The 7 Best Toners of 2023, Tested and Rated

These proven formulas are tested and approved by Byrdie editors. Today's toner formulas are more advanced than ever. Not only do they provide a variety of skin care benefits (such as hydrating, shrinking pores, removing dirt and oil, etc.) 

but they also deliver active ingredients directly to your face. According to board-certified dermatologist Lucy Chen, MD, a good toner is either acid-based (to exfoliate and resurface the skin) or hydrating (to lock in moisture). 

To get the most out of your toner, we recommend using it after cleansing. Whether your skin is sensitive and seeking soothing relief, acne-prone and in need of excess oil removal, or dry and thirsty in need of more moisture, the right toner can solve the problem and treat accordingly. 

There are hundreds of options available. To take the guesswork out of choosing the right toner, we picked 24 of the most popular toners and asked our testers to try them out with complete honesty. 

After testing the toners in our testing facility lab in Manhattan, testers evaluated each toner on its feel, absorbency, hydration and appearance. The highest rated products make it to this list. Read on to see the best toners of 2023, rated by our testers. 

Best Overall: Tower 28 SOS Daily Rescue Facial Mist: Tower28 is known for its delicate, skin-friendly makeup and skin care formulas. Packaged in a fire engine red spray bottle, this toner is popular for its miraculous ability to soothe, cleanse and repair stressed skin. 

It's approved by the National Eczema Association, so it's proven effective at relieving eczema flare-ups, but you'll also find many fans who swear by it for relieving inflamed acne and perioral dermatitis. 

Hypochlorous acid is also known as a key ingredient, which is why this formula is so effective at relieving redness and irritation. According to the brand, hypochlorous acid is similar to hyaluronic acid and ceramides, which are produced by our skin. 

"Hypochlorous acid is found naturally in white blood cells and has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that help fight foreign pathogens and promote healing," the brand's website states. With all the goodness in one bottle, you'll want to savor every drop. 

Luckily, spray bottles ensure there's no mess, spillage, or accidental application of too much product. Our lab testers loved the ability to apply the toner on a cotton pad or directly onto the face. The watery, lightweight toner comes out of the bottle easily and "absorbs into the skin within seconds," she says, noting that her skin feels "more hydrated, brighter, and fresher" after use. Although the formula has a water-like consistency and comes in a spray bottle, it can be a little more complicated than a regular toner. 

Our tester required about five pumps to fully saturate the cotton area. Best Treatment: SK-II Facial Care Clear Emulsion Toner. If a product contains a trademarked ingredient, you know it's going to be good. In the case of SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Toner, the superstar ingredient is Pitera™ a signature ingredient containing 50 micronutrients. In addition to alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), these care ingredients can improve the overall appearance of your skin, starting with uneven skin texture. Our tester can confirm this 
she shared that when she used the toner, it felt "hydrating" and "soothing," and it seemed to help her dull and uneven skin texture almost immediately. She was also impressed with the toner's ability to "deep clean" her pores. 

Even though she washes her face before using toner, she notices that it picks up excess dirt and grime that would otherwise sit on her face. The clear, lightweight solution is slightly liquid and flows from a small opening in the top of the bottle. 

So be aware that if you're not careful, you may pour too much product out of the opening. Best for Acne-Based Skin: Murad Clarifying Toner. Toner can be a valuable tool in fighting skin blemishes. 

The key is choosing the right remedy that will combat excess oil and keep pores open without over-drying your skin (which, ironically, ends up triggering more oil and more breakouts). 

That's where this toner comes in, based on minimal but effective witch hazel and algae extracts to regulate oil production and tighten pores. This combination helps freshen skin, cleanse pores and fight oil. 

Additionally, adding vitamin E can prevent free radical damage. Our testers liked the consistency when compared to water. It's not too heavy or greasy, making it perfect for mid-day refreshment or after cleansing. 

A tester even said it "awakened" her skin and was instantly absorbed into her pores. However, keep in mind that while you will feel it working (witch hazel has a subtle firming effect), you may find it a bit too drying if your skin is already dry. Best for redness: Innisfree Green Tea Hyaluronic Acid Toner Green tea is praised for its anti-inflammatory properties, which can help reduce skin irritation, redness, and swelling—a great choice for anyone looking to calm angry red skin. 

Innisfree's Green Tea Facial Toner captures the balancing benefits of green tea leaves in a liquid formula that leaves skin feeling "incredibly light and gentle." According to our tester, the toner was absorbed into her pores immediately upon application and made a huge difference in the appearance of her hormonal acne. 

She admitted that redness and swelling were significantly reduced and she even noticed a "significant reduction" in budding pimples.What's more, she even claims the product single-handedly reduced the appearance of her acne in about three minutes. So much love, but also a downside: the toner comes out of the bottle very slowly. Normally, this would be a good thing, but since our tester admitted she had to use "quite a bit of elbow grease" to get the toner out of the bottle (thanks, little donor-head), it's less than ideal. 

Best for Sensitive Skin: Renee Rouleau Elderberry Soothing Toner If you hate the feeling of tight, dry skin after cleansing, you'll love this toner from Renee Rouleau. This antioxidant-rich elderberry toner is designed to be used after cleansing to help balance and relax overly sensitive skin. Our tester has sensitive skin that's prone to breakouts and dryness, and she admitted that this toner helped prevent her face from feeling too tight and unable to move after washing. Instead, her skin felt "relaxed" and had a "healthy glow." 

Additionally, she noticed a difference in the appearance of her hyperpigmentation. She also said she loves that the toner is low in ingredients and has many anti-aging benefits. One thing could be better: how hydrating it is. While it helps nourish skin that feels tight and irritated, we wish it was a little more hydrating and better at retaining moisture. 

Best for Oily Skin: Farmacy Deep Sweep 2% BHA Pore Cleansing Toner The right toner can go a long way in controlling excessive shine in those with oily skin, and this toner is the key. It combines oil-soluble salicylic acid, exfoliating papaya enzymes, and purifying moringa seed extract to unclog pores and refresh oily skin. Additionally, chlorella is an antioxidant-rich natural ingredient that helps nourish and soothe skin, preventing irritation and excessive dryness. 

Our tester was impressed with how lightweight the formula felt on her skin, noting that she almost forgot she'd applied it. She was also pleased that the product didn't cause any stinging. But keep in mind that toner contains active exfoliants, and you may want to skip it on days when you're using retinoids and other active ingredients to avoid overdose (like redness, burning, and dryness of the skin). Best for Hyperpigmentation: Freck Beauty Cactus Water Cleansing Lactic Acid Toner Dark spots are caused by sun damage, genetics, hormones, and acne scarring, none of which can compete with the exfoliating and anti-inflammatory properties of a toner. 

Combining lactic acid to minimize discoloration, hydrating cactus flower extract and antioxidant-rich seaweed extract, this toner fights Freck Beauty hyperpigmentation from every angle. Our tester was a fan and compared the toner's consistency to micellar water. It absorbs into the skin quickly and efficiently, so much so that she said her skin "absorbed it so fast" that she wanted to "apply more." Since the jar is glass, more like a perfume bottle than a toner, nothing can be squeezed out. You must carefully (evenly) pour the bottle in small amounts onto your hands or cotton pads, otherwise there is a risk of spillage.