What does toner do?
Face toner is often used after cleansing and before moisturising, or on its own to control oil production, balance the skin’s pH level and add hydration. Unfortunately, you can’t physically shrink your pores with a face toner. Still, some products (read: the best toners) can help minimise the appearance of pores while wiping away dirt and bacteria that could plug up your glands and cause acne.
There are lots of different types of toners for different skin types. The best toner for face for dry skin will often have hyaluronic acid to bind water to the skin and to enhance the effect of moisturisers. The best toner for people with oily skin are face toners with the natural astringent Witch Hazel, and BHA and AHA acids that gently exfoliate the skin to get rid of dead surface skin cells. The best toner for sensitive skin should include soothing ingredients like chamomile and aloe vera, as well as antioxidants and anti-inflammatories. The key to finding the best toner for face is to identify what your skin needs.
All the best toners for face should be alcohol-free. Alcohol harshly strips the skin’s natural oils and leads to dehydration, which the body counteracts by producing more oil. If you’re strapped for cash, you can make an alcohol-free homemade toner fairly easy.
Want to know the best toner? In this article, we take a look at some of the best toners available in Australia.
11. Neutrogena’s Toner Alcohol-Free
Product: Neutrogena’s Toner Alcohol-Free
Cost: $6.60
An affordable option, Neutrogena’s Alcohol-Free Toner is a great choice to help get soft, smooth skin. It’s formulated with emollients and vitamin B5 to condition the skin. Plus, it’s hypoallergenic and dermatologically tested.
Review: “Whether you have an oily T-zone or dry cheeks, this product is completely capable of balancing the moisture of your skin while leaving you feeling refreshed.” – Via Product Review.
Buy it at Priceline.
10. Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Essence Water
Product: Olay’s Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Essence Water
Cost: $39.99
The Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Essence Water elevates your daily skincare routine by priming your skin and allowing for deeper and faster penetration of products. Super lightweight, the formula is made with an advanced blend of Olay’s hero ingredient, 99 per cent pure Niacinamide, that works to hydrate and plump the skin. It also comes with Amino Peptides – to stimulate collagen production and smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles – and Pro Vitamin B5 – for stabilising the skin barrier to reduce levels of hydration lost through your skin.
Review: “With an emulsified texture with low viscosity, the Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Essence Water adds an extra layer of hydration to the skin, without leaving the skin feeling greasy. Doubling as a face toner and primer, the silky, emulsified Essence is applied as the first step after cleansing to enhance the absorption of your succeeding serums and moisturisers. The best toner I’ve tried.” – New Idea beauty.
Buy it online from Coles.
Brought to you by Olay.
9. Thayers’ Original Witch Hazel Alcohol-Free Toner with Aloe Vera
Product: Thayers’ Original Witch Hazel Alcohol-Free Toner with Aloe Vera
Cost: $24.95
Another classic, this aloe vera and rose petal-infused toner is perfect for all skin types. Houston-based Dermatologist Dr Dray says, “I detest alcohol-based toners. Toners have no role in skincare. They’re absolutely useless. They’re a marketing gimmick. Witch Hazel, however, is somewhat of an exception in that it’s an astringent and the witch hazel is helpful in gently, gently removing residual oil.” That said, while some reviewers adore the product, others noted that the product made their acne worse.
Review: “It’s a fantastic inexpensive toner that’s great for oily skin. I use this one at night because it plays well with my Vitamin C serum and I use a Paula’s Choice toner during the day.” – via MakeupAlley.
Buy it online from Men’s Biz.
8. Paula’s Choice’s Clear Regular Strength Anti-Redness Exfoliating Solution With 2% Salicylic Acid
Product: Paula’s Choice’s Clear Regular Strength Anti-Redness Exfoliating Solution With 2% Salicylic Acid
Cost: $30.40
Coming in third on MakeAlley’s toner for face reviews is this gem by Paula’s Choice. This brand is a winner in that hundreds of independent studies influence the chemistry of their products. Paula’s Choice also does extensive consumer testing (while staying cruelty-free) to make sure it’s products are safe and effective. Unfortunately, very few “all-natural” brands are tested as rigorously. This gentle chemical exfoliant can clear mild to moderate breakouts, unclog pores and fade red marks.
Review: “It has no scent, absorbs quickly, can be worn under makeup, and balances my skin out. I haven’t broken out since I introduced it to my regimen, and my skin has now completely healed. It is a bit drying for me, so I use a good moisturiser underneath before application.” – Via Paula’s Choice.
