Toner: Friend, Fad, or Fancy Water?

Is it necessary? Debatable. Is it refreshing? Absolutely.

Toner is one of the most misunderstood steps in skincare, but when chosen well, it can seriously elevate your routine.  I personally did not start using toner until about a month ago… (I know, right?)  Finding the perfect toner is all about what is right for your type of skin and your preferences.  For instance, I don’t like anything near my face that has any sort of fragrance, so any smelly toner doesn’t work for me.  I also like stuff that makes my skin feel ‘moist and juicy’ all day, so a hydrating toner is just the ticket.

Toners have evolved greatly most recently. They’re no longer just harsh astringents that turn you red as a beet and are meant to "shrink pores” (as if) or strip oil.  Modern, sensible toners are more like skin-conditioning liquids with various benefits.

Let’s be real – toner can feel like that one overachieving skincare step that nobody really asked for, but somehow gets invited to the party anyway. Is it absolutely essential? Not always. Can it be your skin’s secret weapon? Absolutely. Especially if your skin’s been throwing tantrums, begging for hydration, or just needs a gentle reality check between cleansing and serums.

Depending on the formula, modern toners can:

• Balance pH after cleansing.  Most cleansers nowadays are PH-balancing, but if you are using one that is not, toner will help your skin recover.

• Hydrate and prep skin to better absorb serums/moisturizers – who doesn’t like good absorption, am I right?

• Provide gentle exfoliation with acids like glycolic, lactic, or salicylic.  Sloughing off those dead skin cells will help you get your glow on!

• Calm inflammation or redness with soothing botanicals or niacinamide (yay for niacinamide!)

• Target concerns like acne, dullness, or texture, depending on your individual needs.

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So basically: hydrating, soothing, exfoliating, or treating—a toner can do one or more of these, depending on what your concerns or preferences are.

Here are the best toners on the market, conveniently segregated for you by category:

 Hydrating Toners (great for all skin types, really...)

• Klavuu Pure Pearlsation Revitalizing Toner – K-beauty gem, loaded with antioxidants and marine extracts.

• Laneige Cream Skin – A milky toner-moisturizer hybrid, especially good for dry or sensitive skin.

• Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner – Lightweight but deeply hydrating, fragrance-free version available (you know that's the one I prefer).

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Exfoliating Toners (Use 2–4x/week if tolerated, less if not duh)

• Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant – Salicylic acid for pores, acne, and texture.

• The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution – Affordable and effective for dullness and tone, but can be strong, so start slow and low.

• REN Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic – Gentler AHA with lactic acid and willow bark, great for glow, and you KNOW I love that glow. An added bonus is that it is vegan if that is one of your concerns.

  
  

Soothing & Calming Toners (For Sensitive or Redness-Prone Skin)

• Etude SoonJung pH 5.5 Relief Toner – Minimal ingredients - less is better, great for calming and barrier support.

• La Roche-Posay Serozinc – Zinc-based mist toner for oily or irritated skin. Love the mist, even coverage with no waste (unless, of course, you have the nozzle pointed in the wrong direction).

• Avene Thermal Spring Water – Classic French pharmacy mist that soothes inflamed skin.

  
  

Luxury Toners (If You’re Feeling Fancy, 'cause they aren't cheap...)

• SK-II Facial Treatment Essence – Cult-favorite “essence” with fermented Pitera, brightens and refines. But, WOWZA, $$$! Worth every penny!

• Biologique Recherche Lotion P50 – Potent exfoliating toner that fans swear by (strong and smelly but very effective, so obviously not for me).

  
  

Things to keep in mind when using toners:  If you use retinoids (Tretinoin, Retin-A), vitamin C, or exfoliants, avoid layering too many active agents at once, and choose a gentle, hydrating toner to buffer.  You don’t want to fry your face!!  To apply toner, use your hands or a cotton pad, although a cotton pad may waste a little bit of the product.  When using your hands, gently pat the toner into your face, neck and décolleté.  If you have dry or sensitive skin, skip using any toners with alcohol or a strong fragrance.

So whether you’re dealing with oil slicks, dryness, dullness, or just an irrational need to mist something on your face like the skincare goddess that you are – there’s probably a toner out there with your name on it. The key? Don’t fall for the fluff. Read the label, trust your skin, and maybe skip the ones that smell like a candle store exploded.

Remember: ANY skincare should work for you, not guilt-trip you into a 12-step routine that eats your paycheck. Find what fits, ditch what doesn’t, and let the product earn its place on your shelf, and this includes toner.

Tried one of these that worked miracles? Or one that smelled like regret? Share your toner tales in the comments—I’m all ears (and pores).