Index / The Ordinary / Saccharomyces Ferment 30% Milky Toner
The Ordinary

The Ordinary Saccharomyces Ferment 30% Milky Toner.

#17 in TonersSee the ranking →
About this product

A lightweight milky toner with 30% fermented saccharomyces and gentle exfoliating actives designed to hydrate, brighten, and gently exfoliate the skin.

Full ingredients

Aqua (Water), Yeast Extract, Squalane, Lauryl Glucoside, Myristyl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate, Isoceteth-20, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin

More from The Ordinary 88 products · Guru Score 84% →

Guru Score

79%

Yay

13 experts · Strong agreement

What the gurus are saying

Gentle enough to use several times a week, this toner earns consistent praise for smoothing skin texture and delivering hydration without harsh irritation, though results are modest rather than transformative. The fermented ingredient and light exfoliating action (3% N-acetyl glucosamine) make it accessible even for sensitive and acne-prone skin when patch-tested first. One dermatologist found it underwhelming and wouldn't repurchase, but most gurus highlight its forgiving nature and the brand's transparency about how it works.
Synthesized from 13 expert reviews · most recent take February 2026

What they liked

  • Hydrating and softening
  • Gentle enough for daily use
  • Milky texture feels moisturising

What they flagged

  • Difficult to spread evenly on skin
  • Sticky feel
  • Yeast smell off-putting to some

Best for

Combination skinNormal skin

Type

TonersLiquid

Key actives

Formula notes

Fragrance-freeNo drying alcohol

Where to buy

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What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

