When it comes to finding the best toners, I used to be 100% dedicated to them. I would use one every day as part of my nighttime skincare routine. In recent years, I've found the ones that I had been using were drying out my skin, so I switched to applying them only two to three times a week.
To be honest, I still wasn't quite sure exactly what toners were supposed to be doing for my skin and whether I actually needed to use one. I was just going along with it because I did feel that it helped to clear up blemishes and provided some exfoliation. Recently, I learned that some toners have added anti-aging benefits, which intrigued me even more. I decided to ask the experts to break it down for me and, of course, share their favorite recs.
If you're ready to shop for a toner, take a look at dermatologists' and editors' picks.
The Best Anti-Aging Toners, Listed
- Versed Baby Cheeks Hydrating Milk
- Revision Skincare Soothing Facial Rinse
- Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner
- Dermalogica AGE Smart Antioxidant HydraMist
- PCA Skin Hydrating Toner
- Tata Harper Hydrating Floral Essence
- Ren Clean Skincare Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic
- Indie Lee CoQ-10 Toner
- Eminence Organic Skin Care Neroli Age Corrective Hydrating Mist
- SK-II Facial Treatment Essence
- IS Clinical Copper Firming Mist
- Augustinus Bader The Essence
- First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Wild Oat Hydrating Toner
- Murad Essential-C Toner
- Eadem Cashmere Peel Gentle AHA + PHA Exfoliating Toner
- Shani Darden Skin Care Sake Toning Essence
- La Prairie Skin Caviar Essence-in-Lotion
Versed Baby Cheeks Hydrating Milk
Pros: Gentle, great for sensitive skin
Cons: Doesn't contain any acids for specific textural concerns
Size: 4 ounces
If you're looking for a purely hydrating toner, you can't go wrong with this $18 pick. A milky toner is such a treat, and while it's pretty trendy right now, it's also super effective for calming inflamed, irritated skin. If you need some extra skin-soothing players in your routine, this is your best bet.
Revision Skincare Soothing Facial Rinse
Pros: Soothes skin, contains lots of antioxidants
Cons: Also doesn't contain acids if you're looking for more of a treatment step
Size: 6.7 ounces
This one comes highly recommended by both Corey Hartman—MD, FAAD, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Skin Wellness Dermatology—and board-certified dermatologist Ife Rodney, MD, FAAD, of Eternal Dermatology and Aesthetics. "It is oil-free and hydrating. Since it is alcohol-free and packed with antioxidants, it's a great complement to an anti-aging regimen," Hartman says.
Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner
Pros: Hydrates, brightens, and soothes the skin, great for sensitive skin
Cons: Better for overall brightening than specific textural concerns
Size: 6.4 ounces
Rodney says this toner contains great hydrating products like hyaluronic acid and vitamin E to make your skin look tighter and more refreshed.
Dermalogica AGE Smart Antioxidant HydraMist
Pros: Spray-on application is user-friendly and convenient, great for a midday refresh
Cons: Contains fragrance
Size: 5.1 ounces
"Dermalogica's Antioxidant HydraMist is a unique application, being used as a spray-on product," Hartman says. "It gives a feeling of refreshment as it delivers a vitamin cocktail that rounds out an anti-aging skincare regimen."
PCA Skin Hydrating Toner
Pros: Hydrates and plumps skin, gentle enough to use twice a day
Cons: Not as easy to apply
Size: 7 ounces
PCA Skin's toner is hydrating and fragrance-free. It has ingredients like antioxidant-rich watermelon, apple, and lentil-fruit extracts; anti-aging powerhouse jania rubens extract; and hydrating evening primrose oil.
Tata Harper Hydrating Floral Essence
Pros: Easy spray application, loaded with antioxidants and gentle exfoliators
Cons: Has a strong floral aroma
Size: 4.1 ounces
Powered by hyaluronic acid, this essence works to plump and hydrate the skin. White willow bark exfoliates and smoothes, while gotu kola promotes natural regeneration and targets fine lines.
