Acne-prone skin can be quite sensitive to dirt and debris. Pores, blackheads, blemishes, and sebum production can make it look dull and lifeless. However, with these best toners for acne-prone skin, you can shrink enlarged pores and eliminate dirt and debris, leaving your skin refined and polished. Our findings show that using a toner can help people with acne-prone skin in getting rid of impurities and controlling excess sebum production. The protective barrier of this skin type may also be targeted by dryness and dehydration, leading to excess oil secretion that makes it greasy and sticky. So, with these toners, you can keep your skin moist and hydrated to maintain the moisture and oil balance. Read through this article to explore our favorite products for acne-prone skin.

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  Best Alcohol-free Formula

  Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-reducing Toner

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Enhance the youthful appearance of your face with Paula’s Choice Pore-reducing Toner. With the addition of key ingredients, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, chamomile, and burdock root extract, you can get rid of pores and even out your skin, leaving it bright and flawless. The rich infusion of ceramides and hydrolyzed jojoba esters helps strengthen the skin’s natural barrier and combat irritation. It is loaded with antioxidant benefits that soothe acne-prone skin and provide thorough hydration. After testing out this product, we found that it helps minimize the appearance of blemishes and eliminates blackheads. So, flaunt clean and fresh skin with this product working like magic on your skin.

Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, chamomile, burdock root extract, hyaluronic acid, and ceramides

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Best Non-comedogenic Formula

Minimalist Polyhydroxy Acid (PHA) 03% Toner

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Minimalist’s toner makes saying goodbye to pesky pores and uneven skin texture easier. This toner is formulated with a unique blend of salicylic acid, multi biotics, and niacinamide that works as an exfoliator and prevents clogging of the pores. The humectant, polyhydroxy acid, hydrates the skin and protects it from irritation and dryness. With the addition of probiotics, it helps strengthen the skin’s natural barrier. Featuring a lightweight texture, it penetrates into your skin barrier instantly, leaving your skin soft and plump. Get a break from acne worries with this product that glides on your skin smoothly to keep it calm and relaxed.

Key Ingredients: Polyhydroxy acid, multi-biotics, niacinamide + salicylic acid

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Best Hypoallergenic Formula

COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid

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Whether you want to glow up or upgrade your skincare regimen, COSRX’s powerful liquid won’t disappoint you. This toner is a powerful fusion of willow bark water and niacinamide that helps remove dead skin cells and control oil production, leaving your skin radiant and oil-free. The anti-inflammatory properties of this product make it a must-have to soothe inflamed skin and regenerate new skin cells. Flaunt visibly healthy-looking skin as this product is a great addition to achieving daily skin goals.

Key Ingredients: Willow bark water, betaine salicylate, niacinamide

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Best Soothing Formula

ANUA Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner

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You can elevate your skincare routine with this soothing toner by ANUA. Owing to the addition of houttuynia cordata extract, it’s an excellent pick for renewing the natural texture of the skin and keeping blackheads at bay. The regenerating properties of this toner revive the skin’s protective barrier to give you a youthful appearance. When we tested this product, we found that it helps relieve acne-prone skin and blurs skin imperfections efficiently. This toner comes in handy to maintain the pH balance of your skin to inhibit bacterial growth.

Key Ingredients: Houttuynia cordata extract, panthenol, centella asiatica extract

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Best Dermatologist-tested Formula

DIFFERIN Pore-minimizing Toner with Witch Hazel

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Prep up your skin with DIFFERIN Pore-minimizing toner that is designed to keep your skin smooth and hydrated. It’s equipped with the nutritive blend of rosehip extract, chamomile, aloe vera, and vitamin B — all of which work wonders to calm acne-prone skin and protect it from redness and inflammation. These soothing ingredients protect the skin from the harmful effects of bacteria and brighten your complexion, leaving your skin refreshed and vibrant-looking. Featuring the addition of witch hazel, it maintains oil balance and helps combat acne. So, fret not if you have dry skin along with acne, as this skincare product is regarded as one of the best hydrating toners for acne-prone skin in the beauty industry. 

Key Ingredients: Witch hazel, chamomile, Vitamin B, aloe vera, and rosehip extract

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Best for Skin Hydration

Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner

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Haruharu toner is a powerhouse of nourishing ingredients that helps maintain the natural texture and bounce of your skin. This toner is packed with star additives, including hyaluronic acid, fermented black rice extracts, betaine, ginseng root extract, and lavender oil — all of which are highly effective in relieving itchy and irritated skin. The nourishing blend of this rice toner plumps the skin, fights the signs of aging, protects the skin from the harmful effects of environmental aggressors, and refines the texture of your skin. Rejuvenate skin texture and flaunt your innate charm easily with this amazing toner! 

Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, fermented black rice extracts, betaine, ginseng root extract

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Best Overall

ACWELL Licorice pH Balancing Korean Toner

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Infused with a moisturizing formula, ACWELL’s Licorice pH Balancing Korean Toner is a game changer for boosting your skin’s natural radiance. The addition of magic ingredients like rose, green tea extract, and licorice makes this toner quite effective in controlling melanin production and minimizing the appearance of the signs of aging. You can maintain the health of your skin with this toner, regulating the oil and pH levels effectively. Create a perfect base for your makeup and attain soft and dewy looks.

