Why You Need a Facial Toner in 2025

Facial toners have evolved far beyond their astringent past. Today’s formulas balance your skin’s pH after cleansing, remove lingering impurities, and prime your complexion for serums and moisturizers—boosting their effectiveness while targeting issues like dullness, pores, or dryness. With trends leaning toward multitasking, clean ingredients and K-beauty influences, toners now hydrate, exfoliate, or soothe in one step. Based on expert reviews from dermatologists and testers in 2025, the best ones deliver visible glow without irritation. We’ll break down top picks by skin type, focusing on standout performers that earned high marks for absorption, gentleness, and results.

1. THAYERS Alcohol-Free Facial Toner

4.7 out of 5 Ratings

​ Alcohol-free and formulated to purify, hydrate, and balance skin; This gentle face toner for men and women reduces the look of pores and smooth skin texture while maintaining the skin’s moisture barrier​. Made with certified organic Witch Hazel grown and harvested exclusively for Thayers on a family farm in Connecticut, Aloe Vera, and Glycerin​. Dermatologist tested for safety and 100 Percent cruelty free​.

2. CeraVe Hydrating Toner for Face

4.7 out of 5 Ratings

• [ WITHOUT ALCOHOL] The alcohol free, non-astringent, and non-drying, formula leaves skin feeling balanced, soothed, soft, and clean.
• [ SENSITIVE SKIN TESTED & NON-GREASY FEEL ] Formulated with sensitive skin in mind, the hydrating and soothing formula is fragrance-free, oil-free, allergy-tested, sensitive skin-tested, and non-comedogenic so it will not clog your pores.
• [HYALURONIC ACID & NIACINAMIDE TONER] pH balanced toner gently removes impurities after cleansing. With ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide the lightweight toner helps soften and smooth skin while locking in moisture for refreshed, healthy-looking skin.

3. The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toner

4.7 out of 5 Ratings

The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toner smooths skin texture, visibly evens tone, and boosts radiance with daily use. Contains Tasmanian Pepperberry, aloe, and ginseng. Smoothes skin texture, visibly evens tone, and enhances luminosity with daily use. After cleaning, saturate a cotton pad with the formula and sweep across face and neck.

4. Glow Recipe PHA + BHA Face Toner 

4.7 out of 5 Ratings

• Lock in Moisture – This hydrating facial toner for women and men contains watermelon extract, cactus water & hyaluronic acid for deep, long-lasting hydration that plumps and moisturizes dry skin.
• Minimize, Exfoliate & Unclog Pores – Our Korean toner uses polyhydroxy acids (PHA) to help smooth skin by gently removing buildup, while 2 types of effective BHAs & tea tree extract help to clean, decongest, and reduce the appearance of pores without irritation.
• Korean Skincare Reimagined – The Glow Recipe PHA + BHA Toner utilizes Korean beauty philosophies of hydrating, exfoliating, and amino-rich ingredients to help retain moisture, soothe skin, minimize the look of pores, and improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

5. Anua Heartleaf 77 Soothing Toner 

4.7 out of 5 Ratings

• FORMULATED WITH NATURAL INGREDIENTS : Contains 77% Heartleaf Extract grown and haversted in Korea. Cruely free, Vegan, Paraben Free.
• FOR ALL SKIN TYPES : Free from irritating ingredients, provides clear and even skin tone as well as hydrating the skin, making it suitable for all skin types.
• SOOTHING FACE TONER : Infused with the highest concentration of Heartleaf Extract, known best for it’s calming effects, this toner is designed to soothe, tone, hydrate, and balance the skin’s pH level.
•  Enhances the absorption of serums, ampoules and moisturizers as the first step of your skincare routine, perfectly prepping your skin before make-up to achieve glow glass skin look.