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✓Nay
"I see no reason to ever go back to that Saccharomyces thing. It was more of a try use for the sake of reviewing it because people are curious. But I don't really like this that much."
All 3 takes from Dr Dray
The Ordinary Saccharomyces Ferment 30% Milky Toner *REVIEW*
"I had a difficult time getting it to spread well on the skin. [...] I found my skin was hydrated, didn't burn or sting, but I didn't notice any other effect. [...] It wasn't mindblowing, it wasn't the most amazing thing I have ever used. It [...] has squalane and a humectant which is pretty lightweight and softens and smooths dry rough skin, but other than that not a whole lot going on. [...] Overall, I have not been super impressed with this product. It would not be one I would repurchase."
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"I see no reason to ever go back to that Saccharomyces thing. It was more of a try use for the sake of reviewing it because people are curious. But I don't really like this that much."
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"This is new from the ordinary, Saccharomyces Ferment 30% Milky Toner. Saccharomyces ferments can be very high hydrating, rich in antioxidants. Squalane is an emollient."
✓Yay
"It feels nice and clean and soft and smooth."
All 6 takes from No BS Beauty
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"It's very nice. The bottle is very tiny compared to some of these other ones so keep that in mind it might look super cheap at first but when you start calculating it it might not be as cheap as some of these other ones with bigger bottles. [...] I find it to be much more exfoliating than these other toners so if I use this in my morning routine I find myself having to rinse off a little bit because I find it very exfoliating."
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"It feels nice and soft and supple [...] and hydrating. It is on the sticky side but it [...] does feel nice and hydrating and softening. [...] Ferments over time are great for brightening up your skin, they're great for building up your skin barrier. So if your skin barrier is irritated or weak, using things like this ingredient over time will certainly help it. It helps the microbiome and things like that, so ferments are amazing ingredients."
Find Your Perfect Milky Toner Top Toner Picks For Every Skin Type! 🙌 Niacinamide Free Options
"This one's great for dry skin types. It's got yeast or saccharomyces ferment in here and squalane, a pretty short ingredient list. It's just got a really nice milky texture, thin toner texture, [...] and you can pat it on the skin or [...] use with a cotton pad. At 14 bucks it's probably one of the cheapest ones, but the bottle is tiny at 3.4 ounces, so most of these bottles are double or triple that."
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"It feels nice and clean and soft and smooth."
The Ordinary Skincare New! 🆕💧 Saccharomyces Ferment 30% Milky Toner Review, How to, & Dupes
"It's a decent product. [...] This would be more of a winter product when my skin is drier, and because of the more radiant finish it's certainly geared more towards drier skin types than oily skin types unless used at night. It's still pretty unique and affordable. Overall with a 10 being a perfect score, I have this one a nine. It's very nice and well worth a try for most people. I think most will find benefits from it and enjoy it."
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"It's got a really nice milky texture to it. You can use it with a cotton pad or you can pat it on the skin. This one's really nice for super sensitive or sensitized or dehydrated skin. Soaps in pretty nicely and it's still pretty affordable. It's 14 bucks, but it is a very small bottle, 3.4 ounces. I'd rather buy a smaller bottle for less amount than buying a giant bottle for a lot because I like to know if I like it before I go all in."
✓Yay
"It smells like baking yeast, which reminds me of baking bread, but some people find it off-putting. [...] Fermented ingredients can be broken into smaller pieces that absorb better, though not everyone sees a benefit. [...] I found my skin looked hydrated, fresh, calm, and maybe a tad brighter, [...] and I really enjoyed it, but I wouldn't expect it to make a huge difference on dark spots. [...] It's a great one depending on your expectations."
All 3 takes from Doctor Anne
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"It smells like baking yeast, which reminds me of baking bread, but some people find it off-putting. [...] Fermented ingredients can be broken into smaller pieces that absorb better, though not everyone sees a benefit. [...] I found my skin looked hydrated, fresh, calm, and maybe a tad brighter, [...] and I really enjoyed it, but I wouldn't expect it to make a huge difference on dark spots. [...] It's a great one depending on your expectations."
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"I discovered The Ordinary Saccharomyces Ferment 30% Milky Toner this year and while people online don't seem to be able to agree if it actually does something or is simply an overpriced hydrating toner, I have grown to love it. My skin looks well hydrated, calm and happy when I use it, and that is what counts."
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"The one I use on the other days is The Ordinary Saccharomyces Ferment 30% Milky Toner. I still enjoy that a lot. I don't think this counts as an exfoliating toner, it's just hydrating, maybe a little bit brightening, with a really really lovely texture."
✓Yay
"The top two milky toners this year, a lighter formula by The Ordinary, their Saccharomyces Ferment. Great for spring and summer."
All 4 takes from Beyond50Skin
