The humble toner is an often overlooked part of the skincare routine. Though skincare routines have, by large, gotten more and more (often unnecessarily) complex over the years, there is one product that many skincare fans still aren’t using, and that’s a good toner. We’re fans of a pared-back routine for a multitude of reasons, but it’s not the toner that you should be leaving by the wayside if you’re looking for pore refining and skin tightening.
Taking a more holistic and inclusive approach to skincare means looking at how hard each product works and where it fits into the puzzle, which is what we’re going to highlight today. If you’re looking for a fresh, smooth complexion, these are the toners for you.
1. fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Refining Dream Toner
fresh takes a very plant-based and science-backed approach to skincare. Their Lotus Youth range in particular has a reputation for being incredibly effective and caring for skin in the process of giving the user access to their best possible skin. The Refining Dream Face Toner is a real powerhouse, leaving exfoliated skin, an even complexion, and a tightened, fresh face in its wake.
This is a “gentle yet effective” product that really does live up to the hype and all that it claims to do. The product’s super fine, watery texture allows it to sink into the skin quickly to reduce dark spots on all skin tones, decongest and tighten clogged and open pores, and exfoliate to reveal a complexion you never knew you had.
Hero ingredients:
- Super Lotus addresses the first signs of aging by smoothing the look of lines and texture, helping to boost radiance, and protecting from daily stressors. Ethically sourced* from the Ten Mile Creek Farm in Alabama, the innovative plant extract captures the active molecules of the whole living lotus plant for youth-preserving skin. *UEBT verified
- Succinic acid works to visibly decongest and tighten pores while reducing excess shine.
- Rainbow algae extract visibly fades existing dark spots on the surface while respecting the skin’s natural tone for a brighter, more even tone.
- Glycolic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that helps to exfoliate for a smoother texture and a renewed look.
2. Beekman 1802 Pore Minimizing Facial Toner
Oily skin can be one of the many reasons behind wide and clogged pores, so if that sounds like you then this Beekman toner is the way to go. Where many oil-balancing toners are aggressive, Beekman 1802 comes in with a soft hand and effective ingredients to balance the skin and gently exfoliate, smooth out uneven texture, hydrate, and plump over time.
Time and consistency are key with this product. because what is a skincare routine if not an exercise in consistency? Since the aim isn’t just an aesthetic improvement but an actual regulation of the sebum production process, you need to think long-term. Be aware that this product does create a slight peeling effect, so don’t be concerned if you see something “unusual”!
Hero ingredients:
- Niacinamide to help improve tone and texture and regulate sebum production.
- Lactic acid for gentle exfoliation.
- Humectants and emollients to help hydrate and plump the skin.
- Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and polyhydroxy acids (PHAs) help exfoliate and visibly tighten pores.
- Lemon extract helps pores look smaller.
- Yuzu extract helps the skin feel smoother.
3. Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Pore-Tight Toner
Glow Recipe is, at this point, a cult brand. And rightfully so! Their products are packaged in a very “kawaii” fashion, with a younger generation in mind, but they’re still sleek and effective enough to have fans across skin types and ages. The Pore-Tight Toner gets the job done on more than one front, especially if you’re a double cleanser who wants a little extra cleansing power in their routine.
The fresh watermelon smell is a bonus when using this toner, as it really brings out that squeaky clean feeling we all love at the start of our routines. The jelly consistency is unusual for a toner, but there’s no tacky stickiness here at all. The toner helps scrub away any vestiges of dirt or makeup left after cleansing while hydrating your skin before your moisturizer, and that layering really helps to lock it in.
Hero Ingredients:
- PHA has exfoliating properties and helps promote cellular turnover, which can help flush out blocked pores. It’s also a humectant and draws in moisture.
- Watermelon extract and cactus water to soothe and calm.
- Glycerine to anchor moisture and plump skin.
- Naturally derived BHA to decongest pores.
4. Benefit The POREfessional Tight ‘n Toned Pore-refining AHA+PHA toning foam
Toning and tightening don’t have to mean exercise! This toner is like a workout for your face, but without all the extra effort. From the first use (and then the cumulative effect that follows) this toner gives users visibly smaller pores and smoothed, refined skin texture.
This is a little different from most toners in that it’s a foam, not a liquid. This can be applied with fingers, no cotton bud necessary, and the formula is gentle on the skin too. There’s nothing aggressive in the formula that will make your skin feel tight but many things to give you a smoother, lifted appearance. No drying, just balance.
- PHAs and AHAs help to exfoliate and visibly tighten pores.
- Lemon extract makes pores look visibly smaller.
- Yuzu extract helps the skin feel smoother.
5. The Inkey List Glycolic Acid Toner
This product is simple and users love it for that reason—no fuss, no frills, just results. The Inkey List’s Glycolic Acid Toner is a miracle in a bottle for skincare fans looking to exfoliate the dead skin cells that clog pores (and in turn may contribute to larger pores) and reveal a brighter, more even complexion. The witch hazel in the formula is a classic toner ingredient that helps minimize excess oil and soothe irritated skin.
- The 10% glycolic acid concentration helps keep skin healthy and clear of blackheads and fine lines.
- The 5% witch hazel content helps to minimize excess oil and brings a subtle scent.
The Right Tone
Hit just the right tone with these pore-refining and tightening toners, each perfect for a different kind of skin and a varied set of skin concerns.