I Tried 12 Clean Toners. These Are My Favorites (for Each Skin Type).

If you’re looking for a natural toner without any harmful chemicals, I’ve got a bunch of great options for you below.

I’m using the term “toner” here pretty liberally. The facial sprays below are not only meant to balance pH; they’re also formulated to help with things like hydration, acne prevention, anti-aging, and more.

Btw, if you’re looking for DIY facial toner recipes, check out this article.

This guide contains product recommendations, and we may receive compensation through affiliate links or editorial fees. As always, we only make recommendations that are genuine!

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Facial toner basics: is it even necessary?!

Short answer: no, not really.

Toners were originally created in an era of harsh, alkaline bar soaps. Those old-school cleansers stripped the skin and threw off its natural pH, leaving that tight, uncomfortable feeling. Toners stepped in to restore the skin’s slightly acidic pH balance.

But obviously, our cleansers have come a long way, so toners are not as necessary these days. Modern face washes are far gentler and often pH-balanced, so they no longer strip your skin the way those old soaps did.

So, if you’ve been skipping toner and you want to keep doing so, consider this your official permission slip to do that.

What modern toners actually do

Even though toner isn’t essential anymore, that doesn’t mean they can’t benefit our skin or serve a purpose.

Rather than being a corrective step, today’s toners are essentially a lightweight, optional layer you apply after cleansing and before your serums and moisturizer. It’s a way to add a little something extra, whether that’s hydration, gentle exfoliation, soothing, or antioxidant support.

Active non-toxic toner ingredients

It’s worth knowing what the most active toner ingredients do, as that will help you decide which one is best for your skin and specific needs:

Witch hazel: A natural astringent that helps tighten pores and control excess oil, which makes it a favorite for oily and acne-prone skin.

Rosewater: It’s soothing and mildly anti-inflammatory, which makes it a calming choice for sensitive or reactive skin.

Sodium salicylate: A gentler, water-soluble cousin of salicylic acid. It offers similar pore-clearing and anti-inflammatory benefits but tends to be less irritating, which makes it a smart pick if straight salicylic acid is too harsh for your skin.

Apple cider vinegar: A DIY-favorite astringent that’s mildly acidic, so it’s often used to balance skin’s pH, cut excess oil, and offer light antibacterial support for breakout-prone skin. (Just be careful here if you DIY it—ACV can be irritating and you’ll want to dilute it.)

Frankincense: Has astringent, calming, and anti-inflammatory qualities, plus a long-standing reputation for supporting mature skin.

Hypochlorous acid: A gentle antimicrobial that can kill acne-causing bacteria and calm inflammation without stinging, which makes it a standout for breakout-prone, sensitive, and post-procedure skin. It’s also one of the better-studied options on this list.

Plant hydrosols: The gentle, water-based aromatic waters left over from steam-distilling plants (essentially the mild sibling of essential oils). They deliver light botanical soothing and hydration without the potency or irritation risk. Common ones include cucumber, calendula, and lavender.

AHAs (glycolic and lactic acid): Chemical exfoliants that gently dissolve dead surface cells for smoother, brighter skin. Lactic acid is the more gentle of the two if you’re sensitive.

Salicylic acid (BHA): An oil-soluble exfoliant that actually gets into your pores to clear out congestion. This is the one to look for if you deal with blackheads or breakouts.

This isn’t a comprehensive list, but these are the most common ones you’ll see in clean toners.

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My Favorite Natural Facial Toners (for every skin type)

Alright, let’s get to my brand recs:

withSimplicity Pro-Age Toner

Best for: Any/all skin types

Price: $24

Active toning ingredient(s): Witch Hazel, Rose Flower Water, Frankincense Gum Oil

I like this toner—it’s very refreshing. withSimplicity has a few different toner options, including one for Normal + Combination Skin and one for Acne-Prone skin.

I tried the Pro-Age one, which comes with a variety of plant-based AHAs (from hibiscus, rose flower, and frankincense, all of which help with skin texture and elasticity), and probiotics (which help support a healthy microbiome and protective layer).

It’s fragrance-free, but it does have a very slight scent to it (which is really nice). It’s probably a combo of the frankincense oil and the rose flower oil, but it’s not very strong at all. I like it.