Key Ingredients: Licorice, green tea, guava, rose

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ProactivMD Balancing Toner

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This skin-balancing toner by ProactivMD smoothes your complexion and makes your skin firm and plump. With the infusion of medicinal plants and witch hazel, it helps relieve acne-prone skin and gets rid of dead skin cells. The healing properties of this product tighten enlarged pores and give your skin an even texture. Designed specifically for dull and pale-looking skin, it’s a hydration booster to make your glam-up moments vibrant. Don’t be surprised if this toner becomes your go-to for sprucing up your everyday looks.

Key Ingredients: Witch hazel, aloe vera juice, panthenol

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Best Cruelty-free Formula

Eva Naturals Skin Renewing Facial Toner

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Revitalize your complexion with this Skin Renewing Facial Toner by Eva Naturals. The potent mixture of tea tree, chamomile, witch hazel, lavender oil, vitamin C, geranium oil, and bee propolis make it an excellent choice for acne-prone skin. These agents protect your skin from free radical damage and prevent premature aging of the skin, leaving your skin younger-looking and fresh. This toner also contains lemon and aloe that help nourish the skin and reduce the appearance of dark spots. Drench in a healthy glow and feel easy breezy.

Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, geranium oil, bee propolis

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Best for Irritated Skin

Pyunkang Yul Calming Deep Moisture Toner

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Moisturized and healthy is what this toner by Pyunkang Yul makes your skin look like. The hydrating agents, hyaluronic acid and panthenol, provide deep moisturization to make your skin smooth and supple. With the exfoliating properties of this calming toner, you can get rid of dead skin cells to reveal your naturally beautiful complexion. This toner also consists of cica, which is quite effective in reviving damaged skin. Featuring a quick absorption formula, it melts into your skin without making your skin feel greasy. 

Key Ingredients: Panthenol, hyaluronic acids

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Best for Reducing Puffiness

DRMTLGY BHA Toner

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DRMTLGY BHA Toner is a fantastic pick for oily skin. It contains a nourishing blend of botanical extracts like rosemary, papaya, and olive that help minimize the appearance of stubborn acne scars to make your complexion luminous and glossy. The addition of salicylic acid aids the management of breakouts and keeps the pores clean to make your skin texture even and sparkling. You can also use this toner to reduce swelling and puffiness to look fresh and charming.

Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid

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Rael Miracle Clear Clarifying Toner

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Formulated with panthenol, succinic acid, and dipotassium glycyrrhizate, Rael’s Toner is a great way to amp up your skincare routine. The antioxidant-rich composition of this toner keeps the skin calm and relaxed. The mattifying formula absorbs excess oil and gives an oil-free glow you can’t get enough of. Boost your skin’s health and give it an immaculate appearance with this product designed to reveal your natural glow and charm.

Key Ingredients: Succinic acid, vitamin B5 panthenol, dipotassium glycyrrhizate

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Numbuzin No.1 Pure-Full Calming Herb Toner

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This lightweight toner by Numbuzin gives your skin a healthy and refreshing glow. Fused with the star ingredients — heartleaf extract, licorice root extract, and centella asiatica extract, it boosts collagen production and soothes irritated skin. The moisturizing properties of this toner revive dull skin and treat the symptoms of dehydrated skin, leaving it plump and firm. With a pH-balancing formula, it is suitable for acne-prone skin and controls oil and moisture balance effectively. Purify your skin thoroughly and let it radiate a beautiful glow.

Key Ingredients: Licorice root extract, centella asiatica extract, heartleaf extract

1. Read the Label

To reap the benefits of the best toner for acne scars, it’s pivotal to steer clear of toners that contain harsh additives like alcohol, sulfates, parabens, artificial dyes, and silicones, as these can cause flare-ups and exacerbate skin dryness and irritation.

2. Check the Ingredients

Another important factor to consider before buying the toner for acne-prone skin is ensuring the ingredients used to formulate it are gentle and nourishing. You can go for ingredients like niacinamide, witch hazel, green tea extracts, vitamin B, and black rice extracts, as these help reduce the appearance of pores and lock in the moisture of your skin efficiently.

1. Toners help clean the skin, eliminate dirt, and unclog pores, which in turn makes skin look fresh and dewy. 
2. They help strengthen the skin's natural barrier, protecting the skin against pollutants and other environmental aggressors. This, in turn, helps prevent a number of skin concerns, including acne breakouts. 
3. Toners also help tighten the skin to give your skin a glowy look. 
4. It's essential to maintain the pH levels of the skin to keep it hydrated and free of skin problems like dullness, dark spots, and acne. Toners help maintain the natural pH levels of the skin, making way for acne-free skin.

Step 1: Cleanse your face with a mild cleanser to maintain the strength of your natural skin barrier.

Step 2: Take a pea-sized amount of toner on a cotton pad and dab it on your skin evenly.

Step 3: Avoid rubbing toner on your skin. Instead, apply it gently and allow your skin to soak it up.

Step 4: Follow up with moisturizer and sunscreen to seal the hydration.

Talking about the usage of toners, our contributor Bianca Lorena, a certified Aesthetic educator, says, “Some people get carried away and don't understand that overusing a toner can actually make redness or allergies worse. So, one should use this maximum 3 times a week with some days spaced out in between. Even if you think that toners contain sensitive ingredients I would recommend to start 2 times a week then increase to 3 times but no more than this or it can really dry out the skin.”

Contributor: Bianca Lorena, a Registered Nurse and Aesthetic educator - BLC Aesthetics