So, if dewy skin is among your complexion dreams, scroll ahead for the best toners for dry skin that’ll make your skin feel soft, supple, and plump after each swipe—plus insight from board-certified dermatologists and editors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Overall: Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Skin Barrier Serum Toner
Why it’s worth it: As you may have guessed, the Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Skin Barrier Serum Toner acts as a hydrating serum and toner—pretty impressive. Its main ingredient is conditioning ceramides, but you can also expect your skin to get a double dose of moisture replenishment with the help of panthenol. The brand recommends applying this milky formula with a cotton pad to get the most out of each application, but you can also use your (clean!) fingers to pat the product in.
“This toner single-handedly saved me from crusty retinol face. When I first gave retinol a go, I’d smooth on a layer of this toner before and after applying and it handled the unpleasant dryness like a champ. I’ve tried many milky toners in my day and consistently come back to Dr. Jart—this toner and the matching moisturizing cream will never leave my routine, they’re just too good to my sensitive and occasionally dehydrated skin.” —Sarah Hoffmann, commerce producer
- Key ingredients: ceramides, panthenol
- Benefits: hydrating, soothing
- Who it’s for: all skin types, including sensitive
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best for Mature Skin: Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum
Why it’s worth it: Sulwhasoo’s First Care Activating Serum is the serum-toner combo we can’t stop talking about. (Though it’s labeled as a serum, it’s meant to be applied right after your cleansing steps to soothe skin and aid absorption of whatever follows.) The brand’s proprietary Master Complex makes the formula special; blending ginseng with five other precious medicinal herbs and a vitamin C derivative delivers extra antioxidant-driven benefits. The result is a super lightweight formula that brightens, tightens, and even reduces redness.
Tester feedback from commerce editor Sarah Han
“I’ve been using this for years because it’s unlike any other toner I’ve tried; Korean brands are continually innovating and this is the sixth iteration of the serum. It does a fantastic job at replenishing and hydrating my skin after a thorough double cleanse. The herbal base is noticeable but not overwhelming; if anything, it’s quite calming. My skin-care routine is incomplete without it.” —Sarah Han, commerce editor
- Key ingredients: Sulwhasoo Master Complex (ginseng derivative), vitamin C, glycerin
- Benefits: brightening, firming
- Who it’s for: anyone with dry skin and an uneven tone
- Fragrance-free: no
Best for Dullness: Glow Recipe Cloudberry Bright Essence Toner
Why it’s worth it: Glow Recipe’s Cloudberry Bright Essence Toner: It’s giving radiance, it’s giving fresh, and it’s giving results. With an emphasis on evening tone, the formula works wonders as the first step in your skin-care routine, boosting absorption of the products that follow. The namesake cloudberry concentrate is loaded with vitamins C and E for brightening, while rice water, glycerin, and collagen amino acids amp up collagen production and moisture. And the orange, wavy glass bottle? So cute.
“It’s like a barely-there skin-softener. I like how lightweight this stuff is—never feels like a bulky extra step in my routine. And the bottle is also so cute.” —Annie Blackman, contributor
- Key ingredients: cloudberry concentrate, vitamin C, vitamin E, rice water, glycerin, collagen, coenzyme Q10
- Benefits: brightening
- Who it’s for: people who want more radiant, even skin
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best for Fine Lines: Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Probiotics Barrier Essence
Haruharu Wonder
Black Rice Probiotics Barrier Essence
Why it’s worth it: Technically, this suped-up formula is an essence, with a whole cocktail of hydrating, skin-loving goodness like sunflower seed oil, rice extract, and a 5-ceramide complex that softens and plumps skin. But it’s not meant for only those with capital-d Dry skin: Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Probiotics Barrier Essence has an antioxidant-rich formula that also helps minimize pores the way a gentle toner would, creating a more even skin tone and texture. In fact, it could even help clear breakouts in our testing.