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"The top two milky toners this year, a lighter formula by The Ordinary, their Saccharomyces Ferment. Great for spring and summer."
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"The Ordinary Saccharomyces Ferment 30% is a great gentle exfoliant and it's an enzyme exfoliant. Very gentle. Something I think all people could tolerate even if you have sensitive skin. So it's really good to get a little bit of exfoliation for a mature skin, kind of boost those skin cells to help slough up those skin cells to help our skin look a little bit brighter."
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"So if you have really sensitive skin, this would be the perfect exfoliating product to use. I had no problem, no sensitivity to it. I have fairly sensitive skin, fairly reactive skin, and I was able to use this on a daily basis. I assume it's just daily helping slough off those dead keratinocytes that just build up on the surface of our skin, but doing it so gently, it just so lightly exfoliates that it just helps our skin look more luminous."
Exfoliation 101: How To Find the Right Exfoliant for Your Mature Skin Type & Skin Needs
"This is a ferment 30% Saccharomyces by The Ordinary. Super super gentle. If your skin is uber uber uber uber sensitive, this is a great one to start with. Always do a patch test when you're starting with a new exfoliating product because it usually contains some type of acid. It can also contain enzymes or in this case ferments. The lower intensity exfoliating products are ferments and enzymes."
✓Yay
"I bought this because it's super popular and it's very affordable and it works so well. I have sensitive skin so I was a little skeptical since it has AHA exfoliating in it, but I feel okay, and after a while I can definitely feel my skin is smooth. What surprised me is that even after exfoliating it still hydrated pretty good, I'd give it a 2.0 on hydration level. I definitely highly recommend it for acne prone, oily, combination skin."
✓Yay
"The first is their Saccharomyces Ferment Milky Toner. This is great to give a light gentle exfoliation. That Saccharomyces will gently just smooth out and exfoliate the skin without being too harsh. It's also hydrating. The milky qualities of this will just hydrate you to the gods and your skin will feel beautiful after. This is a great option for people that want a smoother skin, want to tackle some hyperpigmentation, want that gentle daily exfoliant. This is the one to go for."
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"This actually contains a super gentle exfoliator that is honestly gentle enough to be used a couple of times a week with no problem at all. I love this product. It's nice to see a super hydrating and gentle option on the market and I believe this is genuinely applicable for everyone, even if you've got super sensitive skin. Make sure you patch first, but you should be able to use this a couple of times a week to smooth everything out, fade hyperpigmentation, and get that dose of extra hydration."
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"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. It's also gently exfoliating so I think this is going to be a great all-around product just to get that skin cell turnover maintained during the cooler winter months and get us glowing. [...] You get enough that you can use it all over the body to get the body smooth and summer ready."
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"This though, next level. It's super calming and soothing. It gives you that burst of hydration and that saccharomyces ferment is gently exfoliating too. So it keeps that cell turnover going. It calms, soothes, and it's just the best way to start your serums. Most of the serums out there will apply better onto damp skin. And if you're looking for something to dampen down the skin before you start your serums, this you just can't go wrong with. It's super affordable."
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"Um, this is the first like daily toner that um The Ordinary do and it's beautiful. Put a little between the palms of your hands and then just press it in. I personally [...] press this in because I actually find it absorbs a little bit better that way. It helps with the plumping and also I feel it gives an element of facial massage, you know, tap tap as you're letting this go and it'll just get that circulation moving and bring the skin back to life in the morning."
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"This is the ordinary sacy ferment 30% milky toner"
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"The milky toner from the ordinary, I'd say use that on one end of your day and use this at the other, or use one or the other, because they both contain that niacinamide and I think you might be overloading the skin. If you're a fan of the ordinary milky toner, use it at one end of your day and use this at the other, or if you think this is just going to deliver everything you need, you can use this in place of the milky toner."
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"The Ordinary milky toner actually really good as a gentle exfoliant. [...] Milky toners are good for hydration, so if you want extra hydration, a milky toner is a good option."
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"The first is their Saccharomyces Ferment Milky Toner. This is great to give a light gentle exfoliation. That Saccharomyces will gently just smooth out and exfoliate the skin without being too harsh. It's also hydrating. The milky qualities of this will just hydrate you to the gods and your skin will feel beautiful after. This is a great option for people that want a smoother skin, want to tackle some hyperpigmentation, want that gentle daily exfoliant. This is the one to go for."
