The 10 Best Glycolic Acid Toners for Glowing, Glass Skin

Glycolic acid reigns supreme in the skincare world��it's a favorite among dermatologists, skincare experts, and Byrdie editors alike for its litany of benefits. The gentle alpha-hydroxy acid is a chemical exfoliant that's great at dissolving dead skin cells that can lead to clogged pores and a generally lackluster appearance. It has wrinkle-fighting benefits, too, and is typically well tolerated by most skin types. "Glycolic acid is a must," comments Renée Rouleau, celebrity esthetician, and Byrdie's go-to skincare guru. "It chemically nixes the cell buildup that leads to blemishes and it's also an anti-aging mainstay." 

There’s no shortage of different ways to incorporate the superstar ingredient into your routine, but toner is arguably the easiest. Come bedtime, wash your face, then apply it all over before any serum or facial moisturizer. Yep, it’s as simple as that. While it may sound like a basic, one-ingredient product, there are many iterations available today. We researched some of the most popular, testing several options ourselves, to bring you a list of our favorites that users (and editors) keep coming back to.

Our Top Picks

• Best Overall: Mario Badescu Glycolic Acid Toner at Amazon
• Best Budget: The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toner at Sephora
• Best Soothing: Pixi Glow Tonic at Amazon
• Best for Dry Skin: Reviva Labs Glycolic Acid Facial Toner at Amazon
• Best Exfoliating: Glamglow Supertoner Exfoliating Acid Toner at Dermava
• Best Brightening: Bolden Brightening Glycolic Acid Toner at Amazon
• Best for Acne-Prone Skin: La Roche-Posay Effaclar Clarifying Toner at Amazon
• Best Natural: Evolve Rainforest Rescue Blemish Serum at Care to Beauty
• Best for Uneven Texture: Glossier Solution Exfoliating Skin Perfector at Amazon
• Best Spray: Cosrx AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner at Amazon
  

Best Overall

Mario Badescu Glycolic Acid Toner

$18 at Amazon $18 at Target $18 at Ulta

What We Like:

• Won't irritate sensitive skin
• Great value
• Balancing formula

What to Consider:

• Nothing

Active Ingredients: Glycolic acid, aloe leaf juice | Skin Type: All | Benefits: Hydrates, exfoliates, soothes | Size: 8 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

As a general rule of thumb, glycolic acid is a great ingredient for all skin types, but if your complexion is both oily and dry, this particular toner is worth trying. With a lower, 2% concentration of glycolic acid, there’s likely less risk of it irritating dry spots even more so given the fact that it’s coupled with hydrating aloe. Aloe vera is a naturally derived ingredient known for its soothing and moisturizing properties. The aloe plant's inner gel mucilage (the part that's used in skin care products) is made up of 99.5% water (aka, a natural hydrator).

Best Budget

The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toner

$9 at Sephora $9 at Target $13 at Ulta

What We Like:

• Affordable and widely available
• Makes skin look radiant
• Meels soothing on the skin

What to Consider:

• A little sticky

Active Ingredients: Glycolic acid, aloe | Skin Type: All | Benefits: Hydrates, exfoliates, soothes | Size: 8 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

We do a double-take every time we look at the price tags of any product from this brand, and this toner is no exception. Like its other offerings, The Ordinary focuses on one star ingredient—in this case, it’s (obviously) glycolic acid at a powerful 7% concentration. And while that’s the headliner, it’s paired with amino acids, ginseng, and aloe vera which provide an extra radiance boost while soothing the skin. It can, however, be a bit sticky upon application

Best Soothing

Pixi Glow Tonic

$29 at Amazon $15 at Target $18 at Ulta

What We Like:

• Unclogs pores and exfoliates dead skin
• Soothing formula
• Alcohol-free

What to Consider:

• Can be overly drying if used daily

Active Ingredients: Glycolic acid, aloe, ginseng | Skin Type: Oily | Benefits: Hydrates, exfoliates, soothes | Size: 8 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

A team Byrdie staple, this product is lauded as much for its affordable price tag as for its effective yet gentle formula. Glycolic acid is balanced with soothing aloe and ginseng, which helps increase circulation for further glow-enhancing effects. It will leave your complexion clear and radiant, without any unwanted redness or uncomfortable tingling sensation. One tester said, "After a month of use, I do feel like my skin looks brighter and clearer, and I think the dark spots are clearing up, too." Our one caveat is it can be a bit drying if you use it multiple times a day.

