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by: Sophia Jurgens, BestReviews Staff

by: Sophia Jurgens, BestReviews Staff

Toners are an often overlooked part of any skin care routine. Here’s why they shouldn’t be: Toners help rehydrate your skin as well as prepare it for serums, chemical exfoliants, moisturizers and other skin treatments. That means toners actually help balance out your skin care routine and enhance the effects of other products. 

As shown in a 2016 study, repeated application of toners improves the overall hydration of skin. 

There are a few qualities you should look for when picking a toner for combination skin. It may feel counterproductive, but hydrating elements can actually help to control excess oil production while also treating the dry spots of combination skin. Avoid toners that are alcohol-based due to the severe drying effect or toners that are oil-based, which can clog pores and lead to breakouts. Here are a few beneficial items to search for on the ingredient list:

Although there is some variation, most toners are recommended to be used after a cleanser. Before picking a toner, make sure that you have the best facial cleanser for your skin already incorporated into your routine. Toners are usually packaged in slow-pour bottles, which allows them to be easily applied to either a cotton face pad or fingertips. Once administered, toners should be applied to the skin in a circular motion, working from the center of the face outwards.

This toner is water-based, gentle and ready to tackle redness, dryness and uneven texture. This toner also boasts a unique application, coming in a spray bottle instead of the typical pour bottle, meaning there is no need for a cotton-pad application. Soothing ingredients — such as aloe and lavender extract — deeply moisturize, soothe and refresh dull skin. This gentle yet powerful toner even comes in a convenient travel size.

Sold by Dermalogica, Sephora and Ulta

Simple Kind to Skin Facial Toner

This affordable toner stretches each dollar on its price tag to the maximum with ingredients like hydrogenated starch hydrolysate, which helps the skin retain moisture, and allantoin to soothe dry, irritated areas. Users love how gentle this toner is on sensitive skin and the fact that it is  100% vegan and cruelty-free.

Paula’s Choice Skin Balancing Pore Reducing Toner

This water-based toner from Paula’s Choice packs a heavy punch to combination skin while also minimizing the appearance of large pores through its use of niacinamide (vitamin B3), which helps strengthen the skin’s natural barrier. The lightweight moisturizing effect this toner has helps control the skin’s oil production while also treating dry spots. Users love this product due to its ability to deliver noticeable results in as little as one week of consistent use.

Murad is known for its arsenal of acne-fighting products and stays true to that cause with this popular toner. The water-based formula includes witch hazel to dissolve oil and algae extract to help control sebum production. Users praise this toner for its ability to noticeably clear breakouts quickly without overly drying the skin.

Sold by Murad, Sephora and Ulta 

Paula’s Choice Resist Weightless Advanced Repairing Toner

This toner harnesses ingredients like niacinamide (vitamin B3) and peptides to help soften fine lines and tighten skin. This, in combination with secret-weapon ingredient resveratrol, helps fortify your skin’s natural barrier, which helps protect against future environmental damage. This formula is also effective in smoothing out rough and bumpy skin texture, leaving a flawless finish.

Sold by Amazon and Sephora

The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution

Popular skin care brand The Ordinary harnessed the exfoliating power of glycolic acid in this popular toner to reduce hyperpigmentation and acne scars, leaving a bright and radiant skin after regular use. Due to this high concentration of glycolic acid, users with sensitive skin should be cautious if they want to use this toner daily, but visible results can still be seen with only a few uses per week.

Sold by Sephora and Ulta

Thayers Alcohol-Free Rose Petal Witch Hazel Facial Toner with Aloe Vera Formula

While scents can be a pleasant part of your skin care routine, added fragrances can sometimes cause irritation to skin. Thayers avoids this with its gentle aloe vera formula that keeps the skin hydrated and soothed throughout the day without becoming greasy. If the rose petal scent isn’t for you, this toner also comes in lavender, coconut water and cucumber scents.

Sold by Amazon, Ulta and Bed Bath & Beyond

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Sophia Jurgens writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.

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