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"The Ordinary Milky Toner has [...] a rich milky consistency that's going to hydrate and at the margins also help with exfoliation. This is the sort of toner you can use every single day and just gradually exfoliate the skin as you go. It's not going to be super sensitizing, it'll work for almost all skin types."
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"When it comes to anti-aging, I do like to use Saccharomyces as this one. This ingredient is phenomenal when it comes to gently speeding up cell turnover, getting rid of some of those dead skin cells, but not in an aggressive way like an exfoliating acid. It also helps deeply nourish and hydrate. A lot of the wrinkles we see on our skin are as a result of dehydration, so just plump yourself up, get some instant results, and I think this is a really nice option."
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"I'm going to award this a solid 10 out of 10. I think this is the best new product launch that The Ordinary have done in like the longest possible time. It's innovative, you don't see anything else like this on the market. It's using newer ingredients and really finding the best ways, like fermenting them to get the most out of them. It's a two-in-one: it's a hydrating toner and an exfoliator. You can swap that out for other products in your routine, you don't need to have a new step."
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"The Saccharomyces milky toner is designed to give a very gentle exfoliation. So it's both hydrating, both smoothing. If you want the extra hydration, go for the milky. [...] Both of these are phenomenal and worthy of a place in this skincare hall of fame."
✓Yay
"This product is amazing when it comes to gentle exfoliation because you have 30% fermented essence. [...] It is a very very gentle exfoliant. [...] The beauty of this product is it is a milky texture, it's not thick, it's watery but it's very very hydrating at the same time. It's an amazing benefit, especially in this area. It doesn't matter how much you exfoliate, this is a product that gives you that gentle daily exfoliation."
All 2 takes from Nipun Kapur
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"I absolute love this product and I am loving it so if you are looking at and this particular product is unique to the ordinary"
Translated from the guru's original language.
Gentle Exfoliation for Anti-Aging and Texture Control | Nipun Kapur
"This product is amazing when it comes to gentle exfoliation because you have 30% fermented essence. [...] It is a very very gentle exfoliant. [...] The beauty of this product is it is a milky texture, it's not thick, it's watery but it's very very hydrating at the same time. It's an amazing benefit, especially in this area. It doesn't matter how much you exfoliate, this is a product that gives you that gentle daily exfoliation."
✓Yay
"My winner in the toner category is [...] the Ordinary's Saccharomyces Ferment 30% Milky Toner. I love [...] that the Ordinary has shared so much information about how this product works, what the fermentation means, and how it's a brightening product, [...] not just a hydrating one. I have a lot of respect for them for explaining that instead of hiding behind proprietary information."
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"My winner in the toner category is [...] the Ordinary's Saccharomyces Ferment 30% Milky Toner. I love [...] that the Ordinary has shared so much information about how this product works, what the fermentation means, and how it's a brightening product, [...] not just a hydrating one. I have a lot of respect for them for explaining that instead of hiding behind proprietary information."
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"This one actually does feel the most like milk out of everything in this video, it has that very moisturizing feel. [...] One of the main criticisms is that it's the smallest milky toner in this video, but again [...] you don't need a lot of [...] it. They're so transparent about what's in it, disclosing thirty percent saccharomyces ferment and explaining that it also uses NAG for brightening, so it's a brightening and gently exfoliating product that still provides hydration and moisture."
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"This milky toner has completely restored my faith in the Ordinary, not that it was lost, just that one of their recent releases did not work out for me. [...] It feels so ideal for my skin type, dry and sensitive skin. [...] This is a ferment containing toner where they say you get some mild exfoliation from it, using saccharomyces ferment filtrate with ingredients like acetyl glucosamine."
✓Yay
"If you want a drug store product I love the ordinary milky toner. [...] With this you are going to get a brightening effect but the problem is that it may irritate the skin over a period of time. I don't think it'll happen straight away it may well happen a year or two later. [...] So I'm just throwing that out there because if you do want to purchase it I actually fully understand but just be aware that if you start to notice any irritation stop buying the product."
All 2 takes from Dr. Vanita Rattan
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"Squalene is a hydrating emollient and contains 3% N.A, that's N-acetyl glucosamine which very gently removes dead skin cells. This is how brightening occurs. It's a very simple formula with no other actives. It's a decent toner and I'd recommend it if you're looking for a daily gentle exfoliating toner. I'd use it only at night and you can use a treatment serum on top followed by a moisturizer to seal it all in. This will create a hydrated healing environment for the skin."