6. Good Molecules Niacinamide Brightening Toner 

4.7 out of 5 Ratings

• TARGET HYPERPIGMENTATION, DULLNESS, AND ENLARGED PORES: Notice the difference in your skin! This gentle toner targets texture, dullness, uneven skin tone, and discoloration with a formula designed to bring out the best in your skin, leaving you glowing and refreshed.
• POTENT FORMULA FOR RADIANT SKIN: Niacinamide and Arbutin work to brighten dull skin and improve the look of hyperpigmentation, while licorice root extract helps to soothe inflammation, giving your skin an even clear tone.
• GENTLE ENOUGH FOR ALL SKIN TYPES: Powerful enough to bring results and gentle enough for daily use; this toner is suitable for all skin types. Our serum has a pH of 6.2, is alcohol-free, vegan, and was never tested on animals.
• BRIGHTEN, BALANCE, AND SOOTHE: Embrace newfound confidence with the Good Molecules Niacinamide Brightening Toner made with powerful ingredients to reveal your most radiant skin! Tone and brighten with this super gentle, alcohol-free toner!

7. Klairs Supple Preparation Facial Toner

4.6 out of 5 Ratings

• It optimizes PH levels for the skin and helps to balance skin moisture your skin. It balances the pH levels and relieves the skin of dehydration.
• Contains the ingredients from nature provides plentiful moisture and calming for the skin that is stressed out.
• A daily toner that is safe and non-irritating to moisturizing with enhanced hydration by 4th generation moisture ingredients ‘lipidure’. It also contains other hydrating ingredients such as Beta-glucan and Hyaluronic Acid.
• Manufactured in Korea. 180ml. For all skin types, including sensitive skin.

8. Mario Badescu Alcohol Free Witch Hazel Facial Toner

4.6 out of 5 Ratings

A Rose and Witch Hazel toner formulated for all skin types. Our witch hazel toner re-balances, removes surface impurities, and promotes a fresh-faced glow post-cleanse. Apply toner to skin with a cotton ball or pad. Wipe in sweeping, outward motions until the cotton comes up clean.

9. HERITAGE STORE Rosewater Facial Toner

4.6 out of 5 Ratings

• Deep Moisture – Made without dyes or alcoholǂ, our toner delivers deep hydration with Hyaluronic Acid and Sodium PCA for plumper-looking skin and a natural glow.
• Minimal Ingredients – Clean formula for dry to combination skincare contains Damask Roses, Vegetable Glycerin, soothing Aloe Vera and nothing you don’t want on your skin.
• Fresh Glow – Gentle enough for sensitive complexions, our soothing rose toner wipes away impurities, reduces the look of pores and imperfections and leaves skin looking fresh and radiant.
• Set the Tone – Ultra-hydrating toner refreshes and smooths skin, refines pores and helps minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles with regular use.

10. BYOMA Hydrating Milky Toner 

4.7 out of 5 Ratings

THE ULTIMATE SKIN-COMPATIBLE SOLUTION: Dermatologist tested + approved skin care, soap-free, non-comedogenic, alcohol + fragrance-free, vegan + cruelty free. Suitable for all skin types.

• HYDRATE + SOOTHE: This ultra-soothing toner works to quench dry skin while supporting sensitive + sensitized skin barriers. Skin is instantly transformed, looking + feeling soft, supple, dewy and radiant all day long.
• ALL-DAY DEW: Polyglutamic Acid + Cica help lock in moisture across multiple layers of the skin + reduce the appearance of redness from dry skin.
• BARRIER-BOOSTING: BYOMA’s carefully researched Barrier Lipid Complex utilizes a concentration of ceramides + skin identical lipids in an oil-based formula for the same results you know + love from BYOMA’s Tri-Ceramide Complex.

How to Choose and Use a Toner

• Match Your Needs: Dry? Prioritize hyaluronic acid. Oily? Go for salicylic. Sensitive? Skip acids.
• Application: After cleansing, swipe with a cotton pad or pat in with hands (for hydrators). Use AM/PM, but exfoliating ones 2-3x/week to avoid irritation.
• Pro Tip: Layer under sunscreen in the morning—toners enhance absorption for better protection.
• 2025 Trends: K-beauty pads (like Medicube Zero Pore Pads) and clean mists are booming for on-the-go routines.

These picks are vetted from 2025 tests by outlets like The Strategist, Byrdie, and Glamour, focusing on efficacy across skin types. Start with a patch test, and consult a derm for personalized advice. Your skin will thank you with that lit-from-within vibe.