Toners have a reputation for being harsh (to put it politely), but the best toners for dry skin prove that’s not always true. While we do appreciate an exfoliating option for extra resurfacing, these products tend to come with high concentrations of actives, synthetic fragrances, and alcohol. That's all well and good unless you have dry and sensitive skin. In that case, you should seek out toners with a soothing, hydrating roster of ingredients. Even better news? There is a lot to choose from.
In fact, you might already know the heavy hitters. "Hyaluronic acid is a hydration powerhouse that attracts moisture to your skin; glycerin helps draw in moisture and keep your skin soft; ceramides help build the skin barrier," explains Connecticut-based, board-certified dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD. Nourishing ingredients like ceramides and niacinamide have also made their way into these formulas for extra calming.
So, if dewy skin is among your skin-care dreams, scroll ahead for the 10 best toners for dry skin that'll make your skin feel soft, supple, and plump after each swipe — plus insight from board-certified dermatologists and editors.
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Best Toner for Dry Skin Overall: Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Skin Barrier Serum Toner
Why it's worth it: As you may have guessed, the Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Skin Barrier Serum Toner acts as a hydrating serum and toner (gasp). Its main ingredient is conditioning ceramides, but you can also expect your skin to get a much-needed double dose of moisture replenishment with the help of panthenol. The brand recommends applying this milky formula with a cotton pad to get the most out of each application, but you can also use your (clean!) fingers to pat the product in.
Tester feedback: “This toner single-handedly saved me from crusty retinol face. When I first gave retinol a go, I'd smooth on a layer of this toner before and after applying and it handled the unpleasant dryness like a champ," says shopping producer Sarah Hoffmann. "I've tried many milky toners in my day and consistently come back to Dr. Jart — this toner and the matching moisturising cream will never leave my routine, they're just too good to my sensitive and occasionally dehydrated skin."
Key ingredients: ceramides, panthenol | Benefits: hydrating, soothing | Who it's for: people with uneven tone | Fragrance-free: yes
Best Splurge: Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum
Why it's worth it: Sulwhasoo's First Care Activating Serum is the serum-toner combo we can't stop talking about. (Though it's labelled as a serum, it’s meant to be applied right after your cleansing steps to soothe skin and aid absorption of whatever follows.) The brand's proprietary Master Complex makes the formula special; blending ginseng with five other precious medicinal herbs and a vitamin C derivative delivers extra antioxidant-driven benefits. The result is a super lightweight, anti-dullness, fine-line-softening, oil-cutting, redness-reducing formula you'll reach for over and over.
Tester feedback: "I've been using this for years because it's unlike any other toner I've tried; Korean brands are continually innovating, and this is the sixth iteration of the serum," commerce editor Sarah Han says. “It does a fantastic job at replenishing and hydrating my skin after a thorough double cleanse. The herbal base is noticeable but not overwhelming; if anything, it's quite calming. My skin-care routine is incomplete without it.”
Key ingredients: Sulwhasoo Master Complex (ginseng derivative), vitamin C, glycerin | Benefits: brightening, firming | Who it's for: people who want a lightweight formula | Fragrance-free: no
Best Brightening: Glow Recipe Cloudberry Bright Essence Toner
Why it's worth it: Glow Recipe's Cloudberry Bright Essence Toner…it's giving radiance, it's giving fresh, and it's giving results. With an emphasis on evening tone, the formula works wonders as the first step in your skin-care routine, boosting absorption of the products following suit. The namesake cloudberry concentrate is loaded with vitamins C and E for brightening, while rice water, glycerin, and collagen amino acids amp up collagen production and moisture. And the orange, wavy glass bottle? So cute.
Tester feedback: Contributing shopping writer Annie Blackman loves everything about this toner. “It’s like a barely-there skin-softener,” she says. “I like how lightweight this stuff is—never feels like a bulky extra step in my routine. And the bottle is also so cute.”
Key ingredients: cloudberry concentrate, vitamin C, vitamin E, rice water, glycerin, collagen, coenzyme Q10 | Benefits: brightening | Who it's for: people who want brighter-looking skin | Fragrance-free: yes
More toners for dry skin we like:
Best for Uneven Skin Tone: Charlotte Tilbury Glow Toner
Why it's worth it: Dr. King says the Charlotte Tilbury Glow Toner is the perfect dew-enhancer for anyone wrangling dryness. "This acid-free hydrating toner is formulated with sodium hyaluronate and glycerin to replenish moisture into the skin, shea butter to support the skin barrier, and niacinamide to improve skin tone and texture," she says. The addition of prickly pear extract supports the skin's natural exfoliation process.
Key ingredients: sodium hyaluronate, glycerin, shea butter, niacinamide, prickly pear extract | Benefits: hydrating, smoothing | Who it's for: people with dark spots and acne-prone skin | Fragrance-free: no
Save when you shop for the best toners for dry skin with these Charlotte Tilbury discount codes at checkout.
Best for Redness: Beekman 1802 Milk Shake Hydrating Toner & Face Mist
Why it's worth it: A single spritz of Beekman 1802’s Milk Shake Hydrating Toner & Face Mist can take your skin to a calmer state, making it ideal for those with sensitive skin and chronic redness. This facial toner features a cocktail of moisturising squalane, hydrating hyaluronic acid, and soothing mugwort to calm down redness and irritation. In true Beekman 1802 fashion, Milk Shake also contains goat milk, which is rich in moisture-replenishing fatty acids and lactic acid, a gentler chemical exfoliant that’ll address skin texture and tone concerns (toodles, dark spots).