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"If you want a drug store product I love the ordinary milky toner. [...] With this you are going to get a brightening effect but the problem is that it may irritate the skin over a period of time. I don't think it'll happen straight away it may well happen a year or two later. [...] So I'm just throwing that out there because if you do want to purchase it I actually fully understand but just be aware that if you start to notice any irritation stop buying the product."
✓Mixed
"I probably used it for a solid month along with the ltmd toner and I did use the Ordinaries Saccharomyces ferment milky toner. That was a good one for me, but even that kind of irritating."
✓Yay
"The Ordinary has some great toner options at budget prices."
✓Yay
"This does not. And you can use this every single day if you wish, or you can use it every other day or a few times per week. It's nice to use something that you can be consistent with because the more you use a product, the chances of you seeing results are a lot higher. So with glycolic and lactic acid, sometimes people can only use that once a week or once every other week. With something like this, you can use daily or several times a week and you will see results."
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"This does not. And you can use this every single day if you wish, or you can use it every other day or a few times per week. It's nice to use something that you can be consistent with because the more you use a product, the chances of you seeing results are a lot higher. So with glycolic and lactic acid, sometimes people can only use that once a week or once every other week. With something like this, you can use daily or several times a week and you will see results."
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"I love that it has that milky consistency, it just feels so comforting on the skin. It also is super hydrating and it does give your skin this beautiful radiance and glow. We have that fermented ingredient that helps with that uneven skin tone. It definitely gave me a brighter complexion and the texture of my skin improved as well, so this can really help to give more of that soft, smoother feel to the skin. This is also fragrance free."
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"The Saccharomyces Ferment Milky Toner at a 30% concentration is a product that gently exfoliates the skin. It's very gentle and it does a very good job to improve texture and tone of the skin. It's also a very hydrating toner as well."
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"I love this for exfoliation. This is my favorite because it is so gentle and you can use this every day twice a day if you wish to. So this will keep the results going. You can be more consistent with this because this is not an alpha hydroxy acid. It's also not a beta hydroxy acid or a polyhydroxy acid. This is a yeast ferment technology that helps to exfoliate the skin. Plus, there is a 3% NAG in here which is N acetyl glucosamine."
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"If you're looking for a hydrating toner then this is it. Use this after your cleanser but before your serums and your moisturizer. This also has an ingredient called N-acetyl glucosamine, so this is going to gently exfoliate your skin without that harsh acid that can irritate and dry out our skin. This is going to help with that uneven skin tone, so if you have dark spots or post-acne marks, this is going to fade those in time, giving your complexion that brighter appearance."
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"This actually is an ingredient that is in their Saccharomyces Ferment 30% Milky Toner. [...] This ingredient helps with that uneven skin tone, it helps to improve skin texture as well. This is a non-acid ingredient so this is going to gently exfoliate the skin without that harsh acid. So this is an amino acid sugar that has exfoliating properties to it but also perfect if you have sensitive skin, so this will help to brighten up the skin and help to give more of that even skin tone in time."
✓Yay
"I love this formula, it's one of my favorites from the ordinary. This gives the same beautiful complexion refining and brightening results as a first treatment essence. This also contains niacinamide which further helps with the texture refinement, just smoothing out and lightly slowly exfoliating the skin so gentle that you can use it twice a day. A microfluidizer technology was used to create microscopic droplets to ensure the most weightless formula."
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What the evidence says.

Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

Humectants and emollients

Ingredients like these draw water into the surface layers and slow how fast it leaves. The evidence is for comfort, softness and hydration rather than for changing the structure of the skin.

Source: DermNet

Frequently asked.

What is The Ordinary Saccharomyces Ferment 30% Milky Toner?

A lightweight milky toner with 30% fermented saccharomyces and gentle exfoliating actives designed to hydrate, brighten, and gently exfoliate the skin.

Is The Ordinary Saccharomyces Ferment 30% Milky Toner worth it?

Mostly yes. 11 of the 13 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 79%.

What is The Ordinary Saccharomyces Ferment 30% Milky Toner's Guru Score?

The Ordinary Saccharomyces Ferment 30% Milky Toner holds a Guru Score of 79%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 13 expert reviewers we have collected. At least one expert has named it a Top Pick in its category.

Who is The Ordinary Saccharomyces Ferment 30% Milky Toner best for?

The Ordinary Saccharomyces Ferment 30% Milky Toner is generally suited to combination skin and normal skin.

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