15 Best Toners of 2022

Yes, toners do work to purify and soften skin, deliver active skincare ingredients to your face and prep skin for additional leave-on skincare treatment products. While toners may feel like a skippable step in your skincare routine, you may want to consider using one if you’re looking for additional skincare treatment benefits, or you want to swap out heavier serums and creams for a lighter complexion-boosting liquid if you have oily or acne-prone skin, or in warmer months or climates. For best results, apply a skin toner once or twice per day, in the morning and/or evening as needed.

This list is composed of recommendations from GH Beauty Lab scientists and experts who have a range of skin types and rigorously test hundreds of skincare product formulas each year, including toners and other skincare liquids like essences, tonics, waters, solutions and liquid lotions. When testing toners, we evaluate products on factors such as ease of use (including application and scent) and the look and feel of skin after use, both immediately and over time. We’ve combined the results of the toners our editors and experts have tried in recent years with the recommendations of board-certified dermatologists as well as our own research to compile this list of the best toners you can buy.

It may take a little trial and error to find which kind of toner you like best. Toners can make many claims, such as removing oil, tightening pores, restoring skin’s pH balance and cleaning pores deeply. But before you buy any old toner, you should consider your current skincare regimen and skin type, as well as the strengths of the ingredients in the product. Our advice: When shopping for a toner, look for formulations tailored to your complexion type or primary skin concern or goal. Here are Wnek’s suggestions:

✔️ For oily or acne-prone skin or to minimize pores, look for astringents, such as alcohols or witch hazel, that tighten skin. An astringent is a toner formula that’s made with ingredients like alcohol that help remove excess oil from the skin.

✔️ For combination skin, to exfoliate or reduce hyperpigmentation, scan the label for hydroxy acids, including salicylic acid and lactic acid, which increase cell turnover and make your skin glow.