Tester feedback: “Adorable name and packaging aside, there's a plethora of reasons to love Beekman 1802's Milk Shake Toner — namely its biphase formula of squalane and hyaluronic acid, which you have to shake to combine, hence the name,” says senior news editor Nicola Dall’Asen. “Those ingredients are a match made in heaven for my skin when I need hydration and soothing, which is pretty much always. But my favourite element of all is its misting nozzle, which delivers a spritz so even and so fine, you don't have to brace yourself for impact.”
Key ingredients: squalane, hyaluronic acid, mugwort, goat milk | Benefits: hydrating, redness reducing | Who it's for: anyone who wants to calm redness | Fragrance-free: yes
Best Budget: The Ordinary Saccharomyces Ferment 30% Milky Toner
Why it's worth it: The Ordinary’s Saccharomyces Ferment 30% Milky Toner provides the best of both worlds—as in, moisturising and exfoliating properties—to make skin feel its absolute best. The key ingredient in this Allure Best of Beauty Award-winning toner is saccharomyces ferment, a yeast-derived extract that smooths and softens skin with its gentle exfoliation and intensive hydration. To up the ante on its moisturising properties, this milky toner also contains hydrating glycerin and conditioning squalane.
Tester feedback: "Testing for Best of Beauty in the dead of winter can make for dry, sensitive skin," says associate manager of special projects Talia Gutierrez. "Thankfully, this hydrating toner made its way to my testing bin, where it was love at first reusable cleansing pad pat. After shaking a generous amount of milky liquid onto the pad, I dabbed the water-like formula all over my cleansed complexion morning and night before following up with the rest of my skin-care routine. I've gone through a few bottles since, and my clear, glowy skin has this toner to thank."
Key ingredients: saccharomyces ferment, glycerin, squalane | Benefits: hydrating, smoothing | Who it's for: anyone with dry skin that still wants to address skin concerns like blemishes and dark spots | Fragrance-free: yes
Save when you shop for the best toners for dry skin with these Sephora discount codes at checkout.
Best Multitasking: Laneige Cream Skin Toner & Moisturiser
Why it's worth it: We love a multitasking product, which is why we're stocking up on Laneige's Cream Skin Toner & Moisturiser. This Sydney Sweeney-approved formula delivers moisture on par with your favourite face cream yet feels light and watery, thanks to the addition of conditioning, amino acid-rich white tea leaf water.
Key ingredients: White tea leaf water, ceramides, peptides | Benefits: hydrating, soothing | Who it's for: people with dry skin | Fragrance-free: yes
Best Milky: Paula's Choice Nourishing Milky Toner
Why it's worth it: One swipe of the Paula's Choice Nourishing Milky Toner, and you'll understand why we're cheerleaders for the skin-calming formula. Marshmallow root and allantoin soothe irritated skin, while panthenol reduces the look of redness and moisturises the skin. The results: a complexion that's almost as smooth and bouncy as a baby's. This toner is so gentle and conditioning that you can use it twice daily without fear of over-stripping the skin of essential sebum.
Key ingredients: marshmallow root, allantoin, panthenol | Benefits: hydrating, redness reducing | Who it's for: people who are prone to redness and irritation | Fragrance-free: yes
Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Anua Heartleaf Soothing Toner
Why it's worth it: A little love letter to all glass-skin girlies: Anua's Heartleaf Soothing Toner is the ideal face-prepper. Powered by the naturally anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial heartleaf plant (Houttuynia cordata), board-certified dermatologist Hee Jin Koh, MD, calls this toner a win for people with acne-prone skin. Use it in the morning and night as the first step after cleansing for an extra dose of moisture that'll leave your skin looking and feeling soothed.
Key ingredients: heartleaf extract, glycerin, matricaria flower extract | Benefits: clarifying, soothing | Who it's for: people want to calm breakouts | Fragrance-free: yes
Save when you shop for the best toners for dry skin with these LookFantastic discount codes at checkout.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do toners for dry skin do?
"Toners for dry skin are like the extra drink of water your face didn't know it needed," says Dr. Gohara. "They help hydrate, soothe, and balance your skin. Old-school toners were known for stripping the skin, whereas new-school ones can do good." She adds that the right toner locks in moisture and creates a better canvas for your moisturiser to get to work.
What ingredients should I look for in a toner for dry skin?
As you may know, not all toners are created for all skin types, and your dry skin needs a formulation that won't over-strip your skin's conditioning natural oils. Hadley King, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City, says that dry and sensitive skin types should avoid harsh active ingredients in their skin-care products, like alcohol, salicylic acid, and glycolic acid, in order to reduce the risk of irritation. "If you have dry skin, look for toners with hydrating ingredients like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, lecithin, aloe vera, and rosewater," she adds. Thankfully, these ingredients are not only easy to find but are featured in an array of skin-care products across any and every budget.
Meet the experts
- Mona Gohara, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Connecticut.
- Hee Jin Koh, MD, a board-certified dermatologist.
- Hadley King, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City.
How we test and review products
When we test a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinise brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that's included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.
For our list of the best toners for dry skin, we considered each product's performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors—along with special consideration from three dermatologists.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, we want to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors — in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon — is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we've solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it's never been tested on curls? We're proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
This article originally appeared on Allure.