Best for Dry Skin

Reviva Labs Glycolic Acid Facial Toner

$15 at Amazon $14 at IHerb

What We Like:

• Hydrates with hyaluronic acid
• Helps reduce the appearance of fine lines
• Gentle enough for sensitive skin

What to Consider:

• May cause slight tingling

Active Ingredients: Glycolic acid, hyaluronic acid | Skin Type: Dry | Benefits: Hydrates, exfoliates, soothes | Size: 4 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Sure, toners are more often associated with oily skin types, but that doesn’t mean they can't work wonders on dry skin. Fun fact: AHAs like Glycolic acid actually have some subtle hydrating effects, and here it’s combined with ultra-hydrating hyaluronic acid and aloe vera, too. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring polysaccharide found in the human body. When used in skincare, it acts as a moisture binder, which means it will attach itself to the water in the cells (while also attracting and holding water from the air) making them plump. That means it has anti-aging benefits, too.

Best Exfoliator

Glamglow Supertoner Exfoliating Acid Solution Toner

View on Dermava.com

What We Like:

• Very effective exfoliation
• Absorbs quickly
• Fun to use

What to Consider:

• Separates as it settles

Active Ingredients: Lactic, salicylic, glycolic acids, activated charcoal | Skin Type: Oily, acne-prone | Benefits: Hydrates, exfoliates | Size: 8 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Glamglow's first-ever toner comes in hot and is worth every penny. Glycolic acid is just one component of a six-acid blend that promises impressive exfoliation while astringent witch hazel and purifying charcoal are meant to clear gunk and grime from pores. It also absorbs quickly into the skin without leaving behind any tacky or sticky residue. The toner can separate as it settles, so make sure to give the bottle a thorough shake before you use it.

Best Brightening

Bolden Brightening Glycolic Acid Toner

$23 at Amazon $14 at Walmart View on Boldenusa.com

What We Like:

• Helps fade dark spots
• Gently exfoliates
• Not overly drying

What to Consider:

• May irritate sensitive skin

Active Ingredients: Glycolic acid, witch hazel, niacinamide | Skin Type: Dry | Benefits: Hydrates, exfoliates, soothes | Size: 7.5 foz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Whether you’re looking to fade dark marks caused by sun damage, leftover acne scarring, or many other common skin conditions, this formula will do the job. It contains exfoliating glycolic acid as well as some highly effective additional brightening ingredients, namely, niacinamide, licorice root extract, and algae extract, which has the added benefit of also being a powerful antioxidant, meaning it can protect skin from environmental stressors such as pollution. Since this one packs a punch it may be a bit much for sensitive skin. We suggest trying it on a small area to see how your skin reacts before applying it all over your face.

Best for Acne-Prone Skin

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Clarifying Solution Acne Toner

$21 at Amazon $29 at Walmart $25 at Dermstore

What We Like:

• Unclogs pores to help prevent acne
• Simple, effective formula
• Works well under makeup

What to Consider:

• Contains alcohol

Active Ingredients: Glycolic and salicylic acids | Skin Type: Oily, acne-prone | Benefits: Exfoliates, unclogs pores | Size: 8 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

If you regularly grapple with breakouts you should definitely consider adding a toner to your routine. It’s a simple way to give the skin a more thorough cleanse while also reaping the exfoliating benefits. This one is ideal for acne-prone skin—it's oil-free and combines glycolic acid with oil-dissolving salicylic acid which further addresses clogged pores, blackheads, and whiteheads. It does contain alcohol though, so if you have sensitive or dry skin, this one might not work for you.

Best Natural

Evolve Beauty Rainforest Salicylic Rescue Blemish Serum

View on Goairshop.com View on Caretobeauty.com

What We Like:

• Made with organic, fruit-based ingredients
• Light, pleasant scent
• Unclogs pores

What to Consider:

• Not a ton of product for the price

Active Ingredients: Glycolic acid, acai, willow bark | Skin Type: Oily, acne-prone | Benefits: Exfoliates, soothes | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Made with 100% natural and 64% organic ingredients, there are no potentially worrisome chemicals to be found in this formula. Safe for all skin types, it combines glycolic acid with fruit-based acids—malic acid from apples and citric acid from citrus fruits—as well as acne-fighting salicylic acid. The subtle fragrance is all-natural, too, as is the preservative, an ingredient derived from sugar cane. We just wish you got more product for the price since it's easy to go through toner.

