The best toners for all skin types in 2024, tested by our beauty experts
Our beauty team reviews the best toners for all skin types and complexion concerns, from luxe picks to stellar budget-friendly buys...
Often the forgotten step in your skincare routine, the best toners are the key to targeting an array of specific skin concerns, whilst also allowing your other skincare products to excel at their jobs…
When it comes to adding one of the best toners into your skincare routine, the clue to their role is in their name. Not only do these products work to tone your complexion, but they also boast a lineup of skin-loving benefits, Marc Elrick founder of skincare brand BYOMA says: “Toners should be applied as the second step in your routine to help replenish and restore the microbiome,” he adds: “They [can] help with skin exfoliation and rebalancing the skin’s pH, so incorporating them into your routine will help promote clearer, brighter skin by increasing cell turnover and shifting any dead skin cells."
Although not a crucial step, adding a best toner into your routine does come with some benefits, including helping to quickly absorb your other skincare products, such as the best niacinamide serum and the best face moisturiser, and therefore elevating their efficacy. Plus, they can also be a great way to refresh your complexion first thing in the morning or last thing at night. As a collective beauty team, we’ve tested a lot of toners throughout the years, so we’ve rounded up a list of our go-to toners that we reach for on a daily basis…
Best toner deals
You can currently enjoy 20% off Liz Earle's cult classic Instant Boost Skin Tonic. Soothe, refresh and boost hydration of your skin with this botanical-packed toner, leaving your complexion moisturised and radiant.
Get 20% off La Roche-Posay's gently clarifying toner formula which works to eliminate excess oil on the skin, plus unblock and minimise the appearance of pores. Powered with LHA's, this toner leaves the complexion looking and feeling smoother.
Treat your complexion to REN's radiance-boosting tonic, which now has 20% off. Equipped with AHAs, BHAs and Lactic Acid, this toner breaks down dead skin cells and pore build-up to reveal a brighter and energised appearance.
The best toner for all skin types, reviewed by our beauty team
Why you can trust Woman & Home
Best for most people
The best for most people
RRP: £18
Pixi's Glow Tonic is a cult skincare staple that has acquired legions of adoring fans, thanks to its ability to turn on the skin’s glow in an instant. The 5% glycolic acid formula effectively removes dead cells on the skin's surface, in order to smooth the complexion and accelerate cell turnover. All this exfoliating goodness is offset by soothing aloe vera to keep skin feeling comfortable.
All of this combined not only is a treat for the skin but also makes makeup application a much smoother task - even the best lightweight foundation can cling to uneven skin texture. After using this toner my base seemed to sit better on my skin, with a smoother and more natural finish. From the very first use my face looked a lot perkier and within a week I was waking up to noticeably brighter, healthier-looking skin. If your complexion is looking a little fatigued and dull, this is a great toner to have in your arsenal.
For
- Alcohol-free
- Boosts luminosity
- Smells great
Against
- None, we love this
Best bargain
The best bargain buy
RRP: £9
Looking for a non-irritating, non-drying face toner that gives you baby-soft skin and doesn’t cost a fortune? We've just found it. Bursting with all the good stuff your skin craves, like soothing oat milk, calming aloe juice, detoxing niacinamide and hydrating hyaluronic acid, this bargain toner does it all. It's also fragrance-free, non-comedogenic, cruelty-free and vegan, meaning it's a true overachiever in its field. All skin types, even those with sensitive complexions, can benefit from this product, which is music to our ears.
“e.l.f.'s skincare is quite underrated, but they're a brilliant affordable brand, full of hard-working buys," says Senior Beauty Editor, Rhiannon Derbyshire. After trialling this toner for herself, she advises: "This is ideal for soothing sensitive skin, which came in handy after I got a bit heavy-handed with a potent AHA. My skin felt comfortable and immediately calmed. This would also work if your skin feels dry or itchy after cleansing.”
For
- Bargain price
- Non-comedogenic
- Fragrance-free
- Suitable for sensitive skin
Against
- None, we love this
Best for sun damage
The best for fine lines and dark spots
RRP: £27
It can often feel like no amount of skincare helps to reduce the visible signs of ageing, whether that be fine lines or deep-set sun damage. That is until you add this toner into your daily routine. Part of a Ole Henriksen's PM range designed for a skincare night routine, this toner is designed to be used after cleansing in the evening and followed up with the brand's barrier booster essence, to reveal a lit-from-within glow the next morning. For best results, use a cotton pad to sweep the product across the face and remove any excess dirt or build-up that your cleanser didn't quite tackle.
Absorbing quickly into the skin, this toner has a lemony fresh scent that makes you feel squeaky clean. Although you may feel a slight tingling sensation when first applying, this is common with AHA products and it is still suitable for sensitive skin, so what's not to love?
