Goldilocks formulas for finicky complexions.
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Toners of yesteryear were more about swiping off every last bit of dirt, makeup, and oil from your face. “While the newer generation of toners may still remove traces of debris, they’re really meant to nourish and replenish the skin after cleansing and act as a primer for the rest of your skincare products,” says cosmetic dermatologist Sejal K. Shah, MD. But as anyone with combination skin will tell you, finding the right products can pose a tricky conundrum.
For one thing, “combination” can mean a few different things. Combination complexions may have an oily T-zone and dry, rosacea-prone cheeks. For some folks, it’s a mix of clogged pores, lack of moisture, and hyperpigmentation. Or, it could just be that your skin behaves half the time, while issues are more prominent during the other half. In any case, those with combination skin often need to straddle a fine line of skincare that provides non-comedogenic (non-pore-clogging) hydration and gentle exfoliants or antioxidants.
In the hunt for the best toners for combination skin, we researched numerous formulas that check all the boxes—or at least, a few of the boxes that pertain to individual skin woes. After assessing each for ingredients, benefits, and intended use, consulting derms, and trying several products ourselves we narrowed it down to 10 options worthy of a spot in your medicine cabinet.
Best Overall
Innisfree Green Tea Hyaluronic Acid Toner
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Innisfree is a Korean beauty brand you can count on for reasonably priced skincare that lives up to its claims. We’re particularly fond of the Green Tea Seed Hyaluronic Acid Toner, a non-irritating, post-cleansing fluid that works especially well for folks with combination skin.
As the name suggests, it contains soothing green tea extract and the skin’s favorite humectant, hyaluronic acid. The latter draws moisture in from the air and can hold up to a thousand times its weight in water.1 This toner also has vitamin B5, which can help balance oil production.2 We just wish the bottle wasn’t glass so we could take it wherever we go without fear of it breaking.
Who It’s For
We recommend this K-beauty toner for anyone with sensitive or dry skin, as well as those with oil-prone T-zones.
Active Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, green tea, vitamin B5 | Benefits: Hydrates, addresses greasiness, preps skin | Size: 5.4 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Budget
Thayers Witch Hazel Unscented Facial Toner
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This toner has long been considered the tried and true standard in toners. It covers many bases for combination skin—and it won’t run you more than 10 bucks. Its hero ingredient is witch hazel, which balances a greasy complexion, minimizes the look of pores and soothes irritation.3 Meanwhile, aloe vera hydrates and calms inflammation. We also like that the gentle formula is derived from 98% natural ingredients and is free of alcohol and fragrance (although there are fragrance options if you so choose).4
Who It’s For
If you’re looking for an affordable, reliable formula that tackles multiple skincare issues, you can’t go wrong with Thayers.
Active Ingredients: Witch hazel, aloe vera | Benefits: Balances, soothes, hydrates, minimizes pores | Size: 8–12 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Exfoliating
REN Clean Skincare Ready Steady Glow Tonic
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If you’re looking for a toner with all the chemical exfoliating power, Ready Steady Glow is here for you. It contains lactic acid (an acid exfoliator that can firm skin), an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA), willow bark extract, and a form of salicylic acid (beta-hydroxy acid or BHA which can help shrink the look of pores). These ingredients exfoliate by essentially dissolving dead skin cells to address dullness, hyperpigmentation, and uneven texture.5 But we should note that chemical exfoliants are generally gentle on the skin, they might still be too intense for daily use.
Who It’s For
This product is ideal for those who want to exfoliate a few times a week to address dullness, uneven texture, or hyperpigmentation.
Active Ingredients: Lactic acid, willow bark extract | Benefits: Treat dull skin, addresses uneven texture, promotes even skin tone | Size: 3.3–8.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best for Acne-Prone Skin
Murad Clarifying Toner
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Combination skin can often be acne-prone, particularly in those oily spots like on your T-zone. We love a clarifying toner (aka one that cleans away dirt and oil) for that and Murad’s is one of the best. This no-nonsense toner leans on witch hazel and algae extract to absorb excess oil, tighten pores,3 and balance sebum production,6 while vitamin E soothes stressed skin and hydrates without clogging your pores.7
Who It’s For
Those prone to breakouts will appreciate how this toner absorbs excess grease and balances sebum production while hydrating the skin without overloading pores with moisture.
Active Ingredients: Witch hazel, algae extract, vitamin E | Benefits: Tightens pores, balances oil production, soothes, hydrates | Size: 6 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best for Large Pores
Paula’s Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner
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The bad news: You can’t actually change the size of your pores. The good news: You may be able to make them appear smaller and less prominent by keeping them from getting clogged with gunk and grime. We love this oil-balancing formula from Paula’s Choice for that. Beyond making pores less noticeable, it contains antioxidants, chamomile, and ceramides that enhance,8 soothe,9 hydrate, and protect10 your complexion. While those ingredients should help make this work for sensitive skin, you might want to limit how much you use it if you’re prone to irritation or dryness.
Who It’s For
If you ask us, this oil-balancing formula from Paula’s Choice is the best option minimizing the look of pores.
Best Natural
Weleda One-Step Cleanser & Toner
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Sometimes, it’s best to stick with a simple but foolproof toner, and that’s this Weleda option to a “T.” It has the hydrating power of a milky lotion and the clarifying properties of a classic toner. It contains witch hazel to balance and cleanse the skin without over-drying3 while lanolin (an emollient that locks in moisture) helps remove impurities and protect the skin barrier. Just a heads up, lanolin is derived from wool, so while this product is natural and cruelty-free, it’s not vegan.
