Do You Actually Need a Toner In Your Routine? Here's What Experts Say (2024)

There are two types of beauty lovers in this world: those who believe a toner is an unnecessary extra step in your skincare routine and those who swear by these water-based liquid formulas. Lately, more of us are joining Team Toner in part because of the surge of "toner pads" hitting the market (more on these below!) but also because today's versions help skin stay hydrated and radiant; they're one more step to our glass skin goals.

What is toner?

Toners are step two of a typical skincare routine: they're liquid formulas that you swipe or pat onto skin with a cotton round or your palms after cleansing and before applying serums, moisturizers, or other active ingredients, says Jennifer Sawaya, MD, a board-certified dermatologist with U.S. Dermatology Partners Scottsdale: "Historically, toners used to be an alcohol or astringent-based formula used to deep clean the skin." But they were very drying and would strip the skin of its natural oils. Today's toners, on the other hand, are usually alcohol-free, contain ingredients that keep the skin barrier intact, and come with a range of benefits from clarifying to hydrating.

What are the benefits of toner?

What to consider when shopping for a toner

No matter whether the toner is a liquid or a pre-soaked pad, the most important thing to look for is that the formula itself contains ingredients for your skin type and concern. If you have dry or sensitive skin, then you want ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, aloe, and polyhydroxy acids (PHAs) such as gluconolactone. "These humectants and mild exfoliants help hydrate and smooth the skin while still being gentle," says board-certified dermatologist Blair Murphy-Rose, MD. If you have acne-prone skin, she adds, toners with salicylic acid (BHA) deep clean pores to prevent breakouts.

Do note that some brands are doing their part to reduce the environmental impact that toners tend to cause. Look for biodegradable toner pads and "consider reusable, washable muslin pads—or just your hands—to apply liquid toners," Engleman says. Ahead, some of the best formulas dermatologists and our team of editors recommend.

The experts:

• Jennifer Sawaya, MD, a board-certified dermatologist with U.S. Dermatology Partners Scottsdale
• Dendy Engleman, MD, a board-certified New York City-based dermatologist and Mohs surgeon
  
• Yanghee Paik, co-founder and CEO of Rael
• Blair Murphy-Rose, an MD board-certified dermatologist based in New York City and Newport Beach, California
  

"This is the toner that made me a believer," says beauty editor Genesis Rivas. "I have combination skin with large pores in my T-zone and this salicylic acid-infused formula was everything I needed for smoother and more radiant-looking skin. I use it twice a week and it makes a big difference overnight." It also contains green tea extract to calm the skin barrier so it's gentle enough to use on many skin types. However, if you're very sensitive, it may be a little too strong.

Rael recently launched these dual-sided toner pads infused with beta-carotene, tranexamic acid, hyaluronic acid, and gluconolactone to brighten, hydrate, gently exfoliate, and even out skin tone. One side is textured, and the other is smooth and infused with the formula. "The textured surface helps remove dead skin cells while the soaked-in ingredients work to balance and nourish the skin," says Paik. "This ability to streamline multiple skincare steps into a single product is a key reason why these pads are growing in popularity."

If you, like me, can find yourself with a hormonal breakout on your chin, some large pores on your nose, and dullness on your cheeks, then this is your winning solution, says beauty director Kate Sandoval Box. With two percent salicylic acid, it's powerful enough to keep things de-clogged, which helps acne and reduces the appearance of pores, while also brightening and soothing skin everywhere with vitamin C and borage. "It's so good at getting rid of blackheads, and makes a noticeable difference in the clarity of my skin," Sandoval Box says.

While exfoliating every day may sound like a nightmare for dry or sensitive skin, this formula strikes the perfect balance between removing dead skin cells without causing irritation or dryness. It contains exfoliating gluconolactone, soothing aloe, and hydrators, like hyaluronic acid. "It's suitable for sensitive skin and is an excellent option for those who use retinoids," says Engleman. "It enhances the vitamin A absorption, helps boost radiance, and improves tone and texture over time," she says.

Murphy-Rose is the founder of Skincare Junkie, which offers a lineup of fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, and vegan formulas, including these daily toner pads. "These pads dissolve acne-promoting buildup to prevent breakouts and minimize the appearance of pores," she says. "In addition to salicylic acid, they contain fruit enzymes and gluconolactone to hydrate while gently exfoliating and hyaluronic acid in seven molecular weights to attract water at multiple levels in the skin." Major bonus point? The pads are biodegradable.