For
- Multi-use product targeting lines and skin clarity
- Vegan
- A little goes a long way
Against
- More expensive than other drugstore toners
Best heavy-duty option
The best heavy-duty option
RRP: £11.50
If you're looking for an all-rounder toner that tackles all of your skincare woes quickly and effectively, this ridiculously affordable toner from The Ordinary is one of the best. Best for those who are blemish-prone, who have stubborn scarring or rough texture that just won't budge – however, those with sensitive or overly dry, dehydrated skin might be best to steer clear.
Glycolic acid is a holy grail ingredient for many skincare fans, particularly those who experience breakouts, due to its ability to help you shed dead skin cells. As someone with acne-prone skin, I find it is best to use this toner every other day to keep breakouts at bay without drying out my skin. Whilst it's best to use this toner in the evening, it's also wise to note that it's even more crucial that you apply your best facial sunscreen in the mornings, as glycolic acid makes the skin more sensitive to the sun.
For
- Vegan and cruelty-free
- Works fast
- Affordable
Against
- Probably too harsh for sensitive skin
Best for every day
The best for everyday use
RRP: £11.99
I'm a huge fan of BYOMA's skincare, thanks to it being reasonably priced and designed to care for the skin barrier - plus, the stylish packaging is pretty pleasing. The brand's toner follows suit, promising a brighter complexion and improved skin texture and tone after just a couple of uses. As for the results, it really delivered when I used it consistently for a week, my skin looked brighter and clearer without any of the soreness from some of the other exfoliating toners.
Not only will the included AHAs – lactic and mandelic acid – gently exfoliate the skin to reveal a more radiant complexion, but it also deeply cleanses the pores, making it a brilliant exfoliating toner for blemish-prone skin. As someone who had a couple of spots while researching this list, I found this true multi-tasking beauty hero. The affordable price is a huge bonus, too.
For
- Dermatologist tested
- Soap-free
- Non-comedogenic
- Alcohol & fragrance-free
- Vegan & crulety-free
Against
- Some may prefer a more potent exfoliator
Best for dry skin
The best for dry skin
RRP: £18
If plant-powered natural skincare is important to you, treat your skin to this iconic tonic, which has been on the market since 1995. With a lovely, soft botanical scent, fragranced with a blend of essential oils that belies the naturally active ingredients in the formula, this toner produces tangible, radiance-enhancing results.
This tonic cures the skin's tight and uncomfortable feeling after cleansing, which is a testament to its pH-balancing credentials – replacing stiffness with a soft and sated feeling. Even after double cleansing, it helped to remove a lot of extra muck from my face. Its aloe vera ingredient offers instant refreshment, whilst the cucumber extract provides a calming, cooling effect. If your regime is already filled with high-powered actives through your serums and creams, this gentle and soothing tonic will be a sympathetic pairing for a spa-like experience.
For
- Alcohol-free formula
- Suitable for sensitive skin
- Deeply hydrating
Against
- Leaves skin a little tacky
Best all-rounder
The best all-rounder
RRP: £30
Packed with glow-boosting AHAs and exfoliating BHAs, this toner packs a punch. Gentle enough for everyday use yet totally transformative, this powerful solution works to refine, exfoliate, tighten and smooth the skin's appearance, in addition to brightening.
Upon first impressions, I loved the nail polish remover-style pump dispenser on this toner, which made for a fuss and mess-free application onto the cotton pad. I felt the ingredients getting to work immediately, giving a mild tightening feeling to my face, something which is always a sign of a good hard-working product. I applied my serums and moisturiser on top as normal and found everything layered nicely. If you're after a general skin health boost, then this is the best toner for you.
For
- Gentle enough for everyday use
- Bottle made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic
- Suitable for normal, dry, combination and oily skin types
Against
- Might not work ever day for very dry skin types
Best for sensitive skin
The best for sensitive skin
RRP: £13
PHA skincare provides gentler exfoliation to the skin's surface and is ideal for congested, dull and rough complexions. PHAs (polyhydroxy acids) also have humectant properties, meaning they help your skin attract and maintain moisture. So if you're weighing up AHA vs BHA, which can both cause some irritation, PHAs could be worth a try instead. They help to enrich the complexion as they slough off dead skin and clear out pores.
I can certainly speak to its gentle approach, as I didn’t experience a hint of tingling or stinging and my skin felt comfortable afterwards - opposed to it gagging for serum and moisturiser. Of all the toners on this list, this one left my skin with the softest, silkiest feeling and a post-facial glow. Some reviews say it has visibly helped people get rid of acne scars and, while I don’t have much in the way of scarring, my skin already feels less bumpy and rough.