Would I re-buy it? Yep!

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Activist Skincare Healing Water Toning Mist

Best for: Dry and/or sensitive skin

Price: Starting at $28

Active toning ingredient(s): Sodium Salicylate; Cucumber, Calendula & Lavender Hydrosols

This is more of a hydration mist than a conventional ‘toner.’

It contains a bunch of skin-friendly ingredients like:

• Licorice root to help brighten & even skin and reduce hyperpigmentation
• Cucumber, lavender, and calendula to calm inflammation and reduce redness
• Glycerin and saccharide isomerate for hydration

Several of the products (the cucumber, calendula, and lavender hydrosols) are certified organic and sourced from small regenerative farms in the Pacific Northwest.

This is actually my favorite of the Activist Skincare Products… I used it up so fast because I was spraying so much of it! It just feels really nice and refreshing.

Also… Random, but it tastes good! I’d noticed that when I would spray it on my face and then lick my lips a little later, and it’s sweet!

I also spray this on my underarms after my showers sometimes. The anti-inflammatory characteristics of the cucumber, calendula, and licorice root can help to calm irritation from shaving. The lavender has natural, gentle antimicrobial properties, which can help control odor, too (helping my natural deodorant to go further).

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Toups & Co. Brighten Facial Tonic

Best for: Oily skin

Price: $26

Active toning ingredient(s): Witch Hazel

Toups & Co carries several different variations of facial toner: Clear, Brighten, Hydrate, and Calm—so you can choose based on your skin concerns.

I tried the Brighten Tonic, which is formulated to bring life back into lackluster skin. It’s made with organic herbs like lemon peel, yarrow, and lady’s mantle to balance the skin’s pH and revive dull complexions while priming and cleansing the skin. 

Celia’s review: I like using this facial tonic in conjunction with my morning moisturizer for a glowy finish. Many toners are drying, but this one feels hydrating and fresh, which I appreciate. 

This formula is more gentle and soothing than most toners, so it’s a great option if you have sensitive skin.

Would I re-buy it? Yes, I would re-buy this product! It’s soothing and makes my complexion appear brighter without drying out my skin, which I love. 

Abbie’s review: I decided to try the Hydrate Tonic, which contains hibiscus, peppermint, geranium, and blue algae help lock in moisture and restore hydration to the skin. It has a very subtle scent (almost not noticeable, tbh), which is just kind of light & refreshing.

Would I re-buy it? Yes, overall, I like it! I don’t think it’s life-changing, but it’s a great all-natural toner made with minimal ingredients.

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Plaine Products

Best for: Hydration, combination skin types, refillable low-plastic toner

Price: $16

Active toning ingredient(s): Rosa Canina (Rosehip) Flower Extract, Citric Acid

This one is also more of a hydration mist than traditional toner. It’s got a light, refreshing scent to it, and it can double as a midday face refresher if that’s something you like to use.

This combined with their Face Wash and Moisturizer makes for a great minimalistic skincare routine for someone who wants to take care of their face without a bunch of bells and whistles.

Will I re-buy it? Yes, I like the fact that it’s refillable and low-plastic. My husband likes their products too, so I’d re-buy for him. And it’s a set we can share when we’re traveling light.

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Primally Pure’s Everything Spray

Best for: A multi-purpose skin spray

Price: $24

Active toning ingredient(s): Organic Witch Hazel, Organic Lavender Hydrosol, Organic Raw Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar

Primally Pure’s Everything Spray is a multi-purpose formula that’s meant to hydrate, heal, and detoxify the skin with its antibacterial blend of magnesium, apple cider vinegar, and aloe vera. It’s formulated to help combats irritation, reduce inflammation, deodorize, tone, and balance the skin.

It can be used as a toner, underarm refresher, post-shave spray, after-sun spray, or even to heal wounds and target acne. 

Celia’s take: I love how multi-faceted this spray is. I’ve been spraying it onto a cotton pad and applying it as a toner, and also directly onto my skin post-shave to prevent ingrown hairs. 

It’s calming and refreshing with a clean lavender and tea tree scent. I’ve noticed way less inflammation after shaving, and my skin always feels calmer after using it as a toner. If you struggle with razor bumps or irritated skin, this spray is a game-changer.

