Best Natural Toners For All Skin Types & Issues

Natural toners have come a long way, they are more leading edge than ever and they boast a ton of benefits for your skin. There are two types of toners we look for, hydrating to lock in moisture or acid-based to exfoliate and resurface.

Organic toners are best used after you have cleansed your face using a good face wash. The right toner can do wonders for your skin; it can help reduce redness, breakouts, and dryness.

The Best Natural Toners

On this list, you will find top-rated organic toners for all budgets, skin concerns, and skin types. We know that shopping for anything natural and non-toxic, especially in the clean beauty space, can be challenging. Who do you trust?

Well, were are here to help. At the bottom of this post, we are asking and answering the following questions: What are natural toners? Why consider a natural face toner? How do we pick the best natural toner? PLUS How to choose the right natural toner for your skin type?

1. Elva's All Naturals

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Sometimes you want to just sparkle and shine and that’s where Elva’s All Naturals steps in with a lot of luminosity to brighten the day. Their GLOW. Brightening Facial Toner with Bioflavonoids adds a sheen to the skin that’s like sprinkling confetti over a summer day.

I’ve never been a massive user of toner but this one has become my go-to! It does not dry out my sensitive skin at all; I usually apply it after I cleanse my face and before I put on my makeup. In fact, it has become my go-to makeup setting spray! Double-duty products = double the love!

After using this my makeup appears more natural, and my skin has a gentle dewy glow, without stickiness.

Powered by active organic Citrus Bioflavonoids for fighting bacteria and daily oxidative stress, Witch Hazel, Lemongrass, Geranium, Aloe Vera, and nourishing botanical extracts, this award-winning natural toner is pH-balanced and alcohol-free.

Although not yet commonly used in skincare, citrus bioflavonoids are prized for their anti-aging, skin brightening, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antibacterial properties when applied topically, making them a logical and welcome addition to any skincare regime.

The deliberate absence of alcohol in the formula further supports the preservation of the skin’s natural surface biome, while eliminating the ultimately drying effect of alcohol present in most skin toners on the market.  In addition, the botanical composition based on aloe vera and witch hazel offer hydration, pore tightening, and a gentle soothing effect on the skin.

This is further complemented by lemongrass oil: rich in anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and astringent properties, it is praised for its ability to clear skin congestion and reduce redness and hyperpigmentation. Together, the carefully chosen ingredients in GLOW. Brightening Facial Toner with Bioflavonoids combine to produce a skin-brightening effect; hence the name.

Made in small batches to ensure fresher products and waste reduction. Elva’s is very passionate about only using all-natural ingredients, and choosing the most sustainable packaging they can find.

It’s free of sulfates, parabens, phthalates, petrochemicals, palm, and toxic preservatives and is vegan and cruelty-free. I should mention that this toner received international recognition in the 2022 Clean Beauty Awards.  It's bottled in glass which is another reason why it's my top pick for the best natural face toner. Use code ECOHUB15 for 15% off.

2. Calli Essentials

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Calli Essentials offers affordable skincare products packed full of really expensive ingredients and it's one of the reasons why l love them! 

You will instantly go "WOW!" after applying their Triple Serum.

But, if you are looking for a powerhouse skin toner that has a wonderful antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory blend of organic therapeutic-grade ingredients that are uplifting and refreshing, then you must check out Calli Essentials Cell Renewal Face Mist for Glowing Skin!

Amongst those properties, it is amazing for prepping your skin before applying serum! 

With ingredients like 100% Pure Rose, Frankincense, and Immortal Hydrosols…your skin tone will be evened out, will feel calm and look happy.  

It’s so good, it made the CertClean Beauty Awards 2022 Top 3 Facial Mist!

"I absolutely loved the richness of the rose scent and that loved that it was 100% pure hydrosol. This was my favorite in terms of ease of use, functionality - loved the spray bottle for misting the face or body, and the scent. It really helped with moistening the skin and I noticed a significant improvement in less inflammation and redness. Great product!”

CertClean Beauty Judge and Naturopathic Doctor Dr. Amy Tung

The co-product of the distillation of essential oils, they contain the essence of the plant in every drop.  The molecular size of the constituents in hydrosols allows them to penetrate below the dermal layer and enter the bloodstream.

It’s perfect for all skin types but especially helps with sensitivity and rosacea. It’s going to protect against free radicals–looking at you pollution–and aid in cell regeneration. 

Calli Essentials' delicate creams, serums, and elixirs instantly feel therapeutic to the skin. I'm amazed by how readily my skin drinks in the potions. It clearly knows what's good for it!

The textures are so lightweight yet I can feel how potent they are–they're brimming with treasured ingredients that feel fresh, vibrant, and alive.

Made in small batches in Canada, Calli is all about organic ingredients wherever possible, always vegan and cruelty-free, and free from all the nasties. 

This is a beautiful, small company with heart that receives rave reviews. So happy to have found them!

3. Cocokind Rosewater Facial Toner

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If You are a rose lover (who isn’t) you will want to get a whiff of this affordable natural toner that you can find at Target.