“My skin is obsessed with this milky makgeolli goodness. I’m prone to hormonal breakouts, but this essence’s nourishing-yet-gently-exfoliating combo of ceramides, fermented black rice, and acne-friendly oils helps keep my skin crystal clear and under control whenever my period comes around. Honestly, I get excited to put this on because I know it truly works. Sometimes, I just wash my face, put this on, and then slather on moisturizer because it’s so supercharged with benefits that I don’t always need a serum, too.” —Devon Abelman, contributor
- Key ingredients: sunflower seed oil, meadowfoam seed oil, rice extract, galactomyces ferment filtrate, bifida ferment filtrate, 5 ceramide complex
- Benefits: hydrating, firming, plumping
- Who it’s for: those with dry, mature skin
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best for Sensitive Skin: Bloomeffects Royal Tulip Hydrating Bi-Phase Tonic
Bloomeffects
Royal Tulip Hydrating Bi-Phase Tonic
Why it’s worth it: Tone and moisturize in a single step with the Bloomeffects Royal Tulip Hydrating Bi-Phase Tonic. The multifaceted formula is the dream cocktail for sensitive skin, due in part to its soothing, moisture-replenishing combination of niacinamide, colloidal oatmeal, and green tea. This spray-on toner also features a calming botanical blend of chamomile, calendula, and Centella asiatica (cica) extracts, which can help dial down redness.
Tester feedback from features director Dianna Singh
“Part essence, part toner, and completely hydrating, Bloomeffects Royal Tulip Hydrating Bi-Phase Tonic has been the first step in my morning routine for several weeks now—and my skin is softer and more supple for it. The milky formula melts into my skin in seconds, and I swear all the products I apply afterwards go on more smoothly.” —Dianna Singh, features director
- Key ingredients: colloidal oatmeal, green tea extract, niacinamide, chamomile extract, calendula extract, cica extract
- Benefits: soothing, hydrating
- Who it’s for: everyone, including sensitive skin types
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best Alcohol-Free: Thayers Hydrating Milky Toner
Why it’s worth it: If Thayers’s original toner is too harsh—which may be due to its high concentration of exfoliating witch hazel extract—try the Hydrating Milky Toner, a moisture-packed formula made especially for dry and sensitive skin. Unlike the mattifying original, this gentle, alcohol-free toner quenches skin with a hydrating combination of glycerin and sodium hyaluronate (a form of hyaluronic acid) while snow mushroom extract seals moisture in for incredibly dewy results. Elderflower also makes an appearance in this formula to soothe and calm irritated skin, while a blend of glyceryl-based emollients smooths any rough, flaky texture.
“This is a major upgrade from the Seabreeze toner my mom gave me in middle school. The texture is so satisfying—it’s super-thick, almost jelly-like, and feels so cooling on my face. It also sinks in seconds and gives me the perfect amount of glow. My skin looks smooth, but not too shiny (my pet peeve underneath makeup). I use it twice a day and genuinely look forward to slathering it on after I wash my face.” —Sarah Felbin, senior commerce editor
- Key ingredients: snow mushroom extract, elderflower water, hyaluronic acid
- Benefits: hydrating
- Who it’s for: everyone, including sensitive skin
- Fragrance-free: yes
More toners for dry skin we like:
Best for Combination Skin: SkinCeuticals Equalizing Toner Solution
SkinCeuticals
Equalizing Toner Solution
Why it’s worth it: If you need a gentle toner that still puts in hard work to bust blackheads and minimize the look of pores, Morgan Rabach, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City, suggests the SkinCeuticals Equalizing Toner Solution. “It combines hydroxy acids and calming botanicals to gently exfoliate, smooth, and soften skin,” she says. As its chemical exfoliators slough away flakes, bumps, and oil that’s been building up in your pores, this pH-balanced formula also actively soothes and moisturizes with rosemary, aloe, and chamomile extracts.
- Key ingredients: witch hazel, glycolic acid, citric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, lactic acid, rosemary extract, aloe, chamomile extract
- Benefits: exfoliating, hydrating, soothing
- Who it’s for: people who want to target texture concerns.
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best for Redness: Violette_FR Boum-Boum Milk
Violette_FR
Boum-Boum Milk
Why it’s worth it: Don’t let the lightweight mist fool you—each spritz of Violette_FR’s Boum-Boum Milk acts as an ultra-hydrating toner, serum, and moisturizer all in one formula. Its conditioning formula targets dehydration and irritation with its moisture-replenishing combination of birch sap extract, glacial water, and squalane, leaving skin smoother and softer with every spritz. Its hyper-moisturizing formulation also helps calm skin and minimize redness, making it perfect for those who flush easily.