Would I re-buy it? I would definitely re-buy this spray. It’s perfect to stick in my travel bag since it has so many uses. (Plus, it has really made a difference in my post-shaving routine.)

Abbie’s take: I have not really been about these types of sprays in the past. (What are they even for? Are they excessive?) But I will say, they’ve grown on me for a couple of reasons. I like it as part of a morning wake-up routine or afternoon pick-me-up. It’s just a small thing that can help me feel more ready to ‘take on the day.’

And I also like this spray for preventing ingrown hairs after shaving and for helping my natural deodorant go further.

Would I re-buy it? Overall, it’s refreshing and functional, so I would buy this Everything Spray again. I wouldn’t qualify it as an “essential” skincare product or anything, but I do like having it for sure.

THEFILTERY will get you 10% off.

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Annmarie’s Botanical Hydration Mist with Immortelle

Best for: High-class hippies 😆

Price: $24-60

Active toning ingredient(s): Rosa damascena (rose) distillate, Boswellia carterii (frankincense) distillate, Populus tremuloides (aspen) bark extract

Okay, I do like this mist but let me give you a bit of a ‘warning’ about the smell. It’s a nostalgic scent to me because it reminds me of the horse barns I spent my childhood in.

Yes: it smells like hay. It’s the Helichrysum italicum, aka Immortelle. It’s kind of a polarizing scent that you’ll probably either love or hate.

The reason they use it for this mist is because it has a lot of anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties. In fact, in some types of traditional medicine, it’s been long used for wound healing.

Other than that, it’s got chamomile, rose, and frankincense, which I think helps balance out the smell a little bit. But I mean, the ‘hay’ smell is definitely still prominent.

Would I re-buy it: Yes, but again: it’s got a nostalgic smell for me and I have no idea if you’d like it or not. You can’t say I didn’t warn you.

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Earth Harbor’s TIDAL ROSE Seaweed Hydration Mist

Best for: Tweens & teens; also most affordable on this list

Price: $12

Active toning ingredient(s): Rose flower water, Neem leaf & flower extract

This spray is meant to be another multi-purpose one: it can be a toner, a makeup setting spray, or a hydrating pick-me-up for my morning or afternoon.

It’s got rose flower water, which helps to hydrate and balance pH, white tea for antioxidants, tremella mushroom to help with elasticity, and other skin-loving ingredients.

Sometimes I think the smell of skincare products with rose in them can be a little much, but I actually really like this one. You can definitely smell the rose, but it’s not overpowering. All-in-all, I think it makes for a product that is simultaneously soothing and refreshing.

It comes in a glass bottle with a plastic spray lid. To reduce plastic, you can get a refill that comes with just an aluminum lid.

Would I re-buy it? Yes, especially considering the cheaper price point is refillable option.

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cocokind rosewater facial toner

Best for: Certified USDA Organic facial toner

Price: $18

Active toning ingredient(s): Radish Root Ferment Filtrate

Certified USDA organic! only TWO ingredients. water and radish root ferment filtrate

Lauren P’s Review:

I was using the Clearstem toner before I switched to try this one and I’m not disappointed! 

To be honest, I don’t think I can ever tell the difference when using a toner but sometimes it makes me feel better so I like having one on hand. I think it’s a bigger thing for me in the summer when I’m out and about sweating and all of the things.

While rose is in the name, this smells like vinegar. It doesn’t linger so it’s fine with me but if you hate the smell of vinegar (like my husband) then maybe this isn’t the product for you. 

I usually use this after a gym day. So when I get out of the shower after I’ve cleansed. I just spray it on a reusable cotton facial round and swipe it around. 

It’s not drying or stripping but rather hydrating and clean. A little extra umph. 

I should probably be better about using this around my period when I start getting breakouts. A lot of the reviews say this has really helped with acne but we do what we can.

Would I rebuy? Probably!

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Birch Babe Organic Micellar Water

Best for: Cleansing

Price: $27

Active toning ingredient(s): Witch Hazel Distillate, Rose Floral Water, Gluconolactone

Is micellar water still trendy? I don’t know because I never got on that train. 😬 That said, it can be used for a lot of different things: a makeup remover, a hydrating oil cleanser, or a restoring toner.

