What To Know About The Different Types Of Skincare Toners

Toner is a traditional part of the skincare process; it should follow cleanser but is still considered a stage within the cleansing step. Toner is meant to remove any last traces of makeup, dirt, or oil that were missed while washing the face, and to prepare skin for serums and moisturizers. Toners tend to have a watery consistency and should be applied either with a cotton ball or by hand, pressing the product directly into the skin. Toners have come a long way from being the exfoliant-heavy liquid that they were in the past. "Traditionally, a toner's function was to completely cleanse the skin, and often they were formulated to be very astringent to remove any traces of oil and debris," cosmetic dermatologist Sejal Shah told Byrdie. "While the newer generation of toners may still remove traces of debris, they're really meant to nourish and replenish the skin after cleansing and act as a primer for the rest of your skincare products."

Toners have held a more nebulous place within skincare rituals, compared to cleansers and moisturizers. Some Korean beauty treatments rely on several toners to achieve skin health, while other skincare rituals don't see toners as a vital step at all. Whether you're a huge fan of toners or approach the step with a little ambivalence, it's worth looking into what different toners can do for different skincare concerns. If you're dealing with dry skin, oily skin, or specific skin issues, there's a toner out there for you.

For those with oily, acne-prone skin, choose a toner with salicylic acid or chemical exfoliants like AHAs and BHAs, which prompt cell turnover. Even though your skin might be oily, you don't want to choose a product that's too harsh and will strip the skin of its natural oils; too much of a drying ingredient can lead to even more oil production. For this reason, dermatologists often encourage people to steer clear of toners that contain alcohol.

One toner that's become a cult classic for oily skin is Farmacy's Deep Sweep 2% BHA Pore Cleaning Toner with Moringa + Papaya, available at Sephora for $34. The toner has stood the test of time for its ability to target skin texture and pores, without drying the skin. "After using this product for about a week or so I am absolutely loving that it doesn't leave my face feeling dry like other toners," one reviewer wrote on Sephora. "Best toner I've ever used. Really cleans out pores and visibly reduces blackheads. Tightens pores too. Doesn't leave my skin dry, even in the winter months," another person commented. Other favorites for oily skin include the COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner for $20, and the Peach Slices Acne Exfoliating Toner from Ulta Beauty for $10.99, which contains salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and lactic acid. Start by using these once a day and you can work your way up to morning and night.

Those with dry skin can benefit heavily from incorporating toner into their skincare regimen. The key is to look for hydrating ingredients that will leave skin feeling nourished, refreshed, and prepped to receive further serums and moisturizers. "Many toners of today skip the alcohol and combine advanced anti-aging ingredients with gentle, natural ingredients and botanicals that purify and balance the skin, provide hydration, treat, and soothe all at once," Tammy Yaiser, vice president of product development at Algenist, told Byrdie. Hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid are great.

Toners can do a lot for dry skin. Renée Rouleau's Elderberry Soothing Toner for $39.50 is a famously soothing, moisturizing toner that leaves skin feeling supple. The Elderberry fruit extract delivers antioxidants, while the ingredients Sodium PCA and Biosaccaride Gum-1 leave skin more hydrated. Paula's Choice Nourishing Milky Toner for $11 is a popular choice at a good price point. Ingredients like ophiopogon japonicus and marshmallow root strengthen the skin's barrier, and panthenol attracts moisture. CeraVe Hydrating Toner for Face is another great choice that cleanses skin while leaving it moisturized, thanks to ingredients like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide. If you're after serious hydration, Laneige's Cream Skin Toner & Moisturizer has become a cult classic. It's so hydrating it might be too rich for combination skin, and certainly for oily skin. It's rich in ceramides and peptides, as well as White Tea Leaf to soothe skin.

Thanks to all the toners available today, you can find products that suit your specific skin needs, beyond the binary of dry and oily skin. For redness and easily irritated skin, you want to source a product that will calm the skin. Paula's Choice Enriched Calming Toner is an excellent choice for flaky, reactive skin because it's packed with Glycerin⁠, Evening Primrose Oil⁠, and Borage Seed Oil⁠, which contains essential fatty acids. Another favorite toner that suits all skin types is Fresh's Rose & Hyaluronic Acid Deep Hydration Toner for $48 from Sephora. Infused with real rose petals and hyaluronic acid, this toner works to soothe and soften skin.

If your concern is fine lines and wrinkles, toners can help. "Toners can act as an anti-aging product. Look for hydroxy acids, antioxidants, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid if prevention of fine lines, improvement of skin turgor, and smoothing of the skin's texture are your goals," board-certified dermatologist Corey Hartman, MD told Who What Wear. For anti-aging, a few toners stand out. Murad's Essential-C Toner is rich in antioxidants and creates an environmental shield for the skin at $42. Eminence's Neroli Age Corrective Hydrating Mist for $39 is another great choice for boosting collagen production. Meanwhile, Indie Lee's CoQ-10 Toner for $38 from Ulta Beauty is another quality toner, as it layers skin in the antioxidant-rich CoQ-10. Whatever your skin concerns are, there's a toner for you.