Should You Use Toner?

To Tone or Not to Tone?

October 7, 2009

There's something about toner that seems a little old-fashioned. It's not that I haven't used one — I spent most of high school dousing myself in witch hazel — it's just that between cleansers, exfoliants, masks, and the army of high-tech new potions that claim to do anything and everything you can imagine, toner seems really simple, almost quaint. But appearances can be deceiving, and even though Sea Breeze ($5) and its ilk may be the same as they were in the '70s, there are some new toners out there with futuristic formulations that fight aging, acne, and even redness. I've put together some of the wildest, most technologically advanced toners out there, including several alcohol-free selections. What do you think? Is it time for a toner renaissance?

Buy Now at Bliss

Bliss

Euoko Pattern Chic

Sold Out

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Buy Now at Neiman Marcus

Bliss

Bliss Steep Clean Mattifying Toner Pads

$38.00

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Buy Now at Ulta

Napoleon Perdis

Napoleon Perdis Auto Pilot Altitude Lotion Toner & Destressor Step 2

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Buy Now at Sephora

Skyn Iceland

Skyn Iceland Arctic Face Mist with Biospheric Complex

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Buy Now at SkinStore

HydroPeptide

Hydropeptide Tone Anti-Wrinkle Brightening Toner

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Buy Now at SkinStore

Juara

Juara Tamarind Tea Hydrating Toner 4.75oz

$29.00

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Buy Now at Barneys New York

Kiehl's

Kiehl's Since 1851 Calendula Herbal Extract Alcohol Free Toner - 8 oz

Sold Out

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Buy Now at Sephora

Amore Pacific

AmorePacific Treatment Toner Alcohol-Free Freshener

$50.00

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Buy Now at Barneys New York

Barneys New York

ama la Rejuvenating Toner

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Buy Now at Nordstrom

3lab

3LAB 'Perfect' Beautifying Toner

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Buy Now at Saks Fifth Avenue

Giorgio Armani

Giorgio Armani Mineral Soothing Lotion/5 oz.

Sold Out

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Buy Now at Nordstrom

L'Occitane

L'Occitane 'Immortelle' Toner

Sold Out

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Buy Now at Dillard's

Erno Laszlo

Erno Laszlo Conditioning Preparation - A.M. (For Extremely Oily Skin)

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Buy Now at SkinStore

SkinStore

Rx for Brown Skin Bright and Even Exfoliating Toner

Sold Out

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Buy Now at Nordstrom

Yves Saint Laurent

Yves Saint Laurent 'Temps Majeur' Ultra Smoothing Toner

$90.00

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Buy Now at Saks Fifth Avenue

Clarins

Clarins Expertise 3P Mist

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Buy Now at Beauty Habit

Molton Brown

Molton Brown - Skinboost Nourishing Tonic - 30 ml

$60.00

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Buy Now at Neiman Marcus

Lancôme

Lancome Secret de Vie Toner

Sold Out

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Buy Now at Dillard's

Shiseido

Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Toning Lotion Cool

Sold Out

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Buy Now at Bliss

Bliss

Euoko Pattern Chic

Sold Out

0 0 0

Buy Now at Neiman Marcus

Bliss

Bliss Steep Clean Mattifying Toner Pads

$38.00

0 0 0

Buy Now at Ulta

Napoleon Perdis

Napoleon Perdis Auto Pilot Altitude Lotion Toner & Destressor Step 2

Sold Out

0 0 0

Buy Now at Sephora

Skyn Iceland

Skyn Iceland Arctic Face Mist with Biospheric Complex

Sold Out

0 0 0

Buy Now at SkinStore

HydroPeptide

Hydropeptide Tone Anti-Wrinkle Brightening Toner

Sold Out

0 0 0

Buy Now at SkinStore

Juara

Juara Tamarind Tea Hydrating Toner 4.75oz

$29.00

0 0 0

Buy Now at Barneys New York

Kiehl's

Kiehl's Since 1851 Calendula Herbal Extract Alcohol Free Toner - 8 oz

Sold Out

0 0 0

Buy Now at Sephora

Amore Pacific

AmorePacific Treatment Toner Alcohol-Free Freshener

$50.00

0 0 0

Buy Now at Barneys New York

Barneys New York

ama la Rejuvenating Toner

Sold Out

0 0 0

Buy Now at Nordstrom

3lab

3LAB 'Perfect' Beautifying Toner

Sold Out

0 0 0

Buy Now at Saks Fifth Avenue

Giorgio Armani

Giorgio Armani Mineral Soothing Lotion/5 oz.

