The best toners,according to dermatologists and skincare experts
The 25 toners that dermatologists and skincare experts rate highest, ranked by genuine consensus.
What changed, 18 October: Paula's Choice 2% Salicylic Acid Toner is new to the top five, at number 2.
Toners are the step the gurus argue about most, because what a toner is even for has changed completely.
Modern toners are not the stripping, alcohol-heavy astringents of the past. The experts now treat the category as a wide one: hydrating, essence-style toners that prep the skin, and exfoliating toners that use acids to smooth texture and clear pores. They judge both on whether the formula earns its place in a routine without irritating the skin.
The genuine split is hydrate versus exfoliate, and the gurus are clear the two are not interchangeable. A daily hydrating toner is a comfort step almost anyone can use, while an acid toner is a treatment that needs care around frequency and sun exposure. The ranking below favours the toners the experts say do their specific job well.
The podium
94%Guru ScoreRice Toner
“I'm From Rice Toner another repurchase of this one I absolutely love it. I come back to this one because I love it because it's super hydrating.”No BS Beauty
What the gurus liked: Works well for oily and sensitive skin; Fragrance-free with minimal ingredient list
Contains: Niacinamide. Fragrance-free.
89%Guru Score2% Salicylic Acid Toner
“This is literally a holy grail for me and my acne-prone skin.”Cassandra Bankson
What the gurus liked: Helps with pore size; Loved for acne-prone skin
87%Guru ScoreHeartleaf 77% Soothing Toner
“I follow up with a really great toner, this one by Anua is a K beauty toner that I love.”April Basi
What the gurus liked: Calms redness and irritation on sensitive skin; Works well alongside retinoids and actives
The catch: Can sting even when skin barrier is healed
Fragrance-free.
The rest of the list
- 4
COSRXFull Fit Propolis Synergy TonerGuru CertifiedDry skinSensitive skinBudget buy87%6 gurus“The propolis in there is really great for protecting your skin. It's a great antioxidant. It's a great hydrating ingredient.”No BS Beauty
What the gurus liked: Deeply hydrating without feeling watery; Fragrance-free
The catch: Can feel heavy on oily or combo skin
Contains: Hyaluronic acid. Fragrance-free.
- 5
Skin1004Probio-Cica Essence TonerDry skinSensitive skinMid-range84%13 gurus“I absolutely love this one and it's become a core part of my skin care routine. I'd say I definitely prefer this ampoule over their normal Centella Asiatica essence, it's a superior formula.”Hyram
What the gurus liked: Absorbs deeply without sticky buildup; Lightweight enough to layer multiple times
Contains: Hyaluronic acid, Ceramides. Fragrance-free.
- 6
EqualberrySwimming Pool Daily Facial TonerMid-range84%6 gurus“It feels amazing but still breathable.”Kelly Driscoll
What the gurus liked: Deeply hydrating without irritation; Gentle enough for sensitive skin
The catch: Exfoliating claims don't match the feel
Contains: Hyaluronic acid. Fragrance-free.
- 7
Peach SlicesAcne Exfoliating Toner with Salicylic Acid Acne TreatmentOily skinAcne-prone skinBudget buy84%6 gurus“One of my favorite exfoliants for oily skin is the Peach Slices Acne Exfoliating Toner.”Dr. Sam Ellis
What the gurus liked: Gentle blend of acids with soothing ingredients; Helps oily skin and pore congestion
Contains: Salicylic acid, AHA. Fragrance-free.
- 8
IsntreeUltra Low Molecular Hyaluronic Acid TonerBudget buy83%7 gurus“It leaves minimal residue behind, so if you're seeking a toner that has that finish, this is a great one.”Dr. Jenny Liu
What the gurus liked: Absorbs quickly without stickiness; Lightweight, watery texture
The catch: Can feel greasy and absorb slowly
Contains: Hyaluronic acid. Fragrance-free.
- 9
Peach SlicesSnail Rescue Blemish Busting TonerAcne-prone skinBudget buy83%5 gurus“This one's got snail mucin extract in there, which is great for soothing skin and calming it down. And I found I think snail mucin is really nice for hydrating as well as anti-aging.”No BS Beauty
What the gurus liked: Thin, watery texture despite high snail content; Sinks in quickly without heaviness
The catch: Can feel thick on already-dry skin
Contains: Hyaluronic acid. Fragrance-free.
