The 16 Best Toners for Every Skin Type & Issue

Why It's Worth It: Board-certified dermatologist and Assistant Professor of Dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Diane Madfes, MD, is a fan of CeraVe's Alcohol-Free Hydrating Toner for Sensitive Dry Skin for its alcohol-free, non-comedogenic, and fragrance-free formulation. She also notes that the toner is spiked with hyaluronic acid (great for hydration), niacinamide (known for its ability to improve skin texture, minimize pores, and reduce inflammation), and ceramides (helps skin retain moisture).

Editor Tip: It's also oil-free, so it's a worthwhile pick for people with combination skin.

Key Ingredients: Ceramides, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide | Who It's Good For: People dealing with seasonal dryness | Fragrance-free: Yes

Why It's Worth It: This isn't your average toner: The formula bolsters the typical soothing ingredients, like allantoin and panthenol, with two botanicals that support the skin's microbiome — and therefore the skin barrier. That makes quick work of irritation, tamping down redness, and calming skin on the spot. It's also so gentle that those with rosacea can safely use it.

Editor Tip: If you use it long-term, it'll reduce signs of sensitive skin over time.

Key Ingredients: Allantoin, marshmallow root, ophiopogon japonicus | Who It's Good For: People with very reactive or stressed skin | Fragrance-free: Yes

Why It's Worth It: This luxurious toner is as pretty as it is effective; the bottle houses actual rose petals alongside a formula packed with hyaluronic acid and damask rose extract, which bring the hydration. The 2017 Best of Beauty winner also contains rosewater and angelica leaf extract — both known for their soothing properties.

Editor Tip: It's alcohol-free, so it won't dry your skin out.

Key Ingredients: Rose fruit extract, hyaluronic acid, angelica leaf extract | Who It's Good For: People looking for extra moisture | Fragrance-free: No

Why It's Worth It: If you've been using and loving the Pixi by Petra Glow Tonic for years, you know it's basically magic in a bottle. It's made with hero ingredients — such as glycolic acid, aloe vera, and witch hazel — to minimize the appearance of dark spots and promote clearer, softer skin.

Editor Tip: This best-selling exfoliating toner practically put the category on the map.

Key Ingredients: Glycolic acid, ginseng, aloe | Who It's Good For: Anyone looking to fade dark spots and brighten skin | Fragrance-free: No

Why It's Worth It: According to Corey L. Hartman, MD, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Skin Wellness Dermatology in Birmingham, Alabama, the Versed Baby Cheeks Hydrating Milk Toner is ideal for "severely dry skin." That's because it's enriched with coconut water and algae extract, which Dr. Hartman notes "provides more hydration than most toners." Even better? It pulls double (or more like triple) duty as a cleanser and makeup remover.

Editor Tip: It's even able to remove residue from hard water.

Key Ingredients: Coconut water, algae extract, bamboo extract | Who It's Good For: People with very dry skin, or those who want extra versatility | Fragrance-free: Yes

Why It's Worth It: Can a toner really be moisturizing? The 2019 Best of Beauty winner Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Liquid answers that question and more. Thanks to a recent formula revamp that doubled the amount of ceramides — an ingredient that helps restore any lost moisture — it leaves skin feeling soft and supple after every use.

Editor Tip: This toner has a rich, serum-like texture that feels especially nourishing on dry skin.

Key Ingredients: Ceramides, panthenol, glycerin | Who It's Good For: People with dry or redness-prone skin | Fragrance-free: No

Why It's Worth It: Like a big vanilla latte for your skin, this Skin Recovery Essence Toner from EltaMD is comforting and energizing all at once. When cold temperatures and indoor heat dry out skin, it is the antidote you need. The multitasker hydrates, makes skin remarkably soft, and fortifies your skin’s barrier with amino acids. That’s key for keeping moisture in, especially during cold winter months. As if that wasn’t enough, the light toner also contains antioxidants.

Editor Tip: The formula's blue hue comes courtesy of malachite extract, which helps protect skin.