For
- Gentle formula
- Reasonably priced
- Leaves skin extremely soft
Against
- Smaller-sized bottle
Best for oily skin
The best for oily skin
RRP: £39
This iconic product from Kiehl’s has been loved by customers since 1960, so I had high hopes before even opening this swirly little bottle. Designed to soothe troublesome skin, this alcohol-free and non-comedogenic solution promises to be kind to all skin types. It also promises to reduces visible blotchiness and surface oil, making for an ideal candidate for those with oily skin.
My skin immediately felt cool and refreshed after using this toner, so much so that the soothing feeling almost felt like I was holding cold metal against my skin. It also effectively reduced my post-shower redness within minutes and gave me the softest skin. Overall, I’m a huge fan of this toner and just know I’ll be using it through the summer months to keep me and my skin refreshed and calm.
For
- Alcohol-free
- Non-comedogenic
- Suitable for normal, sensitive and oily skin types
Against
- Might not like the texture of the petals
Best natural
The best natural option
RRP: £18
Those with sensitive skin or prone to rosacea will adore this Cauadlie offering. Removing any lasting traces of makeup and impurities, this seriously soothing formula is worth investing in. The alcohol-free, organic rosewater-based solution is gentle on the skin, working hard to leave it fresh, clear and comfortable post-morning or evening cleanse.
“I've been known to dismiss 'calming' or gentle toners as being unnecessary, but this really changed my mind," says Rhiannon Derbyshire, Senior Beauty Editor. "I tend to stick to exfoliating buys because they feel more useful, so I was surprised by how much I loved this. In seconds my skin felt softer, soothed and prepped for the next step in my skincare routine. It's ideal for those days when my skin feels a little parched, or if I want more of a hydrating buffer before using a retinoid. I'm converted.”
For
- Alcohol-free
- 99% natural origin ingredients
- Vegan
- Dermatologically tested
Against
- Not multi-beneficial
Best for setting makeup
The best for setting makeup
RRP: £29
Picture all the senses of a spa-day bottled into one undisputed champion of toners and you've reached Elemis' Superfood Kefir-Tea Mist. Quite literally my favourite ever beauty scent, this toner is honestly unbeatable in my eyes. The refreshing four-in-one formula works to hydrate, tone, prime and set makeup for a healthy and radiant-looking complexion.
There's nothing worse than a soaked face after misting, but this spray dispenser evenly distributes the toner for a refreshing little pick-me-up for your skin. I am known to steal literally every bottle of this that lands in the office and will even reuse the empty bottle for other toners because the pump is just so good. Quite simply, it's a staple forever repurchase for me.
For
- Suitable for all skin types
- Smells like a spa
- Gentle spray pump
- Makeup and skincare hybrid
Against
- None, we love this
Best for blemishes
The best for blemish-prone skin
RRP: £16
The worry with astringent toners is that they will be a little too efficient at eliminating excess oil and will leave skin feeling stripped and tight. That is far from the case with La Roche-Posay’s hypoallergenic, minimalistic formula, which was specifically developed with reactive skin in mind. So, yes, it helps to regulate oil production, prevent blemishes and unblock pores, but not at the cost of irritating or drying out the skin.
It was amazing (and hugely satisfying) to see how much residue came off my face when using this toner after cleansing, and my pores certainly looked less gapingly obvious. With a complexion that errs on the dry side, I may not be the target audience for this toning lotion but my skin felt refreshed, softer and looked more refined – proving that every skin type can benefit from gentle clarifying.
For
- Unlikely to irritate
- Curbs excess oil
- Dermatologist-recommended
Against
- Slight tingling sensation
Best for combo skin
The best for combination skin
RRP: £29
Although the spray isn't as gentle as I would have hoped for, I loved everything else about this toner and found it was one of the best for calming and soothing redness. I’m prone to red cheeks post-cleansing and showering, so this little bottle of soothing solution was a welcome treat for my skin.
Ideal option for combination skin types, this toner is infused with extracts of lavender, quillja wood and Sweet Betty flower, which helped to hydrate, soften and rebalance my inflamed skin. The relaxing aroma of lavender also meant that when I applied it before my evening beauty regime, it also helped calm my mind, body and soul. On the whole, I still prefer Elemis' Kefir mist toner, but this really is one that you just can’t dislike, regardless of the slightly wet spray applicator (my pet peeve).
