8 best toners for an extra hit of hydration in your skincare routine

This is one of the most luxurious and efficacious toners we’ve tried, thanks, in part, to the weighted, frosted glass bottle. The formula inside is a blend of hydrating hyaluronic acid, smoothing prickly pear, antioxidant-rich microalgae and a renewal complex that strengthens the skin barrier. We found it to be fast-absorbing and we loved how well it smoothed texture, especially before applying make-up. It moisturised both dry and oilier parts of our skin, too, leaving behind no stickiness, greasiness or tacky finish.

If you’re keen to try out a toner in your skincare routine, Byoma is a reliable one-stop shop. For less than £15, it does a decent job at hydrating and smoothing. The large bottle details each ingredient and its purpose, where and how to apply it, any products to use with it, and what skin types it works for (everybody).

The stopper also means you don’t have to be too cautious when pouring it onto your hand before application, which means less mess and less wasted product. It adds a subtle radiance, is instantly hydrating and leaves skin silky soft – a great all-rounder for a reasonable price.

If you’re looking for a more robust toner that doesn’t have a typical watery texture, you’ll love this gel-based formula. The ceramide-rich essence is distributed via a pump component, it’s a hybrid product of a moisturiser and lightweight non-exfoliating toner that adds a hit of hydration and plumping effect to mature skin. It’s free from common irritants such as fragrance and colourants, making it ideal for sensitive skin types keen to try out a toner. If you have combination skin, we’d recommend skipping your usual moisturiser afterwards, as this product is plenty hydrating enough.

This was our beauty tester’s first foray into the world of milky toners, and it’s left a good impression. It’s especially good for combination and oilier skin types in the summer when we are keen to avoid exacerbating excess oil production by using lighter products. We opted to pour three to four drops onto our palms before rubbing the formula onto the face. It does take longer to absorb than some of the other products we tested but, once it’s rubbed in, skin is left soft and smooth with no stickiness. This formula features Laneige’s cerapeptide complex, green tea extract, camellia japonica flower extract and fatty acids, which, combined, are rich in antioxidants and can help reduce inflammation and redness, while simultaneously moisturising.

If you’re feeling a bit lazy, or are also on the hunt for a refreshing face mist when the weather warms up, look no further. New Zealand-based beauty brand Antipodes has created this toner as part of its hydrating line-up of products, and we’re big fans. You can use this as you typically would on cleansed skin in your skincare regime and throughout the day when your skin is feeling parched. Made with a blend of botanical extracts, raspberry-seed oil and aloe vera, it’s instantly soothing and helped to calm the rosacea on our cheeks and chin. The bottle, despite being 100ml, is quite compact and fits easily in a tote or an over-the-shoulder bag, so, you can take it with you on the go, too.

While Lashify is an innovative DIY lash-extension system, this watery toner is an underrated gem well worth trying. It is ideal if you’re a bit of a lazy skincare lover and don’t want to spend ages applying multiple products first thing in the morning or before bed. This product looks and feels as fluid and lightweight as water, and absorbs instantly. You can use it as a pre-cleanse step to prep your lashes for any kind of mascara or falsies, or apply it all over your face, by adding a few drops onto a cotton pad and sweeping across the skin – it absorbs excess oil and very gently exfoliates.

Nobody does luxury quite like Pat McGrath Labs. This rose essence is a bi-phase formula that you need to shake to mix before applying. It has a subtle rose scent, which isn’t off-putting or overpowering and leaves skin with a lovely soft glow that enhances the luminosity of any make-up applied on top. In fact, we found this worked best as a preparation step for make-up, rather than strictly a skincare product. It’s certainly not cheap, nor is it essential, but if you have the budget and are looking for a fuss-free toner that feels luxurious, we think you’ll love using this day and night.

Tatcha’s the essence is a bit of a cult product among beauty lovers, and it’s not hard to see why, just from the packaging alone. It’s another weighted bottle with a frosted exterior and a spout for pouring the watery toner onto a cotton pad or your hands. It’s packed with amino acids, rice, algae and green tea, which hydrate, soothe irritation and add radiance. It’s a beautifully lightweight, silky texture that doesn’t leave behind any stickiness. Nor did it irritate any active acne or rosacea flare-ups we experienced.