Toner has a bad rap as an unnecessary step that leaves skin parched and stripped. But that’s far from the case these days. Now, it’s all about hydrating toners that actually add moisture while balancing your complexion.
They’re especially popular in Asian countries. And as Christine Chang, co-CEO and co-founder of Korean skin care destination
It's Time to Add Hydrating Toners to Your Skin Care Routine
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Belif
Aqua Bomb Mist, $34 at Sephora
Though this mist's main purpose in life is to refresh your complexion throughout the day, it's also designed to help balance your pH — which means you can use it as a toner. The mist is fine and adds a subtle glow to your complexion while giving your hydration levels a boost.
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Whamisa
Organic Flowers Deep Rich Essence Toner, $40.99 at Amazon
Glow Recipe co-CEO and co-founder Sarah Lee name-checked this popular toner as a seven-skin method favorite and it's easy to see why. With a slightly viscous texture and a delicate floral aroma, it's quite the treat for the senses. Plus, it absorbs right away, plumping up your skin without leaving any residual stickiness.
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Fresh
Rose Deep Hydration Facial Toner, $45 at Sephora
This gentle hydrating toner adds an extra cleansing step to your routine while also moisturizing (thanks to ingredients like rose flower oil, glycerin and hyaluronic acid). And though not exactly picturesque, the floating rose petals add a luxurious touch.
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Leegeehaam
Grow Hyal B5 Toner, $20.11 at KR-SHOP
With a crystal clear appearance and a near-scentless formula, this toner is almost like water — and just as refreshing. It has a light gel texture and a convenient pump, and thanks to humectants like hyaluronic acid and vitamin B5, it really helps add a little extra bounce to your complexion. Botanical ingredients like centella asiatica extract also ensure that it's soothing and calming.
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AmorePacific
Vintage Single Extract Essence, $145 at Sephora
Though pricey, we can't help but love this TotalBeauty Award-winning toner. Just a few drops applied directly to the skin after cleansing make a world of difference thanks to the soothing and brightening vintage tea leaf extract. A touch of glycerin also adds a bit of lightweight humectant moisture to the experience.
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Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins
Mega-Mushroom Relief & Resilience Soothing Treatment Lotion, $35 at Origins
Formulated with botanicals (including the adaptogenic reishi mushroom), this toner has a calming, herbal scent. It's instantly soothing and helps to lock in a little extra moisture after cleansing your face.
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Sulwhasoo
Essential Balancing Water, $58 at Sulwhasoo
This Sulwhasoo pick absorbs quickly, adding a shot of hydration to skin (without leaving behind a tacky residue). It also happens to have a calming effect so it's great if you're experiencing a breakout or any other kind of inflammation.
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Algenist
Hydrating Essence Toner, $25 at Sephora
This soothing formula features Algenist's star ingredient, alguronic acid, along with witch hazel and chamomile. It's supremely refreshing and leaves skin feeling oh so soft.
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Amarte
Aqua Mist Toner, $67 at Amarte
This convenient spray toner can be used both as a post-cleansing step and as a hydrating spritz throughout the day. It's packed with humectants like glycerin and hyaluronic acid and a nice mix of botanicals as well, including clarifying witch hazel, soothing prickly pear extract and calming chamomile flower extract.
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Klairs
Supple Preparation Facial Toner, $22 at Ulta Beauty
With a pH level of 5, this toner is perfect for prepping your skin for the rest of your skin care routine while also cleansing and hydrating. It's a Korean skin care superstar on Reddit where many fans consider it an HG pick.
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PCA Skin
Hydrating Toner, $40 at DermStore
Just a few swipes of this hydrating toner is all you need for a gorgeously glowy complexion. Thanks to some exfoliating AHAs and antioxidant-paced botanical extracts, it'll whip your complexion into shape in no time (albeit in a gentle, sensitive skin-safe fashion). Seriously, it's one of the best toners in town.
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Murad
Hydrating Toner, $35 at Sephora
This soothing toner is perfect for adding an extra spritz of hydration to your daily skin care routine. It helps to balance pH and also happens to have a deliciously refreshing citrus scent.
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Jullai
Super 12 Bounce Essence Oil Toner, $49.85 at Amazon
With a bouncy gel texture that soaks into skin, this toner handily doubles as a nourishing serum. It boasts an antioxidant-rich formula that's packed with hydrating oils. It's one of those indulgences your skin will thank you for.
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Kopari
Coconut Rose Toner, $25 at Ulta Beauty
Here's another multitasker. It's a 1-2-3 punch of moisturizing ingredients like coconut and hyaluronic acid along with clarifying ingredients like witch hazel and anti-inflammatories like rose extract. Plus, it also doubles as a moisturizing mist.
