The 7 Best Toners for Acne, According to Dermatologists - Verywell Health

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Toners are a beneficial addition to a skincare routine if someone experiences increased oils on the surface of the skin or acne. "A toner can provide a second cleansing step to remove residual oil, product, dirt, bacteria, pollution, and debris that may remain after washing your skin with a cleanser and water," says Cynthia Bailey, MD, dermatologist and founder of Dr. Bailey Skin Care.

Toners have a reputation for drying your skin out and potentially causing more irritation. However, with the right ingredients, toners can be beneficial—especially if you have acne-prone skin. Active ingredients include alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta hydroxy acids (BHAs), which are both known to rid the pores of dirt and debris while smoothing the skin. "Look for glycolic and salicylic acid, which help to get rid of dead skin and unclog pores," says Debra Jaliman, MD, dermatologist and founder of a New-York based private practice. 

Also important in toners are alcohol-free formulas and ones that incorporate moisturizing ingredients to help hydrate your skin. We spoke with dermatologists and evaluated toners for their active ingredients, how well they moisturize, packaging, and price.  

Here are the best toners for acne-prone skin that are on the market today.

Final Verdict

If you are looking for an all-around toner that will target stubborn acne and clean out the pores all while giving the skin necessary moisture, then we recommend the Biossance Squalane + BHA Pore-minimizing Toner. For those looking to treat acne on their face and body, we recommend La Roche-Posay Clarifying Toner—it's gentle enough for sensitive skin, while having a potent blend of AHAs and BHAs to remove dirt and debris.

How We Selected the Toners for Acne

When selecting toners for acne-prone skin, we spoke with dermatologists and spent hours researching product labels. We looked at each product and compared active ingredients (looking for clarifying AHA and BHAs, as well as moisturizing ingredients and antioxidant-boosting ingredients). We also evaluated the toners for price, recommended dosage, and things like how nice they feel on your skin. 

What to Look for in a Toner for Acne

Ingredients to Look For

The most important consideration when shopping for toners, and other skincare products, is the type of ingredients used in the formula. At minimum, you need an ingredient that clarifies and cleans dirt and debris from pores. Ideally, these clarifying ingredients will be paired with hydrating ingredients that help replenish your skin's moisture barrier.

• AHAs and BHAs: Toners that incorporate AHAs and BHAs, depending on the potency, are beneficial for acne-prone skin because those ingredients target stubborn blemishes. AHAs and BHAs may not be listed as such directly on the label, so it's helpful to know some of their other names. Salicylic acid is a common BHA and glycolic acid is a common AHA.

"Toners with salicylic acid are my top choice for an acne toner," Dr. Bailey says. "Salicylic acid has the ability to penetrate deeply into oily pores to break up pore-clogging debris and blackheads so that all other treating ingredients can better penetrate into the pores where acne lesions begin. Glycolic acid is an AHA that helps unclog pores and brightens the complexion," Dr. Bailey says. "I like to combine it with salicylic acid in an acne toner." 

• Witch Hazel: If a toner doesn't have AHAs or BHAs, chances are good the key ingredient is witch hazel. This natural astringent has anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce oil and remove impurities from your pores, effectively cleansing your skin. 
• Moisturizers: Hydrating ingredients, like glycerin and hyaluronic acid, can help counteract the potent acne-fighting ingredients in toners. "Toners often contain salicylic acid, which is typically used for acne but can dry the skin out," says Ronda Farah, MD, dermatologist and assistant professor in the department of dermatology at the University of Minnesota. 

Ingredients to Avoid

In addition to avoiding ingredients that you know irritate your skin, make sure you're also avoiding products with the following ingredients. 

