear Skin BHA Toner is infused with willow bark extract and seaweed extract complex to soothe and purify skin, as well as betaine salicylate to remove excess oil. Benton’s Aloe BHA Skin Toner, SOME BY MI’s AHA, BHA, PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner and COSRX’s Full Fit Propolis Synergy Toner are other great options for oily skin.

If you’re new to exfoliating toners, it’s best to slowly incorporate them into your routine to avoid irritation. Start by using an exfoliating toner once a week and gradually to using it at least three times a week. Have a hydrating toner on rotation for days when you’re not using an exfoliating toner, as it helps keep your skin’s moisture intact. PURITO’s Centella Green Level Calming Toner is packed with centella asiatica extract, panthenol and witch hazel to provide skin with hydration while strengthening the skin barrier and preventing future breakouts.

Best Face Toners for Dry Skin

Look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin or allantoin when searching for a face toner for dry skin. Those with dry skin can also benefit from rose water toners, as rose water deeply nourishes to give you plump and dewy skin. Try Mamonde’s Rose Water Toner or NEOGEN’s Dermalogy Real Flower Cleansing Water Rose; the latter doubles as a makeup remover so your skin gets the best of both worlds. Featuring a deeply hydrating formula with actual rose petal extracts, the NEOGEN toner gently removes impurities and soothes skin, contributing to a supple and radiant complexion.

If your skin feels dehydrated, layer on toner several times or follow the famous 7-Skin Method, where you apply a lightweight toner seven times for maximum hydration. When following this method, you can use one toner or experiment with different hydrating toners such as Haruharu WONDER’s Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner, iUNIK’s Vitamin Hyaluronic Acid Vitalizing Toner, Pyunkang Yul’s Calming Deep Moisture Toner and Nacific’s Real Floral Toner Rose.

Best Face Toners for Combination Skin

The best toners for combination skin help control oiliness, particularly in the T-zone area, while also keeping dry areas like the cheeks hydrated. Anua’s Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner is formulated with houttuynia cordata extract to optimize the skin’s oil and moisture balance. This toner is suitable for daytime and evening routines as it keeps your skin perfectly hydrated.

When your skin feels drier than usual, keep celimax’s The Real Noni Moisture Balancing Toner on your shelf. Enriched with noni extract and amino acid complex, the formula nourishes skin without feeling too heavy. It also improves skin texture and boosts skin’s health, giving you a healthy-looking complexion.

Best Face Toners for Sensitive Skin

Toners deliver much needed moisture, which is especially important for sensitive skin as it tends to get aggravated. Look for toners with gentle and soothing ingredients like aloe vera, calendula or chamomile. Nacific’s Real Floral Toner Calendula is incredibly mild and soothes sensitive skin. Plus, it’s effective in relieving inflammation or redness. Formulated with calendula and Jeju Herb 7-Complex, the toner strengthens the skin’s resiliency, so with consistent use, your skin should return to its healthy state.

Since sensitive skin can feel tight or irritated throughout the day, a toner mist like HYGGEE’s Relief Chamomile Mist comes in handy. Simply spritz it whenever skin feels dry, and it’ll instantly calm and hydrate your skin at the same time.