Key Ingredients: Glycerin, malachite extract, arginine | Who It's Good For: People looking to offset seasonal dryness | Fragrance-free: Yes

Why It's Worth It: Perfect for oily skin, Ole Henriksen's Balancing Force Oil Control Toner is made with a powerful blend of glycolic, salicylic, and lactic acids to control excess oil production, unclog pores, and clear out blackheads without stripping away too much moisture. Plus, the 2019 Best of Beauty winner has a refreshing eucalyptus and peppermint scent that makes it a joy to use.

Editor Tip: Dip a cotton swab in the toner and press it against a blemish for a makeshift spot treatment.

Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, willowherb extract, green tea | Who It's Good For: People who want to control excess sebum | Fragrance-free: No

Why It's Worth It: With a thicker feel than your average toner, this concentrated formula is powered by fermented black rice, which supports skin's ability to renew itself. It's paired with hyaluronic acid and beta-glucan — two powerful humectants — to plump skin on the spot, too, leaving skin supple and smooth.

Editor Tip: It doesn't contain any exfoliants, so it's a good pick to help skin recover.

Key Ingredients: Fermented oryza sativa extract, red ginseng, hyaluronic acid | Who It's Good For: People seeking amped-up smoothing | Fragrance-free: No

Why It's Worth It: Alpha H's Liquid Gold Exfoliating Treatment has the consistency of a toner but is spiked with 5% glycolic acid to dissolve dead skin cells, and licorice root extract to brighten. It makes skin feel smooth and look radiant and even faded one editor's stubborn post-acne dark spot after a week of use.

Editor Tip: You can add a few drops to cleansers and masks for extra exfoliating benefits.

Key Ingredients: Glycolic acid, licorice root extract | Who It's Good For: People who exfoliate regularly | Fragrance-free: Yes

Why It's Worth It: Hourglass Cosmetics Equilibrium Restoring Essence snapped up a 2021 Best of Beauty Award for its lipid-enriched formula, which protects, hydrates, and — you guessed it — restores the skin barrier. The toner is also noncomedogenic, which means it won't clog your pores.

Editor Tip: Try using it directly before applying makeup to prime and prep skin for smooth application.

Key Ingredients: Phosphatidylglycerol | Who It's Good For: People who need barrier support | Fragrance-free: Yes

Why It's Worth It: You can't actually shrink the size of pores, but this 2023 Best of Beauty Award winner gets close. It uses a combination of alpha hydroxy acids and polyhydroxy acids (a gentler cousin) to clear out dead skin cells, preventing and clearing clogs. It also supplies glycerin to hydrate skin, leaving skin comfortable and not at all dry.

Editor Tip: The foamy formula is best applied straight onto your skin — just dispense it and pat.

Key Ingredients: Glycolic acid, glyconolactone, glycerin | Who It's Good For: Oily and combination skin types | Fragrance-free: Yes

Why It's Worth It: No7 Radiance+ Vitamin C Glow Toner boasts a water-based formula to seriously hydrate skin. The Best of Beauty-winning toner is also spiked with a slew of potent, performance-driven ingredients, including vitamin C to brighten, a blend of fruit-derived alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and willow bark extract to gently exfoliate, and aloe to soothe.

Editor Tip: It has a light, citrusy scent that's refreshing but not overpowering.

Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, willow bark extract, aloe | Who It's Good For: Anyone seeking intensive brightening | Fragrance-free: No

Why It's Worth It: Also per Dr. Hartman, the Fenty Skin Fat Water Pore-Refining Toner Serum is a great choice for all skin types since it "deliver[s] a brightening and toning effect without stripping away too much oil." The product — which is one-part toner, one-part serum — also contains niacinamide, which the dermatologist credits for its skin-smoothing and pore-minimizing properties.

Editor Tip: For those sensitive to scent, there's a fragrance-free version, too.

Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, cherry extract, lemon myrtle | Who It's Good For: People with large pores and excess oil | Fragrance-free: No