• Alcohol: Keep an eye out for labels that state the product is alcohol-free. "Toners typically also contain alcohol, which can irritate the skin," Dr. Farah says. This is one ingredient that dermatologists advise people to avoid if they decide to incorporate a toner into their skincare because of the drying effects. "[Alcohol] is a powerful degreasing agent to remove excess sebum from extremely oily skin or stubborn oily product residue," Dr. Bailey says. "Unfortunately, it may also remove important barrier lipids in your skin's outer layer, called the stratum corneum. Lipids in this outer protective layer of your skin help prevent skin dehydration and irritation." Selecting alcohol-free toners will prevent the removal of barrier lipids so that the skin remains hydrated even when potent ingredients like salicylic acid are incorporated into the product. 
• Fragrance: Put this one on the list of ingredients to avoid, especially for those with sensitive skin types. Fragrance might make your toner or skin care products smell appealing (or mask fragrances; be wary of labels that say a product is "unscented" as it might have fragrance added to mask another scented ingredient), but it can be irritating. 
  

Use

Skin type and the reaction to a product will help influence how often a toner should be used in a daily skincare routine. Sometimes when someone suffers from acne-prone skin they can overuse a product to remove the excess oils on the skin, but this can have the opposite impact. When you overstrip oil from your skin, it triggers an overproduction of oil that can actually lead to excess oil.

"Overuse of toners is a common mistake that can lead to excessive dryness and skin irritation," Dr. Bailey says. "Toners remove sebum but are at risk of removing intercellular lipids that create barrier integrity in the natural waterproofing layer of your skin called the stratum corneum. You don't ever want to remove these lipids because it leads to increased Transepidermal Water Loss (TEWL), skin dehydration, and ultimately to skin irritation." 

Depending on the skin type, Dr. Jaliman says that the toner can be used one to two times per day. However, this advice changes among dermatologists when the skin starts to react to a new toner. "At the first sign of dryness, reduce usage until you find the sweet spot for your unique complexion," Dr. Bailey says. For some people, they might find that a toner does not work for their skin.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Toners are prone to drying out the skin, depending on the ingredients incorporated in the formula. Alcohol is one ingredient that Dr. Jaliman recommends avoiding because of its drying effects on the barrier. Also, Dr. Bailey warns that toners that include witch hazel could cause dryness and irritation. "It's important to know that some witch hazel sources actually include alcohol in the ingredient labeled 'witch hazel,'" she says. Additionally, using toners can lead to other skin ailments besides dryness. "[They can] cause redness, flaking, and irritation," Dr. Farah says. 

  If you notice that the toner you are using is causing increased dryness, then consider tapering back how often you use it or try a different product.

• Dermatologists advice varies on how often to use a toner because these products can sometimes cause more harm to the skin than good. "Toners are not necessary for acne," Dr. Farah says. "I wouldn't say anyone has to use a toner regularly." 

  However, if you find that toners have been beneficial for your skin, then Dr. Bailey recommends using the product based on your skin type. "I usually recommend using a toner twice daily after washing and towel drying your skin," she says. "If you have dry or sensitive skin, you may want to use a toner only when you have heavy oil or product residue or your skin is excessively soiled." One benefit of using toners is that it acts as a second cleanse on the skin after using a cleanser to remove any lingering dirt or debris. "Most toners are applied with a cotton pad, giving you the opportunity to see how much dirt and product residue your toner is removing," Dr. Bailey adds.

• Toners can be used on other parts of the body, depending on if that area is experiencing excess oil or acne. "Toners are appropriate for all excessively oily areas of your skin," Dr. Bailey says. "These are the same areas prone to acne and include your neck, chest, and upper back." Some areas of your body should not interact with a toner. "I would not use these on the eyelids," Dr. Farah recommends. She also advises being careful if using the product on the neck or trunk area as it might cause a "higher risk for irritation." Consult with a dermatologist if you experience increased irritation from using a toner.

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As a seasoned health writer, Danielle Zoellner knows the importance of finding just the right product to fit your medical needs. Throughout her career, Danielle has interviewed a variety of experts in the medical and health fields while reviewing dozens of products. Her experience and knowledge in the field work together to help readers like yourself find the best products for your daily life.