A toner earns its place in a skincare routine. It removes the chalky residue tap water can leave behind, finishes off cleansing and make-up removal, preps skin for the serums and creams that follow, and does its own job depending on the ingredients in the bottle.

Young Black woman with short natural hair, clear, glowing skin, water droplets on her face, eyes closed

Minimising the look of pores, mattifying, tackling blemishes, hydrating, softening, reducing redness: toners are not shy of a job description. Chosen well, they complement daily skincare and help it work harder.

East Asian woman with her eyes closed, a fine mist of toner across her face, a discreet bottle on the counter
Three toner bottles lined up on a bathroom shelf
Toners: the final touch in the cleansing routine

And a toner is also a genuine pleasure to use: cooling, scented and a small hit of freshness every time. Try one and you may well be converted.

Here is a small edit of seriously good toners for an effective, complete skincare routine:

Decléor Aroma Cleanse Tonifying Lotion

True to form, Decléor works with essential oils and heady scents, and this treatment lotion smells good enough to lift your mood. It contains, among other things, lavender and petitgrain essential oils, plus kiwi, orange, lime blossom and mallow waters. It is aimed at all skin types. Gentle, fresh and delicately scented, it wakes up skin, brings radiance and suppleness, and prepares it for the next step. It sinks in quickly, doesn't feel sticky, doesn't sting and doesn't dry skin out.

Decléor Aroma Cleanse Tonifying Lotion, 250 ml.

Erborian Herbal Lotion Energy

This comforting lotion is for dry, sensitive skin that tightens easily, goes red and lacks radiance. Made with longevity herbs traditionally used in Asia, this ultra-gentle toner helps soothe post-cleansing tightness. It hydrates, softens, wakes skin up and, as a bonus, smells wonderful. Use it morning and evening; it is formulated for sensitive skin, but patch-test on reactive skin first. A lovely product.

Erborian Herbal Lotion Energy, 140 ml.

Dr. Hauschka Clarifying Toner

This is a lotion we love, and one we don't hesitate to include in our skincare edits. It has plenty going for it: it is natural and formulated with medicinal plant extracts chosen for their soothing and purifying properties. These include marigold, nasturtium, horse chestnut, witch hazel, daisy and echinacea. The Clarifying Toner is aimed at blemish-prone skin with an oily tendency, the kind that regularly sees blackheads and imperfections spoil its complexion. We like the fresh, purifying effect, the natural scent and the very pleasant application: spray it on after cleansing and press it into skin with your fingertips. One word of caution: this lotion contains alcohol, so it is not recommended for very sensitive or reactive skin.

Dr. Hauschka Clarifying Toner, 100 ml.

The Sisley Floral Toning Lotion bottle with rose petals
Floral Toning Lotion: a scent of spring
The Sisley Floral Toning Lotion bottle among rose petals
A floral toner that smells of spring and wakes up the complexion
Three unlabelled toner bottles, floral water, essence and gentle exfoliant, surrounded by plants

Sisley Floral Toning Lotion

This very gentle toner smells of spring, hydrates and soothes dry and sensitive skin. Formulated with rose, cornflower and witch hazel extracts, which give it its decongesting and softening properties, it gently wakes up skin, brightens the complexion, completes evening make-up removal and prepares skin for moisturiser. Use it morning and/or evening after cleansing. Alcohol-free.

The Sisley Floral Toning Lotion bottle surrounded by a rose and cornflowers
Rose, cornflower and witch hazel: the floral lotion that wakes up the complexion

Sisley Floral Toning Lotion, 250 ml.

Clarins Alcohol-Free Toning Lotions with Chamomile and Iris

We finish with two toners from Clarins: the first with chamomile for normal to dry skin, the second with iris for combination to oily skin. Both are alcohol-free to help avoid irritation; they do their toner job in the morning and soften and cleanse skin in the evening.

The Clarins alcohol-free toning lotions with chamomile and iris, side by side
Chamomile for dry skin, iris for combination skin: the alcohol-free pair

Clarins Toning Lotions, 200 ml.

We all have our own little skincare ritual, those steps we follow faithfully every morning and evening to look after our skin, care for it, hydrate it and protect it. The key products in that routine include a cleanser, a moisturiser, one or more targeted treatments from purifying to anti-ageing and, for some of us, a toner to make the routine complete. A toner is a lotion, with or without alcohol, which, as well as feeling cool and thoroughly pleasant to use, brings its own benefits. Choose it according to what your skin needs: astringent, hydrating, soothing or purifying.

A good application tip: a few drops of toner in the palm of your hand, then tap it into your face with your fingertips, without rubbing. At that point, you can tell straight away whether your skin still feels tight or is ready for serum.

What you'll pay

This edit is based on brand information and ingredient lists; we haven't tested every product ourselves. Prices depend on the bottle size and brand, and they move quickly at chemists, beauty retailers and online. As a rough guide, expect to pay around:

  • Decléor Aroma Cleanse Tonifying Lotion, 250 ml: £25–£40.
  • Erborian Herbal Lotion Energy, 140 ml: £20–£35.
  • Dr. Hauschka Clarifying Toner, 100 ml: £20–£30.
  • Sisley Floral Toning Lotion, 250 ml: £65–£95.
  • Clarins Toning Lotions, 200 ml: £20–£35.

You'll find them at chemists, beauty retailers, salons and on brand websites, with regular promotions that can shift the price by a few pounds.