Sold Out

0 0 0

Buy Now at Nordstrom

L'Occitane

L'Occitane 'Immortelle' Toner

Sold Out

0 0 0

Buy Now at Dillard's

Erno Laszlo

Erno Laszlo Conditioning Preparation - A.M. (For Extremely Oily Skin)

Sold Out

0 0 0

Buy Now at SkinStore

SkinStore

Rx for Brown Skin Bright and Even Exfoliating Toner

Sold Out

0 0 0

Buy Now at Nordstrom

Yves Saint Laurent

Yves Saint Laurent 'Temps Majeur' Ultra Smoothing Toner

$90.00

0 0 0

Buy Now at Saks Fifth Avenue

Clarins

Clarins Expertise 3P Mist

Sold Out

0 0 0

Buy Now at Beauty Habit

Molton Brown

Molton Brown - Skinboost Nourishing Tonic - 30 ml

$60.00

0 0 0

Buy Now at Neiman Marcus

Lancôme

Lancome Secret de Vie Toner

Sold Out

0 0 0

Buy Now at Dillard's

Shiseido

Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Toning Lotion Cool

Sold Out

0 0 0

Skin Care Toner

21 Comments

Glamgirl1 3 years 28 weeks

o and i only use it in the summer

Glamgirl1 3 years 28 weeks

ugh toner..the only one i can say actually does the job is "mattifying toner by Dior"

cloroxcowgirl 3 years 29 weeks

I love using a toner and don't think of it as old fashioned. I think it's necessary for cleansing skin completely, esp. for oily and acne prone skin. My problem is that I always run out of toner much more quickly than other skin care products, so it can get expensive. I like Burt;s Bees Rosewater and Glycerin toner but will definitely check Alba's too.

Ayu 3 years 30 weeks

I use Lush Breath of Fresh Air, but only in the morning before I apply face cream. It wakes me up and my skin looks clearer since I've started using it.

alexandra weed 3 years 31 weeks

I get so frustrated by the prices of things that are better for your skin! A toner shouldn't cost more than 10-15 bucks. I'll stick with my witch hazel, I shouldn't have to choose between eating and f'ing toner for god's sake!!

3 years 32 weeks

I also always thought toners were only for my teenage years, but after my last facial I bought the HydroPeptide anti-aging toner. My skin is better than ever. It not only helps clean my skin but it also moisturizes and evens out my sun spots. I never thought a toner could do so much.

missyd 3 years 32 weeks

OMG weffie I remember Ten-0-Six! LOL

ashleygaidhlig 3 years 32 weeks

I haven't used a toner in ages. I find that eve lom is enough for me. I might consider one for the morning though! I used to use Rose water. Some of the toners you suggested were a bit pricey, so perhaps i'll go back to the rose water!

onlysourcherry 3 years 32 weeks

Toner is great to use with self tanner, after I apply the tanner I use toner on my elbows and ankles. But not on my face.

kulikuli 3 years 32 weeks

I've used Lush's tee tree toner and its great. But recently i switched to using good old Rose Water. There are many recipes for rose water toner, however rose water by itself is a great gentle toner, if you want more power combine with witch hazel. It's cheap, it's gentle on my dry skin, it works, and it smells like roses:)

mamasitamalita 3 years 32 weeks

I have super oily skin and use DDF Glycolic Acid toner from Sephora and swear by it

Yogaforlife 3 years 32 weeks

I have been using L'Oreal's toner for sensitive skin since I haven't been able to get the Lancome one that I love. It's okay - it feels nice and cool on my skin and helps remove any unevenness in my skin tone due to redness. I don't use toner everyday though so I don't know if I'd see better or worse results with regular use.

milkradio 3 years 32 weeks

I use Lush's Tea Tree Water toner because it really does help with spots :)

princessgouveia 3 years 32 weeks

Alba has an amazing toner in the green bottle that I love. It was recomended to me at Whole Foods and it mostly cleared up some lingering acne and these annoying dry patches that I can't figure out how they ended up on my face. I was wary of trying toner again after the alcoholic sea breeze in highschool that made my skin MUCH worse, but the new non alcohol toners seem to be really helpful.

mannylove 3 years 32 weeks

I use Purity & I do also use a toner, I don't know if it's necessary but I like how it makes my face feel. My absolute favorite #1 toner is Benefit's, though I'm on a tight budget lately & have switched to L'Oreal's in the drugstore, which is pretty good actually.

littlewing 3 years 32 weeks

i usually use toners (never with alcohol), but recently switched cleansers to Philosophy Purity cleanser which I LOVE -- and i'm starting to feel like toner might be unnecessary. the bottle says that it cleanses, tones, and removes make-up all in one, and my skin feels clean after i use it, so i'm thinking about dropping the toner step. does anyone else out there use Purity and if so, do you use a toner as well? thanks!

littlewing 3 years 32 weeks

i usually use toners (never with alcohol), but recently switched cleansers to Philosophy Purity cleanser which I LOVE -- and i'm starting to feel like toner might be unnecessary. the bottle says that it cleanses, tones, and removes make-up all in one, and my skin feels clean after i use it, so i'm thinking about dropping the toner step.does anyone else out there use Purity and if so, do you use a toner as well? thanks!

nutella2683 3 years 32 weeks

I like the Boots toner for sensitive skin... works wonders!

PrincessLtrain 3 years 32 weeks

I have to use toner or my skin dries out SO fast - even with my moisturizer!

Vanonymous 3 years 32 weeks

i would never use a toner w/ alcohol. However, I've used the Kiehl's cucumber toner (awesome) and I am currently using the Aveda toner for sensitive skin. They are moisturizing but not as greasy as a lotion.

weffie 3 years 32 weeks

Ah, Sea Breeze... it took me all of jr high to figure out that Sea Breeze (along with Ten-O-Six astringent, showing my age lol) was CAUSING the bumpy red skin on my nose and chin instead of fixing it! As soon as I switched to just natural cleansers and moisturizers it disappeared completely.

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21 Comments

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