Buy it at Paula’s Choice.
7. Youth To The People’s Kombucha + 11% AHA Exfoliation Power Toner
Product: Youth To The People’s Kombucha + 11% AHA Exfoliation Power Toner
Cost: $59
This pH-correcting toner uses lactic and glycolic acid to smooth texture, remove dead skin cells and brighten skin tone. It’s tree bark and kombucha black tea help with overproduction of oils. People with hyperpigmentation or dull complexion will likely get a lot out of this product. The cons are that it’s quite expensive, and some people complain it feels sticky.
Review: “Because it’s an exfoliating toner, I had some concerns as my skin is sensitive. But after even one use, I could feel a difference in my skin. There was a little tingling, but nothing irritating as I had worried would happen.” – Via Sephora.
Buy it at Sephora.
6. Sukin’s Hydrating Mist Toner
Product: Sukin’s Hydrating Mist Toner
Cost: $6.60
This cheap mist face toner is infused with rose water and chamomile to help soothe, cleanse and refresh tired skin. Keep in the refrigerator for a cooling spritz on hot days.
Review: “It makes my skin soft and not dried out, even after exfoliation. There is no residue, so it’s not sticky or slimy.” – Via Product Review.
Buy it at Priceline.
5. Dermalogica’s Clear Start Breakout Clearing All Over Toner
Product: Dermalogica’s Clear Start Breakout Clearing All Over Toner
Cost: $29
This mist spray uses salicylic acid and sesame seed extract to balance excess oil and deter acne. It comes with lavender, camellia sinensis, argan and nine other gentle plant-based ingredients to soothe redness and inflammation. It also has lemongrass and bitter orange to refresh the skin.
Review: “This is a really refreshing and light toner, which makes it perfect for acne-prone skin. I use this once a day in the mornings, and I’ve found that it actually does reduce my oiliness throughout the day.” – Via Sephora.
Buy it at Mecca.
4. Heritage Store’s Rose Petals Rosewater
Product: Heritage Store’s Rose Petals Rosewater
Cost: $20.00
Rated as the best toner for faceby makeup review platform MakeupAlley, this product has a loyal following. Of 119 reviews, 88 per cent said they’d repurchase Heritage Store’s Rosewater. Its core ingredient is rose oil, which is beneficial to soothe the tones of some skin types. It can also be used as a perfume, to scent your bath or as a hair rinse. That said, if you have sensitive skin or are sensitive to scents, this probably isn’t the product for you.
Review: “I swear by Rosewater and Heritage Store is, in my opinion, the best. I use it as a face toner at night. It is so calming and soothing. It evens out my skin as in I don’t notice my dry patches being so dry and my oil patches so oily.” – Via Influenster.
Buy it on eBay Australia.
3. Black Chicken Remedies Hydrate My Face Toning Mist
Product: Black Chicken Remedies Hydrate My Face Toning Mist
Cost: $39.95
This Australian-made hydrating mist face toner is made with Witch Hazel (to control oil and reduce UV damage), grapefruit essential oil (a natural antibacterial to prevent breakouts) and mandarin essential oil (to keep your skin feeling fresh). It’s best for dry, dehydrated skin with chamomile and lavender floral waters.
Review: “This mist is so refreshing and makes my skin feel so soft and refreshed.” – Via Adore Beauty.
Buy it at Black Chicken Remedies.
2. Aesop’s In Two Minds Facial Toner
Product: Aesop In Two Minds Facial Toner
Cost: $37
A top pick for combination skin types, this Australian product features Witch Hazel to treat oil production, niacinamide to help reduce the appearance of pores, uneven skin tone, fine lines and wrinkles, and chamomile bud to soothe the skin.
Review: “I used to get really congested skin in the form of really bad blind pimples. This really helps in minimising them dramatically. My skin has never been more noticeably clearer.” – Via Adore Beauty.
Buy it at Aesop.
1. The Ordinary’s Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution
Product: The Ordinary’s Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution
Cost: $14.50
A concentrated glycolic acid solution, this face toner gently exfoliates skin cells and removes oil, leaving skin feeling firm and clean. The face toner claims to improve the appearance of skin texture over time.
Review: “I’d highly recommend it to anyone. You do have to be careful starting with it at first due to the higher percentage and build up to using it every night, but it is so worth it. My skin has never felt so good in my entire life (for the record, I have pretty severe hormonal acne/cystic acne and sensitive, oily skin and I have a lot of issues with scarring and hyperpigmentation).” – Via Sephora.
Buy it at Myer.
