The 11 Best Toners for Oily Skin of 2024. Kiehl’s Blue Astringent Herbal Lotion impressed us most.
This product balances and soothes oily skin, while camphor and menthol make it feel cooling and refreshing. You can use it all over, but it also doubles as a spot treatment.
This is perfect if there are just a few oily spots you want to care for, like your T-zone, for example.
Dickinson’s Original Witch Hazel Pore Perfecting Toner costs less than a latte and is somewhat of a classic. It features a 100% natural formula that’s an excellent choice for oily skin.
Fragrance-free, the star of the show is witch hazel, an oil-absorbing ingredient found in many skincare products. Plus, the brand uses a unique type of distilled witch hazel that isn’t diluted, making for maximum potency and efficacy.
Contrary to popular belief, you actually can’t change the size of your pores, and they don’t open or close. What does happen is that they can start to appear larger or smaller, based purely on how much stuff is in them.
In other words, the more clogged your pores are, the bigger and more prominent they’ll look. That’s why using a formula with oil-dissolving salicylic acid is a top choice to keep pores clear and looking small.
Look for toners with skin-clearing saw palmetto to help ward off breakouts, and cooling mint to make it feel extra refreshing. This is especially great for using after a sweaty workout or on a hot day.
Some multi-taskers sufficiently sop up excess oil and mattify shiny skin while touting a combination of three different acids. A blend of alpha hydroxy and beta hydroxy acids, like lactic, glycolic, and salicylic acid, leaves your complexion looking matte with a perfect glow.
With a proprietary blend of active botanicals such as green tea, eucalyptus, algae, and Irish moss, these formulas help absorb unwanted oil. They also have natural antiseptic properties, too.
Heralded as one of the best drugstore toners money can buy, the glow-inducing Pixi Glow Tonic yields staggering results. It is rumored to rival its significantly pricier counterparts.
It is made with 5% glycolic acid, ginseng, and aloe vera, and features impressive oil-banishing benefits.
Just because you have oily skin doesn’t mean your toner should dry you out. Thankfully, a facial mist from Boscia does the exact opposite.
Its formula, created with rosewater and aloe vera, delivers a major dose of hydration. Meanwhile, witch hazel cleanses and absorbs excess oil.
It’s also vegan and free of parabens and fragrances.
Toners in general are a good product to add into your routine if you’re constantly battling blemishes. Formulas made with a 2% concentration of salicylic acid keep excess oil at bay, unclog pores, and gently exfoliate.
They work to both treat existing blackheads, whiteheads, and blemishes, and keep new ones from cropping up. Since they sop up all that excess oil, start using them once a day, and gradually increase to twice-daily use.
Excess oil and sebum instigate a frustrating and vicious cycle of acne, redness, and pigmentation. The mega-mushroom blend toner from Dr. Weil for Origins is the cream of the crop for soothing these skin woes.
It’s an especially great option for those with oily and sensitive skin.
Skin is far from static, and though oil is always our number one archnemesis, some days our skin is slicker than others. For that reason, we love the coconut and rose-infused toner from Kopari.
This option keeps the complexion balanced, nixes redness, and diminishes the appearance of pores. It remains gentle enough for our skin’s less oily days.
Who says toners can only come in liquid form? The Milk Makeup Matcha Toner earns the distinction of being the first solid toner out there.
This makes it ideal for travel or for stashing in your gym bag since there’s no need to stress about potential spills. The gel-based formula, made with matcha green tea, witch hazel, and cactus elixir, glides smoothly and purifies the skin.
The mint-green mist from Herbivore is specifically formulated for oily, acne-prone skin, and it’s vegan and cruelty-free. A powerful lineup of green tea, witch hazel, aloe vera, ginger root, and white willow bark are expertly infused.
Give your complexion a quick spritz for a convenient, refreshing pick-me-up.
Work the right toner into your skincare routine and prepare to be amazed at how much less oily your complexion will be.
What To Look For in a Toner for Oily Skin.
Price. There are hundreds of different toners on the market in a wide variety of price points. You can pick up a bottle in your local drugstore for under $5 or go for a luxury brand and spend closer to $30.
For best results, be guided by the quality and suitability of the ingredients within the toner rather than the price point. For oily skin, look for exfoliating AHA and BHAs balanced with soothing ingredients, such as niacinamide.
Liquid or mist. Toners generally come in either a traditional liquid or a mist, and the one you choose is very much down to personal preference. Many people enjoy the freshness of a mist over a freshly cleansed face, but both types can be applied to a cotton pad.
Exfoliating or skin-clearing ingredients. Dermatologists love alpha- or beta-hydroxy acids and sulfur. They help clear pores, reduce oil production, and chemically exfoliate.
Calming ingredients. Since you don’t want to risk over-drying or irritating your skin, look for calming additions. Ideally, you want a formula that also touts ingredients like niacinamide or aloe vera to help soothe and hydrate.
Be cautious with alcohol and witch hazel. While these two super-astringents are generally a no-go in a toner if you have dry skin, those with oily skin may be able to tolerate them.
The caveat? Don’t use a toner that contains either of these in super high concentrations. If it makes your skin feel overly tight after use, choose a different product.
FAQ. What does a toner do? There’s a common misconception that toners simply refresh the skin or remove any leftover makeup, but their purpose is actually far more important.
Skincare experts say there are two main types of toners. Hydrating toners typically come after your cleansers.
They contain ingredients like hyaluronic acid which helps to hydrate the skin’s barrier like a sponge. As such, they also work nicely in combination with other more powerful actives and help to reduce any drying effects.
Treatment toners often contain exfoliating acid ingredients, such as glycolic acid or salicylic acid. They work to improve your main skin concern by reducing oil or dead skin cells.
This can help to improve acne, hyperpigmentation, or dull skin.
Is toner needed for oily skin? Toners come in all different shapes and sizes. Some are hydrating, others are exfoliating.
If you have oily skin, you may benefit from a toner that contains salicylic acid. We recommend the Glytone Acne Clearing Toner with 2% Salicylic Acid.
This will help to exfoliate and control excess oil.
When should you use a toner? Always apply a toner after cleansing and before moisturising, or after a serum. Apply a few drops to a cotton pad and gently sweep across your cheeks and T-zone, taking care to avoid the delicate eye area.