If your skin is oily or dry, toner is the answer for you
Sometimes it seems near impossible to combat skin issues. You can slather on your best moisturiser to tackle dry skin and use mattifying lotions to absorb excess oil, but unless you’re starting your skin care routine right, all of this is null and void. Enter the best toner, which will not only help rebalance your skin, but will leave it glowing.
What is a facial toner?
The purpose of a toner in any regular skincare routine is to cleanse skin and refine pores, giving your complexion a more even tone. And while toners have been typically for oily skin types that need an extra cleansing boost, many of them are now packed with extra skincare benefits, like hydrating and soothing properties.
Firstly, a toner will help shrink the appearance of pores. Wiping your face with toner removes oil build up, which gives the appearance of smaller pores. Secondly, it gives your skin pH balance. Due to the alkaline nature of soap and most of the best face washes, the pH balance of our skin gets disturbed. This makes your skin work in overtime to try and balance it again, which can result in excess oil. Using a toner stops this in its tracks.
Thirdly, it can be a great moisturiser – even if you’ve got an arsenal of the best moisturisers already. Toners these days have humectant properties, which means they help bind moisture to the skin. And finally, it adds a layer of protection to keep environmental aggressors at bay.
The key to finding the right product for you is to identify your skin type and your main skin needs. Oily and spot-prone skin will benefit from exfoliating, balancing toners, while dry or combination skin types will need hydrating, moisturising properties. And if you have sensitive skin, look out for added ingredients like aloe vera, which soothe skin and reduce inflammation. If you’re unsure, check out our guide on how to find the perfect toner for your skin type.
If you’re worried about a toner drying out your skin, make sure you choose a formula that is alcohol-free. Likewise, excessively oily skin types may benefit from the drying effects of a natural alcohol ingredient. And if you’re looking for a mid-day skin pick-me-up, try one of the spray toners. They can be used under or over make-up to give skin an instant brightening boost as well as a moisture hit.
Scroll through to find the best toner for your skin type.
Best toner for oily skin
Clinique Clarifying Lotion 4, £16.50, Fabled
You can really feel Clinique’s exfoliating toner clearing away excess dirt and dead skin cells for a deep clean. It instantly brightens the complexion and helps maintain clearer skin.
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Best toner for acne
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Clarifying Solution, £12, Boots
With glycolic and salicylic acid working together, this medicated formula gets right down into the pores to break apart dirt, bacteria and dead skin, treating acne and preventing it from appearing again.
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Best toner for dry skin
Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist, £24, Beauty Expert
Like we mentioned earlier, it’s really easy for your skin’s pH balance to become disturbed, especially after cleansing. This marshmallow-infused rosewater spray rebalances skin while delivering a supercharged spritz of moisture – plus it makes for a great make-up setting spray.
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Best toner for combination skin
Pixi Glow Tonic, £18, Cult Beauty
As probably one of the most beloved toners on the market, Pixi’s Glow Tonic does exactly what it says on the bottle. With 5% glycolic to exfoliate, ginseng to revitalise, and aloe to soothe and revitalise, it really does unveil glowing, brighter skin, tackling acne scars and dark marks in its wake. If you only choose one toner, you’d better make it this one…
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Scroll through a few more of our fave ever toners in the round up below.
Your skin will thank you for it…
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Hydrating Floral Spafresh Spritzer, £20, ESPA
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Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic, £15, Fabled
Gentle and alcohol-free, this floral-scented skin tonic adds a fine layer of moisture to skin while refreshing, soothing and brightening. It's a great addition for any skin type.
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Kiehl’s Cucumber Herbal Alcohol-Free Toner, £29, Liberty London
If your skin needs a refining toner but is dry or sensitive, opt for this gorgeous cucumber toner, which contains herbal extracts for a gentle balancing effect.
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Shiseido Pureness Balancing Softener Alcohol Free
This PH balancing alcohol-free formula gives skin a more even tone while boosting hydration. It also contains Peony Root Extract and Rosemary Extract to control oil and battle blackheads, blemishes and shine. It's one of our all-round favourites.
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Caudalie Moisturising Toner, £15, Fabled
This gentle, alcohol-free toner is a great all-rounder - it balances, cleanses and tightens skin while also hydrating for a softer skin finish.
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Amazon, Simple Kind to Skin Soothing Facial Toner, £4.20
This gentle toner is a great extra step between cleansing and moisturising to ensure all traces of dirt and makeup are banished before you moisturise.
