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12 Best Toners To Exfoliate, Hydrate and Restore
I’ll be honest—despite taking my skincare routine very seriously with a bathroom cabinet brimming with the best cleansers, serums and moisturisers, I’ve never been particularly stringent about using a toner. I experimented rather too rigorously with them in my younger years, when the alcohol-filled formulations that promised to ease my teenage acne simply left my skin stripped and my eyes watering.
Thankfully, though, in 2026 the best toner looks a whole lot different to the days of our youth—and a great one really can change your life. In fact, I now have a mini wardrobe of toners at my disposal depending on whether my skin needs soothing, exfoliating or hydrating. Trust me, once you’ve found the right formula for your skin type, you’ll wonder how you ever went without it.
We’re not the only ones who think so, either. Dr Ewoma Ukeleghe, a medical and cosmetic doctor, can’t get enough of them. “Toner is a step you definitely shouldn’t be skipping,” she says. “They now come in lots of different forms, each with different purposes and results; calming mist toners, exfoliating glycolic acid toners, moisturising toners and ones that deliver AHAs, BHAs, peptides and antioxidants to your skin.”
Best toners 2026 at a glance
What is facial toner, exactly?
“The primary function of a toner is to balance your skin’s pH after using the best cleanser and provides some mild exfoliation,” explains Dr Ukeleghe. It’s the step in between your cleanser and moisturiser within your regime. It also removes any final traces of dirt, pollution and make-up that your cleanser might have missed.
It helps to smooth and prep the skin for serum, not to mention give it an enviable glow. To apply you can either swipe over just-washed skin with a cotton pad or use your palms to press into the skin.
What does a toner do for your face?
“Toners are products that don’t get much of a look in during our skincare regimes. But they can be used to clean your skin, remove excess oil and reduce pore size,” says Consultant Dermatologist Dr Anjali Mahto. “They are also good for balancing the skin.” The latter is particularly important if you have acne-prone skin.
Due to the alkaline nature of soap and even the very best face washes, the pH balance of our skin can get disturbed. This makes your skin work overtime to find its sweet spot again, which can result in excess oil and breakouts.
Which skin toner should I use?
Like with any skincare product a good way to start is to think about your biggest skincare concerns and choose one that will help. Toners provide similar benefits to your serum because they are often infused with similar ingredients. Think vitamins, prebiotics, glycolic acid and hyaluronic acid, which can brighten, soothe, exfoliate and hydrate respectively.
If your skin is often dehydrated, going for one with hyaluronic acid in its formula would be a good. “The ultimate hydrating molecule, it boosts moisture and minimises fine lines,” Dr Ukeleghe explains. “Glycerin, snail mucin and allantoin are common substitutes.” If your skin if off kilter, whether that’s because you’ve naturally sensitive skin or you’ve used too many active ingredients, a skin barrier boosting toner with ceramides will help to soothe.
“PH balancing toners maintain the acid mantle of the skin barrier – the pH level of healthy skin is approximately 5.5. There are toners that can help to balance oily skin, tighten pores and minimise shine, and are loaded with anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial ingredients if you’re concerned with blemishes too. Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs), things like salicylic acid, lactic acid, and glycolic acid, are good for exfoliating.
“So if your main skincare concern is dullness, caused by dry skin, and hyperpigmentation then these will help. “These acids work to gently exfoliate your skin, accelerate skin cell turnover and reveal a glowing complexion,” says Dr Ukeleghe.
(Image credit: Mica Ricketts)
The Marie Claire beauty team enlisted the help of a team of testers to help find the best toners on the market. If you want to find out more about the testing process, click here.