Ren Clean Skincare Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic
Pros: Very gentle exfoliator that brightens skin
Cons: Contains fragrance
Size: 8.5 ounces
This toner is made with natural lactic acid and azelaic acid to balance the skin tone and eliminate dark spots. It's also formulated to reduce the appearance of fine lines and tighten pores.
Indie Lee CoQ-10 Toner
Pros: Contains CoQ10, a standout antioxidant for aging skin; easy spray application; super refreshing; great for every day
Cons: Bottle may leak
Size: 4.2 ounces
This toner contains hydrating and nourishing ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and aloe vera and antioxidants such as vitamin C, cucumber extract, and papaya-leaf extract. The powerhouse ingredient here is CoQ10, which promotes collagen and elastin production.
Eminence Organic Skin Care Neroli Age Corrective Hydrating Mist
Pros: Contains firming ingredients found in nature, easy spray application
Cons: Has a strong neroli scent
Size: 4.2 ounces
This toner will leave your face looking tighter and firmer thanks to its green apple stem cell technology and a natural retinol alternative complex. It's got hydrating benefits too—neroli oil, coconut milk, and coconut water provide much-needed moisture.
SK-II Facial Treatment Essence
Pros: Has clinical studies to show its benefits for aging skin, consistently recommended by derms and facialists
Cons: Expensive
Size: 5.4 ounces
This treatment is especially made to target uneven texture, dark spots, and fine lines. The formula contains over 50 micronutrients to leave your skin hydrated and glowy.
IS Clinical Copper Firming Mist
Pros: Easy mist application, very cooling and refreshing
Cons: Pricey for a smaller size
Size: 2.5 ounces
Free radicals and environmental damage can do a number on your skin, so this mist will offer some major protection. It contains antioxidants and copper PCA to regulate the skin's pH levels and stimulate collagen.
Augustinus Bader The Essence
Pros: Contains the brand's signature TFC8 to naturally regenerate skin and salicylic acid to unclog pores
Cons: Very potent, could be irritating for sensitive skin
Size: 3.4 ounces
Augustinus Bader's toner is a multitasking product that exfoliates, moisturizes, and tones. It contains hyaluronic acid to hydrate, salicylic acid to unclog pores, and wasabi ferment to protect against free radicals.
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Wild Oat Hydrating Toner
Pros: So soothing for sensitive skin, great if you have stubborn dryness
Cons: Not the best for oily skin types
Size: 6 ounces
You really don't have to worry about this toner stressing out or stripping your skin. It has deeply nourishing ingredients like colloidal oatmeal, wild oats, and honey to soothe and soften the skin, all while promoting a balanced complexion.
Murad Essential-C Toner
Pros: Easy spray application, great option for skin brightening
Cons: Contains fragrance
Size: 6 ounces
Murad's toner contains antioxidants to protect against environmental stressors and coneflower and licorice root to tone and brighten the skin. It works to moisturize your skin too.
Eadem Cashmere Peel Gentle AHA + PHA Exfoliating Toner
Pros: Fabulous for brightening dark spots, gentle yet effective formula
Cons: Might still be too spicy for hypersensitive skin
Size: 5.1 ounces
This blend of lactic, azelaic, and tranexamic acids is the perfect storm for fading dark spots—be it from post-breakout hyperpigmentation, sun damage, melasma, or overall aging. WWW senior beauty editor Jamie Schneider considers it one of her favorites. "It provides just the right amount of tingle to let me know it's working, yet it doesn't make my skin feel inflamed," she says.
Shani Darden Skin Care Sake Toning Essence
Pros: Gently reduces shine without exfoliating skin, super hydrating
Cons: Can feel a little sticky upon application
Size: 4 ounces
Celebrity esthetician Shani Darden is responsible for the glowing visage of many A-listers, so you can bet her own skincare line is truly top-notch. This hydrating yet purifying essence contains sake water to brighten the skin's appearance and niacinamide to balance oil production and provide antioxidant protection.
