The best toners for sensitive skin, such as our CALM Nourishing Milky Toner, include soothing ingredients like antioxidants and non-fragrant plant extracts, which benefit sensitised, reactive skin. Those with sensitive skin should also avoid facial toners that contain known sensitising ingredients such as drying denatured alcohol, fragrance (either synthetic or natural, including essential oils), tingling menthol, witch hazel and phototoxic lemon, all of which can cause skin reactions and make the issues sensitive skin experiences (such as dryness and redness) worse.

You can use a facial toner at any age. Everyone can benefit from the lightweight hydration and refreshing feeling toner provides. Adolescents and teenagers with blemish-prone skin may find that a pore-reducing toner complements their anti-blemish routine. Adults with ageing skin, on the other hand, can benefit from an anti-ageing toner formulated with antioxidants.

Hydrating toners such as our best-selling RESIST Advanced Replenishing Toner are designed to provide extra cleansing by removing residual makeup and sunscreen, especially around the nose, hairline and jawline. They help nourish, restore and replenish moisture lost during cleansing and balance the skin’s pH. These toners also deliver targeted ingredients like potent antioxidants and can be applied using fingers or cotton rounds.

Exfoliating toners like our global best-selling 2% BHA Liquid are formulated to resurface and brighten the skin by removing dead skin cells on the surface and within pores. They help improve texture and tone by smoothing roughness and evening out skin tone. Additionally, they boost the absorption of other products that follow in your skin care routine. Exfoliating toners can also be applied using fingers or cotton rounds and it’s recommended to start slow and monitor your skin, gradually working up to daily use.

Can I use both types of toners in my skin care routine? Yes, you can use both types of toners in your skin care routine. Hydrating toners can be used daily directly after cleansing to maintain hydration and balance, while most people use exfoliating toners a few times per week up to daily to address specific skin concerns like dullness, uneven texture and clogged pores. Just be sure to monitor your skin’s response and adjust usage accordingly.

Cleanser and toner are very different from one another and have distinct benefits for skin. Cleanser is the first step of your skin care routine and its purpose is to rid skin of debris, oil, sunscreen, makeup and other things. While a cleanser is essential for your skin care routine, it can sometimes strip your skin of its natural oils.

This is where a toner can be particularly beneficial, helping restore balance and hydration to your skin after cleansing. Applied directly after cleansing, toner gives back to skin what cleanser takes away. The result? Skin is left hydrated, refreshed, smooth and prepped for the rest of your routine.

All Paula’s Choice toners are robust, multifaceted formulas free of fragrance, alcohol and other sensitising ingredients, so choosing the right toner for you comes down to your skin type, concerns and personal preferences. In general, toners for dry skin have moisturising, milky textures while toners for oily skin offer lightweight hydration.

• RESIST Advanced Replenishing Toner has a milky texture suitable for normal to dry skin and is loaded with replenishing substances to minimise the appearance of wrinkles and advanced signs of ageing.
• SKIN RECOVERY Enriched Calming Toner has a nourishing formula designed to deflect the negative effects of environmental pollutants and leave very dry skin soft and smooth.
• RESIST Weightless Advanced Repairing Toner is ideal for those with oily or combination ageing skin experiencing wrinkles and post-blemish marks which visibly improves skin tone and texture.
• SKIN BALANCING Pore-Reducing Toner minimises the appearance of enlarged pores while recharging oily or combination skin with replenishing substances for a healthy glow.
• CALM Nourishing Milky Toner is ideal for all skin types experiencing sensitivity while calming and supporting skin’s microbiome and barrier to prevent future signs of sensitivity.

Choosing the right toner starts with knowing your skin type and then seeking out formulas that include a robust blend of antioxidants, soothing agents, hydrators and restoring and replenishing ingredients. As crucial as it is to know what kinds of ingredients to look for, it’s equally important to know which to avoid.

Many brands continue to offer astringents either filled with problematic ingredients or lackluster formulas. Avoid toners loaded with SD or denatured alcohol, menthol, witch hazel and fragrance ingredients (think: rosewater, essential oils). These sensitising ingredients can deplete the beneficial substances that keep skin healthy, and some can cause reactions that have a negative impact on skin. Also avoid toners whose formulas are too basic and lack robust, nourishing formulas, leaving your skin hungry for more.

Our soothing toners never contain alcohol, fragrance, witch hazel, essential oils or other irritants that can dry skin out. Instead, we load ours up with vitamins and antioxidants, replenishing ingredients and bioactive powerhouses to give skin more right after cleansing.