I’ve been using it as a toner more often than anything else. The rose water is good for anti-inflammation and reducing redness, and the witch hazel is a good natural astringent. But then the aloe vera leaf juice, grape seed oil, and glycerin prevent the skin from getting too dried out. I do like this Micellar Water as a toner! I like that it’s gentle on the skin and good for lots of different skin types.

P.S. If micellar water is your thing, you can get a jug to refill it.

Would I re-buy it? Probably not, to be honest. Nothing against this specific product; micellar water is just not my thing.

I actually ended up giving the rest of this bottle to my friend Jess, because she said she was looking for a new micellar water brand. She uses it as a makeup remover. Here’s what she said after using it for a couple of weeks:

“I liked it a lot! I used to use the Garnier micellar water and it worked just as well without leaving a greasy film!”

So, this gets approval from someone who actually uses micellar water!

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Magic Molecule Hypochlorous Acid Spray

Best for: Acne-prone skin and/or eczema

Price: Starting at $32 (for a 2-pack)

Active toning ingredient(s): Hypochlorous Acid

I’m not as big on hypochlorous acid as some of the other folks in low-tox world, but I do use it under certain circumstances… and it definitely helps.

For example, I like to have a small bottle of Magic Molecule or Tower 28 (right below) in my purse or gym bag to spray on my face after working out. I especially make sure to use it if I’m going somewhere afterward and don’t have the chance to shower right away. I notice that it really helps in preventing those little sweat pimples that can pop up.

Hypochlorous acid is an antibacterial agent that’s powerful (they actually use it in hospitals), but still gentle on the skin. That’s why it’s a great toner for acne-prone skin. Some people have found that it helps with other things like acne or wound-healing as well.

Would I re-buy it? Yes, I already have.

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Tower 28

Best for: Acne-prone skin. Also my top pick for travel and Sephora pick.

Price: $28 (or $12 for the travel-size)

Active toning ingredient(s): Hypochlorous Acid

This one is very similar to the Magic Molecule one (but trendier).

I personally started using the Magic Molecule one first, but this one is great too. Their travel-size bottle is even small enough to fit into my (small) purse, which I really appreciate because I like to have it for instances when I am getting sweaty and can’t wash my face (hot summer months, or at the gym).

Also, one of the great things about hypochlorous acid facial sprays is that they have very short ingredient lists to sort through. This one contains only 3 things: water, sodium chloride (aka salt), and hypochlorous acid.

Would I re-buy it? Yes, but I wouldn’t buy both the Magic Molecule and the Tower 28 at the same time; I’d just pick one.

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Hero Pore Release

Best for: Blackheads

Price: $20

Active toning ingredient(s): Salicylic Acid (BHA), Glycolic Acid (AHA), Gluconolactone (PHA)

This is a salicylic acid toner that’s meant to target blackheads. Those have have always been an issue for me, so I was definitely excited to try it.

This toner is good, but the real magic for me comes when you combine the Pore Release with the Nose Patch.

I found them to work wayyy better together than either of them worked by themselves.

Ingredient wise, the Pore Release does contain a few ingredients that might be considered “harsh” on the skin—primarily salicylic acid and glycolic acid. But these are also what makes the product work. This is why I recommend using these types of acne-fighting products intentionally. Use them as-needed for target spots, and try not to over use them when you don’t really need them.

(Also, it’s worth noting that the Pore Release contains some other skin-calming ingredients to help balance out the acids, like aloe vera and lotus root.)

My biggest tip for you is to not use the Pore Release + Face Patches two nights in a row. It can easily dry out your skin. (I made this mistake!) I would recommend doing it once a week, or less if you don’t need it that often.

Would I rebuy it? Yes, but this bottle has lasted me a long time. I don’t use it on my whole face (just my nose), and I don’t use it every single night either.

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Even more clean toners to try:

I haven’t tried these ones yet, but I would like to at some point:

• True Botanicals
• Ursa Major
• Three Ships
• Beauty By Earth. Code THEFILTERY for 15% off. Also available at Walmart.
• Roots & Leaves
• Ogee. Can be found at Ulta.

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