La Prairie Skin Caviar Essence-in-Lotion
Pros: Plumps skin with amino acids, helps your skin better absorb subsequent serums and treatments
Cons: Expensive
Size: 5 ounces
The thought of applying caviar to your face just sounds fancy, doesn't it? It turns out the ingredient also has some wonderful benefits for aging skin. It contains healthy fats and amino acids to protect the skin's barrier, keeping it looking nice and plump. When it comes to caviar-infused potions, La Prairie is the best of the best. "If you're going to invest in one La Prairie product (I get it—they're expensive!), I highly recommend snagging the Essence-in-Lotion," Schneider says. "The highly concentrated formula is effective and makes my routine feel so luxurious."
FAQ
Are toners good for the skin?
In short, yes! Toners have received a bad rap over the years, as many were alcohol-based and way too stripping. "In the past, toners were harsh astringents. Now, they are ways to cleanse the skin," explains Rodney. The toners of today are typically water-based, she says, and they come infused with skin-improving ingredients, such as acids and antioxidants.
"Toners benefit the skin as a way to deliver low concentrations of these ingredients to the skin while balancing the pH," Rodney adds. "They also help in hydrating the skin and removing dead skin cells left behind after washing and cleansing your face. Some people use a toner as part of their makeup routine, cleaning the face before any further products are applied."
Are toners necessary?
As for whether you need a toner in your skincare routine, Hartman says they can be beneficial for oily skin types because they help control breakouts and oil and improve discoloration and scarring.
However, Rodney says they aren't necessary to maintain healthy skin and can be an optional step. "With their antioxidant and exfoliating ingredients, toners may serve as a refreshing primer to help other products go deeper into your skin. If you wear makeup all day long and have acne-prone skin, you'll be a good candidate for the extra toner step," she adds.
What should I look for in a toner for mature skin?
"Look for hydroxy acids, antioxidants, and hyaluronic acid if prevention of fine lines, improvement of skin turgor, and smoothing of the skin's texture are your goals," Hartman says. Rodney adds that the toners with alpha hydroxy acids can help with cell turnover and hydrate and brighten the skin. Other products might also shrink enlarged pores, tighten the skin, and contain retinol.
When choosing a toner for its anti-aging benefits, you'll want to keep an eye out for key ingredients. Rodney recommends looking for a gentle toner that contains hyaluronic acid, retinol, and vitamin C. "Hyaluronic acid plumps and hydrates dry, sagging skin, while retinol both increases collagen production deeper in the skin and increases the turnover of surface skin cells," she explains. "Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that protects your skin from environmental pollutants and oxygen radicals. Your toner should also be free of parabens and artificial fragrances. You should also consider your skin type when selecting a toner since some can help balance oil production and dryness."
Hartman also recommends looking for glycerin, which helps the skin by attracting moisture from the air; chamomile, which is anti-inflammatory and calming; and polyphenols, which act as antioxidants.
How to Apply Toner
As for application, Rodney says it's best to use toners in your evening skincare routine. "Toners should be applied to a freshly washed face with a cotton swab or pad and allowed to absorb completely for 30 seconds or so before continuing with the application of the rest of the skincare regimen," Hartman adds.
If you're trying out a toner for the first time, you should test it out on a small part of your face first to see if there are any signs of irritation or dryness.
In order to really make your toner usage effective, you'll want to make sure you're using the right products in conjunction with the toner. Rodney recommends using a gentle hydrating cleanser before applying the toner and incorporating serums into your routine (like vitamin C or retinol) after application. For the last step, she suggests applying an eye cream, acne treatments (if needed), and your moisturizer.
"Any complete anti-aging regimen contains a sun protection factor, antioxidants, and retinol to be considered comprehensive," Hartman adds.
This article was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
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