- 10
The INKEY ListPolyhydroxy Acid TonerSensitive skinBudget buy81%7 gurus“It's a great one that's more affordable, and polyhydroxy acids are more of a humectant but over time it can certainly slowly improve that skin texture and skin radiance.”Dr. Jenny Liu
What the gurus liked: Gentle enough for sensitive skin; Hydrating as well as exfoliating
The catch: More hydrating than exfoliating despite the name
- 11
CeraVeHydrating TonerDry skinBudget buy81%6 gurus“I love this one from CeraVe.”The Budget Dermatologist
What the gurus liked: Watery, quick-absorbing texture layers easily; Calms and soothes irritated skin
Contains: Niacinamide, Hyaluronic acid, Ceramides. Fragrance-free.
- 12
KlairsSupple Preparation Unscented TonerDry skinBudget buy81%5 gurus“Klairs Supple Preparation Unscented Toner is another old school goodie. I used it back in 2018, and I liked it, I don't know that I loved it, but I liked it, and I hadn't used it for many years.”Kelly Driscoll
What the gurus liked: Deep hydration with a plumping feel; Absorbs quickly despite gel-like texture
The catch: Can feel sticky or tacky on some skin types
Contains: Vitamin C, Hyaluronic acid, Peptides. Fragrance-free.
- 13
Haruharu WonderBlack Rice Hyaluronic TonerDry skinSensitive skinBudget buy80%10 gurus“This is the most amazing toner and I say I don't think I really need to purchase a hyaluronic acid serum separately since it works like a hyaluronic acid serum.”Nipun Kapur
What the gurus liked: Layerable without getting tacky
The catch: Scented version has strong lavender fragrance
Contains: Hyaluronic acid.
- 14
The INKEY ListGlycolic Acid Toning SolutionBudget buy80%8 gurus“The Inkey List also has a glycolic acid toner, and that's going to come in at a really great price point compared to Paula's Choice.”208SkinDoc
What the gurus liked: Gently exfoliates for visible glow; Best for dry skin
The catch: Higher glycolic acid percentage may irritate
Contains: AHA. Fragrance-free.
- 15
IsntreeHyaluronic Acid Watery Toner PlusBudget buy80%7 gurus“I still love the Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Watery Toner Plus.”Doctorly
What the gurus liked: Invisible finish under makeup; Glowy, healthy-looking skin
The catch: Contains fig extract, which can photosensitize
Contains: Hyaluronic acid. Fragrance-free.
- 16
COSRXAHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment TonerOily skinAcne-prone skinBudget buy80%6 gurus“COSRX their AHA and BHA toner is also pretty gentle and great to use for oily and combination skin.”Dr. Jenny Liu
What the gurus liked: Gentle enough for frequent use; Low cost compared to similar products
The catch: Spray bottle requires cotton pad application
Contains: Salicylic acid, AHA. Fragrance-free.
- 17
The OrdinarySaccharomyces Ferment 30% Milky TonerCombination skinNormal skinBudget buy79%13 gurus“This is amazing. This toner is like the viral tear tear Korean skincare toner, but better. It hydrates, it nourishes, it has a really rich milky consistency which I love and my skin just drinks it up.”Mad About Skin
What the gurus liked: Hydrating and softening; Gentle enough for daily use
The catch: Difficult to spread evenly on skin
Contains: Squalane. Fragrance-free.
- 18
Round Lab1025 Dokdo TonerBudget buy78%8 gurus“This is the Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Toner and I love the texture of this, look at that, so watery, so thin, and yet so much hydration. It just feels like a great drink of water.”Kelly Driscoll
What the gurus liked: Lightweight hydration; Soothing ingredients
The catch: Too rich for oily skin
Fragrance-free.
- 19
IsntreeYam Root Vegan Barrier Milky TonerDry skinSensitive skinBudget buy78%5 gurus“This is currently my favorite toner, probably my toner of the summer: the vegan Yam Root Milky Toner from Isntree. I love this stuff.”No BS Beauty
What the gurus liked: Milky texture that feels silky and nourishing; Hydrates without a greasy finish
The catch: Can feel heavy if layered too much
Contains: Ceramides. Fragrance-free.
- 20
Some By MiAHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle TonerAcne-prone skinBudget buy78%5 gurus“It has a great blend of ingredients, I've talked about how much I love that one, and it's much less expensive than the SK-II one.”Hyram
What the gurus liked: Gentle enough for regular exfoliation; Light, watery texture
The catch: Can sting at first
Contains: Niacinamide, Hyaluronic acid, Salicylic acid. Fragrance-free.
