The 15 Best Toners for Oily Skin That Will Keep Your T-Zone in Check

To tone or not to tone: It’s a question that’s up for debate even within the dermatology community. “Honestly, you will get a different opinion depending on who you ask,” says Rachel E. Maiman, a board-certified dermatologist at Marmur Medical in New York.

“Proponents of toners say that they offer a gentler alternative to cleansing in the morning, especially for people with sensitive skin for whom washing twice a day can be too much,” she explains. “Another argument for using toner is that it can help prep the skin for serums and moisturizers by getting rid of any excess oil or dirt that a cleanser may have missed.”

That said, not all toners are created equal. Some toners are alcohol-based or have a high alcohol content, which according to Maiman, “has the potential to cause significant irritation by stripping the skin of excessive moisture and deplete its lipid barrier.”

If you have oilier skin (which, if you’re reading this, we’re going to assume you do), you should be able to tolerate a slightly more astringent toner but keep an eye on the active ingredients (more on that later) and their strength, as too much of a good thing can backfire.

As Maiman explains: “Excessively drying out the skin will cause a paradoxical increase in the amount of oil produced, which can cause disregulation of the sebaceous gland and trigger more acne.” In sum, getting rid of too much oil from your skin will cause it to produce more oil, which can lead to breakouts.

“A toner is a fast-penetrating liquid that works to hydrate the skin and remove dead skin cells off the surface of the skin,“ explains Marina Peredo, a board-certified dermatologist in New York.

“Toners can have any number of intended purposes, depending on the composition of the specific product, which may include anything from acids, glycerin, antioxidants and anti-inflammatories,” adds Maiman. “Most toners are meant to remove any last traces of cleanser and the day’s debris. Others are also meant to balance pH, thereby restoring your skin’s natural acid mantle. Some have astringent properties that tighten pores and control excess oil.”

“If you have oily skin, a toner with antibacterial and exfoliating properties is ideal, as it will absorb excess oil, remove dead skin cells and prevent breakouts,” says Peredo. To that end, Maiman recommends looking for toners that contain salicylic acid (BHAs), alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) like glycolic, lactic and mandelic acid or witch hazel.

Alcohol. “Alcohol can strip the skin of the natural lipids it needs to support the barrier, which is one of the skin's main immune functions,” says Maiman. “Alcohols can appear in ingredient lists with any number of names, which can make it hard to recognize. Look for words like ethanol, denatured alcohol, ethyl alcohol, methanol, benzyl alcohol, and isopropyl alcohol,” she adds.

“Toners should always be used right after cleansing and I recommend including them in both the day and night routines,” instructs Maiman.

As for the order of things, “use toner after cleansing and exfoliating the skin (on days where you’re exfoliating), but before you apply any serum, moisturizer or oil,” advises Peredo.

You can either apply the toner by dispensing a few drops onto a cotton pad and gently sweeping it across your face and neck or tap it directly onto your skin using your fingertips. According to Maiman, it’s all a matter of personal preference.

“It depends on your skin type, and again, the ingredients in the toner,” says Peredo. “Active ingredients such as retinol can dry out the skin, so I don’t recommend using them at the same time as a toner unless there is no alcohol in the formula, and it also has hydrating ingredients (like glycerin or hyaluronic acid) so you don’t further irritate the skin.”

Maiman agrees, adding that skin tolerance to products is largely dependent on skin type. “Oily skin is typically much more resilient and generally able to better tolerate irritating ingredients. Thus, it is reasonable to assume that most people with oily skin will be able to use a hydroxy acid toner daily (and even twice daily) and still use a nighttime retinol without any issues.”

However, say you have combination or sensitive skin. In that case, even if you are oily in certain areas of your face, you should still exercise caution. “I don’t recommend using a hydroxy acid toner more than one to two times weekly, and on those days, it may be best to omit nighttime retinol use or only use the toner in the morning,” says Maiman.

A final note from Maiman: “A bit of trial and error may be required to figure out what your skin can tolerate. It’s always a good idea to do a small patch test on the outer cheek before using a skincare product on your entire face.”