“My skin easily flushes, especially after a workout, and this spray is the perfect cool-down for it. Its mist is so lightweight, so over-spraying isn’t an issue, and the formula makes my skin feel so soft and silky after spraying. I love that it’s a spray so I can apply whenever, wherever, and it doesn’t have a sticky residue like other face mists I’ve tried.” —Jennifer Hussein, contributor
- Key ingredients: birch sap extract, glacial water, squalane
- Benefits: hydrating, soothing
- Who it’s for: anyone with dry, flushed skin
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Anua Heartleaf Soothing Toner
Anua
Heartleaf 77 Soothing Toner
Why it’s worth it: A little love letter to all glass-skin girlies: Anua’s Heartleaf Soothing Toner is the ideal face-prepper. Powered by the naturally anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial heartleaf plant (Houttuynia cordata), board-certified dermatologist Hee Jin Koh, MD, calls this toner a win for people with acne-prone skin. Use it in the morning and night as the first step after cleansing for an extra dose of moisture that’ll leave your skin looking and feeling soothed.
- Key ingredients: heartleaf extract, glycerin, matricaria flower extract
- Benefits: clarifying, soothing
- Who it’s for: acne-prone skin
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best for Uneven Skin Tone: Charlotte Tilbury Glow Toner
Charlotte Tilbury
Glow Toner
Why it’s worth it: Dr. King says the Charlotte Tilbury Glow Toner is the perfect dew-enhancer for anyone wrangling dryness. “This acid-free hydrating toner is formulated with sodium hyaluronate and glycerin to replenish moisture into the skin, shea butter to support the skin barrier, and niacinamide to improve skin tone and texture,” she says. The addition of prickly pear extract supports the skin’s natural exfoliation process.
- Key ingredients: sodium hyaluronate, glycerin, shea butter, niacinamide, prickly pear extract
- Benefits: hydrating, smoothing
- Who it’s for: people with dark spots and hyperpigmentation
- Fragrance-free: no
Frequently Asked Questions
What do toners for dry skin do?
Toners have a reputation for exfoliating, but many formulas also contain hydrating ingredients to plump and soften skin. “Toners for dry skin are like the extra drink of water your face didn’t know it needed,” says Dr. Gohara. “They help hydrate, soothe, and balance your skin. Old-school toners were known for stripping the skin, whereas new ones can do good.” She adds that the right toner locks in moisture and creates a better canvas for your moisturizer to get to work.
When should dry skin types use a toner?
According to Dr. Rabach, those with dry skin should use a toner after washing their face, especially if they still feel or see makeup and sunscreen residue after cleansing. “This step helps balance the skin’s pH and prep it to fully absorb the rest of your skincare products, like serum and moisturizer,” she says.
What ingredients should I look for in a toner for dry skin?
As you may know, not all toners are created for all skin types, and your dry skin needs a formulation that won’t over-strip your skin’s conditioning natural oils. Hadley King, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City, says that dry and sensitive skin types should avoid harsh active ingredients in their skin-care products, like alcohol, salicylic acid, and glycolic acid, in order to reduce the risk of irritation. “If you have dry skin, look for toners with hydrating ingredients like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, lecithin, aloe vera, and rosewater,” she adds. Thankfully, these ingredients are not only easy to find but also featured in an array of skin-care products across every budget.
Which toner ingredients should dry skin types avoid?
Look for formulas that are alcohol-, fragrance-, and dye-free since they can exacerbate dryness, according to Dr. Rabach. “Avoid toners with active ingredients like retinols and exfoliating acids which can dry your skin out more,” she adds.
Meet the experts
- Mona Gohara, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Connecticut
- Morgan Rabach, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
- Hee Jin Koh, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
- Hadley King, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
How we test and review products
When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that’s included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.
For our list of the best toners for dry skin, we considered each product’s performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors—along with special consideration from three dermatologists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
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