The best toners for every skin type
Beauty of Joseon Glow Replenishing Rice Milk Toner
“This is without doubt my favourite and most used everyday toner. Not only does it gently exfoliate and instantly hydrate, but it also leaves the skin beautifully smooth, dewy, and radiant thanks to the trio of rice extracts. Makeup layers beautifully over it, and it’s never irritated my acne-prone skin. For the price point, there are very few toners that are quite as versatile yet simultaneously gentle.” – Amelia Yeomans, Junior Shopping Editor
Elemis Balancing Lavender Toner
(Image credit: Elemis)
“As someone with combination skin, I often find toners can be too harsh. This balancing toner is enriched with lavender, quillja wood and sweet betty flower extracts for an instant hit of hydration that also helps to maintain the skin’s natural pH level (something combination skin can struggle with). Plus, it’s a mist, and I’m all about easy application.” – Lottie Winter, Beauty Director
Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Toner
(Image credit: Kiehl’s)
“This is my go-to every day toner. I have dry skin, which means it needs hero ingredients like avocado oil, squalene and vitamin E to replenish moisture. All of which can be handily found in this. The Ultra Facial range is loved by dry-skinned humans all over the world, so if you fall into the category you won’t be disappointed with its toner. It is truly one of the most moisturising formulas I’ve come across.” – Katie Thomas, Senior Beauty Editor
Byoma Hydrating Milky Toner
(Image credit: Byoma)
“Formulated to support the skin barrier function—a big yes in achieving a healthy complexion—BYOMA’s toner is so calming and soothing on the skin that it deserves a place in our list of the very best toners. Enriched with nourishing lipids, redness-reducing cica and polyglutamic acid, it really helps to lock in moisture, ease irritation, and reduce trans epidermal water loss.” – Mica Ricketts, beauty contributor
Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
(Image credit: Paula’s Choice)
“Despite the fact this exfoliating treatment toner has been a cult product amongst those who struggle with breakouts for years, I’m still yet to find a product that lives up to the high bar it has set. With salicylic acid, witch hazel and green tea extract, it effectively unclogs pores and gently exfoliates skin without causing any upset or dryness. When I’m not using this product, boy oh boy can my skin tell.” – Shannon Lawlor, Beauty Contributor
Ole Henriksen Glow2OH Dark Spot Toner
(Image credit: Ole Henriksen)
“When it first launched, this toner sold out in four days and since then it’s been a battle to keep it in stock. Why? Because of its promise to reduce the appearance of dark spots after seven days thanks to a serious concentration of acids and liquorice, a natural skin brightener. Plus, it works to really smooth the surface of the skin meaning that fine lines, uneven texture and pigmentation all appear minimised. I have a lot of pigmentation sitting under the surface of my skin that causes dullness, since using this I have noticed a brightness that could rival any illuminating primer.” – Katie Thomas, Senior Beauty Editor
Biossance Squalane and BHA Pore Minimising Toner
(Image credit: Biossance)
“I have combination and spot-prone skin and I really see the benefit from this balancing toner which is a clever mix of pore-cleansing willow bark extract (a natural BHA) and hydrating squalane. You get the best of both anti-ageing and pore-purging worlds with skin left deeply decongested and soothed.” – Mica Ricketts, beauty contributor
Caudalie Vinopure Purifying Toner
(Image credit: Caudalie)
“As somebody who has skin prone to breakouts and congestion, I really rely on toners to keep my skin in check post-cleanse. This one is a long-time favourite. It contains salicylic acid and a number of purifying oils to decongest pores and lessen their appearance, while grape water hydrates and soothes and discomfort. Plus, it helps to keep an shine down throughout the day—I adore it.” – Shannon Lawlor, Beauty Contributor
Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Toner
(Image credit: Fresh)
“Brimming with real rose petals, this soothing toner is a real treat for older skin that might have lost some of its natural hydration and elasticity. The delightful combination of rosewater, rose oil and rose powder doesn’t mean that this product smells amazing, but it really helps to soothe and nourish dry skin—leaving it silky-soft and cared for.” – Mica Ricketts, beauty contributor
Shiseido Treatment Softener Lotion
(Image credit: Shiseido)
“This is a funny one, because it’s technically called a lotion, but also a softener. But I use it as you would a toner – in between my cleanser and my serum. I turn to this, especially in winter, when my skin is both parched and dry as hell. After just a couple of days, using it both day and night, my skin feels softer and looks visibly more hydrated. I’m talking a restored glow and fewer lines. I love it.” – Katie Thomas, Senior Beauty Editor
Laneige Cream Skin Cerapeptide Toner & Moisturizer
(Image credit: LANEIGE)
“I love skincare, but I have sensitive skin, so I have to be careful what I use and how much I use. I love this two-in-one toner and moisturiser, as it means I’m able to keep things simple whilst giving my skin exactly what it needs. Which is heavy-hitting hydration, brimming ceramides and peptides to restore and protect my skin barrier. It has a rich, milky texture that my skin drinks up.” – Valeza Bakolli, Junior Shopping Editor
SkinCeuticals Equalizing Toner
(Image credit: SkinCeuticals)
“This toner has become such an asset in my routine. Not only does it help with the build up of texture around my cheek bones and on my jawline, but it also gets rid of any product or dirt that my cleanser missed and restores the pH balance. I use it on the evenings when I don’t use a retinoid and I wake up to baby-soft skin.” – Katie Thomas, Senior Beauty Editor