These Hydrating Toners are Perfect for Dry Skin

Anyone who was a teen in the early 2000s is likely to wince at the thought of applying toner. Throughout that era, toner was a heavily-marketed solution for the acne-prone. It was filled with astringent acids and alcohol and promised instant skin-clearing magic–if you could withstand the product’s brutal sting first. For the most part, that generation of toners are now frowned upon by dermatologists for how harsh and drying they behave on the skin, but don’t write off this skincare product entirely just yet. Over the past decade, a gentler, more hydrating version of the product has been created. 

Made without alcohol, these new toners can sometimes still treat acne and oily skin (although in a much gentler way), but most importantly, they can moisturize. For anyone suffering from dry skin, incorporating a hydrating toner could easily prove to be a key step in locking in moisture once and for all.

To any skincare newbies who are not super familiar with what a toner is, allow us to quickly explain. Toners are a liquid solution that's applied after a cleanser and before serums and lotions. They can neutralize your skin’s pH balance, remove excess dirt and remaining makeup, and minimize pore size. Basically, toners provide a super-clean base for any serums and moisturizers that follow.

Here, we’re highlighting eight of the best toners for dry skin. All are alcohol-free and packed with ingredients thirsty skin will soak right up.

1. PIXI BY PETRA Hydrating Milky Mist

If you’re just getting into toners or you can’t be bothered to make your skincare routine any longer than it already is, this hydrating mist is a super time-efficient way to get into the toner game. It comes packed with hyaluronic acid, the beauty industry’s favorite hydrating agent, and vitamin A, which diminishes wrinkles and promotes skin regeneration. The result is a heavy dose of hydration that's ideal for any skin type.

Typically, to apply toners, you wet a cotton swab with the product and dab or wipe it all around the face, but with this option, you simply spritz it directly onto your face and allow it to dry before moving onto serums or moisturizers. Incorporating this step only takes an extra five seconds and could make all the difference to remedy dry skin.

2. RED EARTH HYDRATING BOOSTING TONER with Tasmanian Sea Kelp

Sea kelp extract is the main moisturizing ingredient in this formula. The natural ingredient is especially hydrating as it comes packed with iodine, a chemical that can regulate moisture levels in the skin. Sea kelp extract can also help prevent water from leaving your skin, improving its elasticity over time. This toner also uses collagen to provide further hydration while also firming up your skin and filling out fine lines and wrinkles.

3. MURAD Hydrating Toner

In this hydrating formula, sodium PCA steps up first to help replenish lost moisture. This amino acid is extremely absorbent and effective in binding moisture to skin cells. Next chamomile and cucumber extract soothe skin. Finally, osmolytes work to regulate water balance. 

While this formula is hydrating, it’s also ideal for combination to oily skin and/or acne-prone skin as it also contains witch hazel, an ingredient commonly used to treat breakouts and shrink pores. When used on its own, witch hazel can sometimes be drying. The idea here is to both hydrate and clarify skin. If breakouts aren’t an issue for your dry skin, you might be better off opting for a formula without this ingredient.

4. FIRST AID BEAUTY Ultra Repair Wild Oat Hydrating Toner

This toner is powered by an oat trifecta: oat milk, colloidal oatmeal, and wild oats. The starches and fibers found in oats make it a powerful ingredient to both soothe and hydrate skin. By using three different forms of the ingredient, this formula ensures maximum absorption into the skin. This anti-inflammatory toner also includes honey, which is naturally antibacterial, making it not only moisturizing but also a great tool to treat redness and any skin irritation. Like all of FIRST AID BEAUTY’s skincare products, the gentle ingredients in this toner make it an ideal choice for anyone with sensitive skin.

5. CONTEXT Hydrating Toner

This hydrating and brightening toner is a cult favorite. It's a formula that uses a plethora of popular hydrating ingredients like vitamin C and green tea extract, but it also incorporates lesser-known ingredients like Japanese Knotweed, a botanical that contains resveratrol, a natural antioxidant that visibly plumps skin, protects it from environmental stressors, and balances overall skin tone. So long, dark spots! To top it all off, this toner is also made with tangerine and orange peel, which leaves your skin feeling fresh and smelling even fresher.

6. MINTPEAR GLOW Rosewater + Aloe Vera Facial Toner

The primary moisturizer in this toner is glycerin, which pulls moisture from the air into the skin. Its extreme hydrating capabilities make it ideal for mature skin as it can also fill out fine lines and wrinkles. This formula also features rose water, which isn’t directly hydrating but is ideal for controlling oil production, ensuring the skin neither has excess oil or not enough. It’s topped off with soothing aloe vera, a sensitive skin favorite.

7. APTO SKINCARE Soothing Toner with Coconut Water

The superstar ingredients in this ultra-popular face toner are two different types of water. Hear us out. The first is coconut water which has incredibly high potassium levels. When applied to skin, that translates into a heavy dose of hydration. Coconut water also contains lauric acid which is helpful in treating blemishes. The second type of water comes from the sea. This type is rich in minerals like magnesium, zinc, iron, and potassium.  

Coconut water is so purifying and hydrating that it’s sometimes recommended for use as a cleanser. If you’re ever going to skip cleansing and move directly into a toner, this is the one to go for.

8. ANDALOU NATURALS 1000 Roses® Floral Toner

If you’ve tried a few products that use rose and you’re looking to really double down on incorporating the botanical into your skincare routine, this is the toner to go with. This formula uses both rose water and rose stem cells. As we mentioned before, rose is key to regulating oil production, which is, in turn, key to managing moisture levels. To actually provide that moisture, this toner also hits your skin with a trusty dose of hyaluronic acid and soothing aloe vera.

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