Who It’s For
If you’re partial to natural formulas without preservatives or synthetic fragrances, this one’s for you (unless you’re vegan or sensitive to essential oil).
Active Ingredients: Witch hazel, lanolin, essential oils | Benefits: Balances skin, clarifies, protects | Size: 3.4 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best for Dryness
Belif Aqua Bomb Hydrating Toner
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It’s a common misconception that toners can’t be hydrating, but Belif, another Korean skincare brand made us rethink that. The brand’s Aqua Bomb Toner is perfect for combination skin craving a bit of hydration. It contains hyaluronic acid and baobab seed extract to keep moisture in your skin and smooth uneven texture.11 Meanwhile, beta-glucan is a mega-hydrator that also helps calm irritated skin and strengthen the skin barrier.12 Belif actually conducted clinical results, and 97.8% of participants said their dryness vanished after application.
Who It’s For
We recommend this hydrating toner for combination skin craving moisture. It’s also great for uneven texture and a compromised skin barrier.
Active Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, baobab seed extract, beta-glucan | Benefits: Hydrates, addresses uneven texture | Size: 6.8 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best for Sensitive Skin
Kiehl’s Calendula Herbal-Extract Toner
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Since toners can be on the drying side, we recommend going with an alcohol-free one that relies on natural ingredients whenever possible. This gentle, alcohol-free toner from Kiehl’s is just the thing for combination skin on the sensitive side. Its all-star ingredients include calendula extract and allantoin, which can help minimize redness and calm inflammation while providing hydration where you need it all while balancing oil production. We love it for acne-prone skin, especially since it’s gentle enough to use every day. However, some didn’t appreciate the petal fragments in the liquid.
Who It’s For
If your skin flushes easily, breaks out often, or reacts to a complex skincare routine, it’ll appreciate this gentle, soothing toner.
Active Ingredients: Calendula extract, allantoin | Benefits: Reduces redness, soothes, balances | Size: 8.4–16.9 ounces | Cruelty-Free: No
Best for Uneven Texture
Tatcha The Texture Tonic
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Tatcha’s aptly named Texture Tonic is formulated to smooth uneven texture to reveal a more radiant-looking complexion. It calls on glycolic acid (another AHA) to gently exfoliate and slough off dead skin cells,5 while niacinamide helps reduce redness and minimize the appearance of pores.8 It does contain alcohol though, so if you’ve got super sensitive skin, this one might be a bit much for you.
Who It’s For
If you’re dealing with rough, uneven skin or dryness in certain areas of your face, this resurfacing treatment will correct the issue.
Active Ingredients: Glycolic acid, niacinamide | Benefits: Smoothes texture, exfoliates, reduces redness | Size: 2.5–5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best for Mature Skin
Albion Flora Drip
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Believe it or not, toners can help skin look younger by evening out texture and minimizing fine lines. This Japanese essence is similar to a toner in that it’s a liquid solution applied after cleansing. You can apply it with a cotton pad or just pat it onto clean skin. We like how the high-end formula (which contains fermented plants and pure white koji) works to firm and refine the skin to minimize the look of fine lines while delivering hydration and a more even-toned complexion over time. We do wish it didn’t contain PEGs though.
Who It’s For
Perfect for mature skin, this hydrating essence offers firming and refining benefits while evening out your skin tone.
Active Ingredients: Herbal complex, kojic acid | Benefits: Hydrates, firms, refines, evens skin tone | Size: 2.7–5.4 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Where We Stand
Overall, our favorite toner for combination skin is Innisfree Green Tea Seed Hyaluronic Acid Toner. The gentle, non-irritating formula simultaneously soothes, hydrates, and balances oil production. But if you’re on a budget, Thayers Unscented Witch Hazel Facial Toner is a solid choice that has stood the test of time.
What to Look for When Buying Toner for Combination Skin
- Balancing Formula: Opt for a formula made for combination skin to achieve the best results. Keywords like “balancing,” “purifying,” and “clarifying” are often good options. Unlike traditional toners, balancing formulas like Innisfree Green Tea Seed Hyaluronic Acid Toner can help regulate oil production while prepping the skin for the rest of your skincare routine.
- Chemical Exfoliants: Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) like glycolic or lactic acid and salicylic acid (BHA) can be great additions to toners for combo skin. As with REN Ready Steady Glow, these gentle exfoliators help remove dead cells from the surface to improve skin turnover and promote a smoother, more even-toned complexion. They may also help with hyperpigmentation, brightening, and reducing fine lines and wrinkles.5
- Hydrating Ingredients: In addition to balancing out your oily areas, you’ll also want a hydrating formula to keep dry areas in check. With combination skin, you may have to do double duty to prevent excess shine while healing dry patches. Hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, aloe vera, and other humectants can ensure you can accomplish both while addressing parched skin. Belif Aqua Bomb is an excellent pick that hydrates the skin without clogging pores.
FAQ
Are toners good for combination skin?
Toners may help infuse dry areas with moisture and balance out oily zones, so they can be beneficial for combination skin. That said, formulas vary drastically, so pay attention to the active ingredients, intended use, and purported benefits.
How do you pick a toner for combination skin?
When searching for a toner for combination skin, look for one meant to balance out the skin. Many balancing toners are specifically formulated to absorb excess oil while adding moisture. This can help complexions simultaneously battling dryness and a greasy T-zone, for instance.
What does toner do for your skin?
Traditionally, toner was intended to remove dirt, grime, or impurities left on your skin after cleansing. But as Dr. Shah explains, today’s iterations are often meant to nourish, replenish, and balance the skin’s pH, acting as a primer for the skincare products to follow. Sometimes, toners are specifically formulated to tackle different skin conditions, like acne or hyperpigmentation.