For
- Ideal for combination skin
- Alcohol-free
- Relaxing scent
Against
- Not a great spray applicator
Best for acne-prone skin
The best for acne-prone skin
RRP: £35
I have long been obsessed with this product and would go as far as to say that it’s one of the beauty products that has changed my skin the most. This potent formula is one of the most effective spot-busting products I have ever tried and it gets to work what feels like immediately. While I don’t use it as a toner per se (I wouldn't use it every day, or after every cleanse), if you do have acne or hormonal spots and your main skincare goal is learning how to get rid of acne, this is the buy I'd recommend.
Whether you decide to apply it as a toner all over your face or dab it onto problem areas, this is one of the best toner options for blemish-prone skin. The high percentage of salicylic acid and green tea extract work in harmony to help clear skin, maintain hydration levels and balance irritation. I have recommended this product to so many people that I wish I worked on commission, but I won’t ever stop singing its praises.
For
- Absorbs quickly
- Potent ingredients
- Highly effective
- Multi-use product
Against
- Can be very drying
- Not ideal for dry skin types
Best for soothing
The best for soothing skin
RRP: £43
Ideal for the summer when you need instant cooling-down or on holidays for post-sun skin soothing, this facial toner provides immediate relief. Literally packed to the brim with rose, including extracts, rosewater, powder oil and even real-life petals, this is a floral overload in the best way possible. Renowned for being one of the best soothing skincare ingredients, rose is perfect for those with sensitive skin – and this formula really capitalises on that.
Not only does this smell like heaven, it really works hard, too. The rose ingredients effectively soothe, calm and deeply hydrate skin to help keep your complexion looking its best. It also sits really well under all your favourite skincare products and will help with their absorption and efficacy, too. Since discovering it, I’ve really noticed a difference in how plump my skin looks. If you ask me, it's worth every penny.
For
- Alcohol-free
- Great for sensitive skin
- Feels luxury
Against
- High price point
- Strong rose fragrance may be off-putting
How we tested the best toners
If your complexion is on the slightly sensitive side, or perhaps is prone to blemishes when trialling new products, you might often steer clear of toners. However, we’ve done all the hard work for you by testing some of the best toners on the market, consistently using them on different skin types for at least a week to see how each product held up. In order to find the very best of the best, we took the following factors into account throughout the testing process so we could properly assess the effectiveness of each and every product…
- Packaging
- Formulation and active ingredients
- The consistency and feel of the formula
- How it felt on the skin immediately after application
- Any noticeable difference in our skin after consistent use
- Price
How to choose the best toner for your skin type
Most experts will agree that a healthy complexion doesn't rely solely on using a best toner for face, however they do offer some additional benefits - especially when choosing a formula that is catered towards your skin type and concerns...
- For visible pores: Unfortunately, not even the most alcohol-laden toner has the ability to physically tighten and constrict your pores. However, an astringent acid toner works effectively at removing the gunk from them and purging whatever residue or oil might emphasise their appearance. Plus, they're more gentle than most acid products on the market.
- For sensitive skin: Working to keep moisture locked in and irritants out, the skin barrier is your skin’s frontline defence. Those with a weakened skin barrier may experience redness, irritation, and sensitised skin, so it's no surprise that strengthening this outer layer is the key to healthy skin. This can be supported by the right toner, according to Dr Marie Drago, who recommends choosing “a slightly acidic toner to help rebuild the skin barrier”.
- For skin that's off-balance: Your skin’s pH level sits around 5.5, while water has a level of 7, which means that splashing your face after cleansing can throw your skin off-kilter and cause issues such as redness, excess oil or flaky skin. Choosing a gentle, acid-based toner can work to bring the skin back to a comfortable pH level.
- For dehydrated skin: Hydrating toners can help your skin more effectively absorb any serums and creams that you apply afterwards. When water affects the skin's pH, your moisturiser has to work harder to restore equilibrium before it can begin treating dehydration. A supercharged toner can address the pH issue and give skin an easily-absorbed early moisture boost.
Toners can also be referred to as essences, tonics or waters, so it's worth keeping an eye out for products on the shelves that are labelled as these. Once you've found the best toner that works for you, make sure to apply it on a daily basis, after cleansing and before any other skincare products, by splashing a few drops onto a cotton pad or misting it directly onto your skin.
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Stephanie Maylor is a Beauty Editor working across five national magazine titles, with almost 15 years' experience in the industry. She has written for many brands, including woman&home, Grazia, Now, More!, Fabulous, NW, Woman, Woman's Own, Woman's Weekly, Essentials, Best, Chat, and OK! online.
In 2010 she launched her own beauty blog, which was shortlisted for Best Beauty Blog in the 2011 and 2012 Johnson & Johnson Beauty Journalism Awards. She has interviewed many high profile industry experts and celebrities including Alesha Dixon, Twiggy and Christina Hendricks.
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