- 21
Glow RecipeCloudberry Bright Essence TonerMid-range77%5 gurus“The Glow Recipe Cloudberry Bright Essence Toner is fairly new to the market and I have to say I am really impressed and I feel like this is my favorite product from Glow Recipe so far.”Sincerely Miss Ash
What the gurus liked: Absorbs quickly with a light, watery texture; Works as toner, essence and serum in one
- 22
Beekman 1802Milk Shake Hyaluronic Acid & Squalane Facial Toner MistDry skinMid-range77%5 gurus“This has such a beautiful fine mist. You shake it together, so it's very soothing and it's great for morning and evening.”Allie Glines
What the gurus liked: Fine, even mist spray; Two-layer formula separates oil and hydration
- 23
BYOMAMilky TonerDry skinSensitive skinMid-range76%7 gurus“This is a perfect budget friendly hydrating Milky Toner that is honestly better than most of its more expensive competitors. It contains polyglutamic acid which is an amazing humectant.”James Welsh
What the gurus liked: Lightweight texture, layers well under makeup; Hydrating without feeling heavy
The catch: Spin-top cap takes practice to figure out
Contains: Hyaluronic acid, Ceramides. Fragrance-free.
- 24
e.l.f.Pure Skin TonerBudget buy75%5 gurus“It's really nice and light, it's perfect for summertime.”Kelly Driscoll
What the gurus liked: Watery texture layers without buildup or film; Hydrating without stickiness
The catch: Glycolic acid not clearly disclosed on packaging
Contains: Niacinamide, Hyaluronic acid, AHA. Fragrance-free.
- 25
COSRXHydrium Watery TonerBudget buy74%12 gurus“Water first and glycerin second, which I love, love, love.”Dr. Vanita Rattan
What the gurus liked: Absorbs quickly without tackiness; Layers well with acne treatments and retinoids
Contains: Hyaluronic acid. Fragrance-free.
Wondering why your favourite isn't here?
Some of the most talked-about toners don't make this ranking. That isn't because the experts dislike them: every one of these has fans. They just drew more reservations than the toners that made the cut, where last place holds a Guru Score of 74%. Here is what holds each one back.
The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution
A Guru Score of 73% from 28 experts.
The reservation, in Sincerely Miss Ash's words:
The Ordinary Glycolic Acid I feel is very irritating on my skin. I used to use it many years ago but for some reason it's really irritating on my skin now so I personally don't like that.Watch ▸
Tirtir Milk Skin Toner
A Guru Score of 73% from 12 experts.
The catch: Too heavy and tacky for oily skin
Pixi Glow Tonic
A Guru Score of 65% from 9 experts.
The catch: Can sting, especially around delicate areas
Beauty of Joseon Glow Replenishing Rice Milk Toner
A Guru Score of 69% from 8 experts.
The catch: Too drying for dry skin
Who's doing the judging
Ranked from the public takes of 34 independent gurus, including 9 dermatologists, 4 makeup artists and 2 cosmetic chemists.
DoctorlyDermatologist
Dr. Shereene IdrissDermatologist
Dr DrayDermatologist
208SkinDocDermatologist
Dr. Sam EllisDermatologist
The Budget DermatologistDermatologist
Dr. Vanita RattanDoctor
Dr. Jenny LiuDermatologist
Lab Muffin Beauty ScienceCosmetic Chemist
Dr. MaminaDermatologist
Dr. Somji SkinCosmetic Surgeon
Dr. Aleksandra BrownDermatologist
Cassandra BanksonMedical Esthetician
Darnell Cox | 50+ Healthy Aging ExpertGerontologist+20These are independent experts we follow, not an in-house panel. We collect opinions they have already shared publicly on YouTube; they are not connected to The Guru Index and have not endorsed this ranking. "Guru" is our own editorial title for the voices we trust.
You asked
What is the best toner?
On the latest data it is I'm From Rice Toner, with a Guru Score of 94% from 11 gurus. The ranking above lists all 25 that clear our bar, in order.
What toner do dermatologists recommend?
Of the 9 dermatologists whose reviews feed this ranking, 4 approve of each of Anua Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner and The INKEY List Glycolic Acid Toning Solution, more than any other pick on the list.
What do the top toners have in common?
Of the 22 we hold a full ingredient list for, 20 are fragrance-free, 20 skip drying alcohol, 13 contain hyaluronic acid and 5 contain ceramides. That is a pattern in what the experts rate, not a rule: the ranking itself is by their verdicts.
Are hydrating and exfoliating toners ranked together?
Yes. The list ranks all toners by guru consensus. Because a hydrating toner and an acid toner do very different jobs, the takes on each product page are worth reading before buying.
Is a toner still necessary?
The experts are genuinely split on this. Many treat a hydrating toner as optional and an acid toner as a useful treatment step. The ranking reflects which toners the experts rate, not whether the step is essential.
How is this ranking decided?
We rank by the Guru Index consensus score: the warmth of every independent expert take we have logged for each product, with a minimum number of reviewers required so a single enthusiastic review can't top the list. Nothing here is paid placement.
How we make money. Some shopping links may earn The Guru Index a small affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes which products rank or how they score.