Best for Uneven Texture

Glossier Solution Exfoliating Skin Perfector

$30 at Sephora $30 at Glossier.com

What We Like:

• Improves skin texture
• Boosts radiance and glow
• Gentle formula suits all skin types

What to Consider:

• Increases sun sensitivity

Active Ingredients: Glycolic, salicylic, lactic acids, gluconolactone | Skin Type: All | Benefits: Hydrates, exfoliates, soothes | Size: 4.4 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This standout is so good that it even got Byrdie editor in chief Hallie Gould (a devotee to a much pricier toner) to convert. Credit a trifecta of different acids—AHAs (including glycolic and lactic), BHA, and PHAs—a very gentle type of acid—all of which work together to dissolve cells and improve the texture, tone, and feel of skin. "Spots that felt rough or bumpy were smoother, and the blackheads around my nose started to disappear. By the end of the four weeks, my complexion was less dull and looked much healthier and radiant," raved one tester.

Despite how well it exfoliates, it’s still gentle enough for everyday use, thanks to the addition of soothers such as niacinamide and glycerin. However, it can increase sun sensitivity so be sure to wear a good facial sunscreen over it.

Best Spray

Cosrx AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner

View on Ulta $11 at Amazon View on Cosrx.com

What We Like: Easy to use

• Can be used on both the face and body
• Unclogs pores
• PH balanced

What to Consider:

• May irritate sensitive skin

Active Ingredients: Glycolic acid, willow bark, allantoin | Skin Type: All | Benefits: Hydrates, exfoliates, soothes | Size: 5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Spray-on toners are the jam when it comes to easy application. No cotton pads are required, simply spritz wherever needed, anytime, anywhere. This particular mist is yet another formulation that offers that powerhouse pairing of glycolic acid with beta hydroxy acids meant to help refine pores and texture and keep excess oil at bay. On that note, this one is also great for hard-to-reach spots on the body prone to breakouts (like your back and chest).

What to Look For in a Glycolic Acid Toner

• Formulation: Toners come in two main formats: mists or liquids. Neither is better than the other, it simply depends on personal preference. Mists can feel very refreshing on the skin and are applied by spritzing gently over the face. Liquids on the other hand need to be applied with a cotton pad and swept gently across the face.
• Extra ingredients: As glycolic acid is an exfoliant, it’s usually combined with soothing and hydrating ingredients to be best tolerated by the skin. Look for ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, aloe, and niacinamide as these will calm the skin and help it retain moisture. Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Hadley King, MD also recommends a secondary, more hydrating exfoliant. “Look for products that combine glycolic acid with lactic acid, as this is a great combination that gently exfoliates and hydrates the skin,” she says.
  
• Concentration: Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Joshua Zeichner, MD, recommends looking into the concentration of glycolic acid in the product. “The higher the concentration, the greater the amount of acid in the product itself,” he says—and the greater the amount of acid in the product, the more potent (and potentially irritating) it will be. If you’re new to skincare acids, try starting at a concentration below 8%, but once you’ve built up a tolerance, a concentration between 8% and 10% will deliver visible results. 
  
• The pH: Another important factor Dr. Zeichner says to keep in mind is the pH of the product itself. “The lower the pH, the more potent of an effect it will have on the skin in terms of exfoliation,” he says. “At the same time, the lower the pH, the harsher the effect will be on the skin.” Acid toners with a pH of around 2 are generally quite effective; they won’t be very effective at a pH above 4.
  

Why Trust Byrdie

Byrdie contributor Melanie Rud has over a decade of experience in the beauty industry, writing for some of the biggest magazines and websites out there. Her skin is notoriously sensitive, so she’s well-versed in trying out cleansers and toners with glycolic acid since they're typically better tolerated by reactive skin types.

Melanie interviewed the following experts for this story:

• Renée Rouleau, a celebrity esthetician and the founder of her eponymous skincare brand, Renée Rouleau Skin Care.
  
• Dr. Joshua Zeichner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and the Director of Cosmetic and Clinical Research in Dermatology at the Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.
  
• Dr. Hadley King, MD, a board-certified dermatologist who specializes in medical and cosmetic dermatology. She is also a clinical instructor of dermatology at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University.
• Dr. Kemi Fabusiwa, M.D., a skincare expert and junior doctor in the UK