LOOPS got in on the travel-friendly skincare trend and recently launched a four-step routine (cleansing, toning, serum, and moisturizer) in pad form. "I use the exfoliating toner pads at night and when I wake up I notice my pores look visibly smaller," Rivas says. The formula contains gluconolactone to exfoliate, amino acids to target the look of fine lines, bakuchiol to stimulate collagen production and refine skin texture, and centella asiatica extract, a soothing botanical.

"I love a mist because it's quick, easy, hydrating, and requires no extra tools for application. Just spritz and go," says Rivas. This one is a dual-phased formula that's one part camellia rose petal brewed water and the other part camellia seed oil to nourish. You need to shake the bottle before using it to combine both parts of this multitasking toner. It immediately hydrates and soothes the skin but also helps strengthen the skin barrier and regulate sebum production over time.

Desi Perkins, founder of Dezi Skin, turned to her Mexican roots for skincare inspiration and found the power of the guava fruit. The combination of guava leaves, pear enzymes, and salicylic acid in this formula minimizes the look of pores, resurfaces the skin, combats hyperpigmentation, and reduces blemishes and breakouts without stripping your skin of moisture. It also contains a custom blend of Mexican Plum fruit, dragon fruit, acai berry, tamarind, mango, soursop, and avocado extracts, which are rich in antioxidants to protect skin.

Thayers has been around since 1847, which is a testament to its skin-benefitting formulas. In case you don't know, the organic witch hazel used in its toners is a soothing ingredient with anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties. When combined with aloe and rose water, this calming, alcohol-free toner hydrates and balances skin while reducing the look of pores. You can use it daily in the morning and/or evening in your routine.

Dealing with combination skin (oily or acne-prone in one area and dry or normal in another) is no easy feat. Yet, this toner offers the best of both worlds. It hydrates and calms skin thanks to watermelon extract, cactus water, and glycerin, a plumping humectant. The blend of gluconolactone and willow bark extract works to resurface the skin and unclog pores to prevent breakouts—all without drying out or irritating the skin.

We bet you've never seen a toner like this. Sofie Pavitt, a New York-based celebrity esthetician with acne-prone skin created these frozen toner pods (keep in the freezer) to help reduce inflammation and swelling from active breakouts. Each pod contains a blend of hydrating glycerin, soothing green tea extract, brightening niacinamide, and ashwagandha, which helps revive tired-looking skin. "I tell my clients to use this on breakouts to relieve inflammation after laser or injectables to reduce swelling, and in the morning to reduce puffy under eyes," Pavitt says on the brand's website.

Here is a toner-meets-moisturizer hybrid that combines the hydrating properties of a rich cream with the lightweight, liquid texture of a toner. The formula contains ceramides to nourish skin, a peptide complex to provide firming benefits, and white leaf tea, an ingredient rich in soothing amino acids. It's the perfect option for those with dry or mature skin. It also comes in refillable packaging. Spray it on your face and pat it into your complexion for a moisturizing boost.

Sara Klausing, Oprah Daily fashion editor, swears by this formula that reduces hyperpigmentation and offers a more even and radiant complexion. "This formula completely transformed my skin," she says. It contains CoQ10, an enzyme that promotes collagen and elastin production and reduces UV damage. It's also rich in azelaic acid, papaya enzyme, turmeric root oil, lactic acid to exfoliate and antioxidants to protect skin. "I press it into my skin twice per day, and the bottle is so generous that it lasts for six months. I never used to see the point of toners until I tried this game-changer."

Whether you have very reactive, sensitive skin, or are dealing with irritations or angry inflamed breakouts, this daily toner treatment helps calm redness, support the skin barrier, and keep flare-ups at bay. It's a hypoallergenic, dermatologist-tested, vegan, and cruelty-free formula that contains hypochlorous acid, an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial ingredient that protects skin against bacteria and environmental aggressors. Use it in the morning and evening to prevent and treat irritation and redness.

If you're looking for an extra step in your routine that will cleanse, hydrate, and prep your complexion before other skincare or makeup, try this budget-friendly pick. Specifically made for dry and sensitive skin types, it comes highly recommended by Murphy-Rose. "It calms and hydrates the skin with hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and ceramides," she explains. The formula is also fragrance-free and non-comedogenic, meaning it won't clog your pores, so it's also great for oily or acne-prone skin. You can find it at any local drugstore.

Our beauty team is dedicated to finding you the best of the best formulas. We spoke with dermatologists to learn about what to look for in a toner and got their go-to recommendations. We also researched and tested top-rated and brand-new formulas that hit the market to help you find the best products out there.