Cocokind Organic Rosewater Facial Toner is a rosy delight and a minimalist's dream. Whenever my skin thirsts for something simple, yet quenching, I reach for this product.

The gorgeous rose scent comes from pesticide-free, therapeutic-grade organic rosa Damascena (rose) flower water.

This natural face toner never breaks me out and leaves my skin balanced and calm. It's a winning combination that feels soothing and just right when "too much" feels like too much.

If you have oily skin, give rose water a try, it helps to balance the skin's natural oils which makes it a good fit if you have too much oil. It’s also ideal for dry skin, it’s a natural hydrator that can provide the boost your skin might need.

Cocokind’s formulas take sustainability into account by using formulas that are anhydrous, or waterless because “water is less renewable than we think - it’s an extremely precious resource!”

They source organic ingredients wherever possible and are committed to sustainability throughout their entire supply chain.

This toner is made ethically in Arizona and they measure and share their carbon footprint on every label. I love seeing more of this from brands, it gives us consumers a tangible look at the impact of the item we are buying and it holds the company accountable. The brand is cruelty-free but not vegan. Bottled in glass.

4. Thayers Organic Unscented Witch Hazel

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If you want something simple for your skin, Thayers comes in three sizes (including a trail size) and there are a few formulations to choose from Cucumber, Rose Petal, Coconut Water, Original and Unscented. They are all alcohol-free and made with USDA-certified organic witch hazel and Aloe Vera for a little extra hydration boost.

Witch Hazel is very refreshing and your skin will feel super-clean without the harsh sting of alcohol. This is a very basic natural toner and great for people who want to ease into using a natural toner on a regular basis.

Got acne-prone skin? This might be worth a try, witch hazel is great for oily prone skin and can help to manage breakouts. Witch hazel is a universal ingredient that can also benefit entices, normal, oily, and dry skin types.

Thayers has been formulating skincare for 175 years. Along with toners, you will find deodorant, body bars, and other remedies. Their witch hazel and Aloe Vera are grown locally and sustainably on their family farm. They are a cruelty-free brand but not vegan. Bottled plastic.

5. Indie Lee COQ-10 Toner

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Indie Lee’s CoQ10 Toner is the best natural toner for dry skin, it's free from alcohol, parabens, and silicones. Don’t let the fact that it has minimal ingredients fool you. It’s packed full of well-known hydrating ingredients like aloe vera and hyaluronic acid. But it’s the powerful antioxidants including the powerhouse extract, and CoQ-10 that will leave your skin soothed, hydrated, and rejuvenated. It feels like a dream potion going on.

CoQ-10 (Coenzyme Q10) can also diminish age spots and fine lines, balanced PG levels, and reduces inflammation.

Indie Lee is not called a "cult classic" for nothing. With a simple ingredients list that reads like an herbal apothecary, this natural toner lives up to its name.

I’ve used this toner on and off for years mostly in the morning, it's super hydrating so don’t have to use moisturizer. I use it at night before my moisturizer. It’s clean and affordable.

Indie Lee is all about skincare with standards, they are cruelty-free free and they are Prop 65 and EU compliant, which means they formulate without 1300+ banned ingredients in their skincare. Bottled in glass.

6. Herbivore Jasmine Green Tea Balancing Toner

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This organic Jasmine Water is the best natural toner for oily skin, it's infused with antioxidant-rich Green Tea and a clarifying combination of Salicin-rich Willow Bark and Aloe Vera all SO beneficial to help target large pores, acne, blemishes, and oily skin.

Skin care is often like a dance of beauty, balance, and grace and Herbivore gets it right every single time. This non-toxic toner smells incredible thanks to the Jasmine floral water.

Quite simply, it's a classic with stunning ingredients like green tea extract loaded with antioxidants to reduce redness and white willow bark, a natural beta-hydroxy acid (BHA), it is high in anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial Salicin to help clarify and balance skin.

This natural moisturizing toner is amazingly calming to my skin and is the perfect dose of moisture on freezing winter days or hot summer nights!

Herbivore is created with "natural ingredients, plant-based food-grade cold-pressed oils, steam distilled therapeutic-grade essential oils, GMO-free soy wax, recyclable and reusable packaging, many certified organic ingredients.”

Herbivore Botanicals is certified by Leaping Bunny & Peta. They are 100% vegan, which means none of their products contain any animal-derived ingredients.

This all-natural toner has become a staple in my skincare arsenal.  All their products are packaged in glass and paper, using recycled & recyclable plastic only when necessary. They are also free of synthetic ingredients, including dyes, fragrances, and parabens. By formulating without synthetic ingredients, they strive to create products to be as biocompatible as possible.

7. Pai Skincare Century Flower

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If you have sensitive skin like me, then you absolutely need to try Pai. All of their skin products revive, support, soothe, and protect the skin. Pai's Century Flower Toner is perfect if you need to calm dry, red, and sensitive skin.  After using it my skin is softer and oh-so-hydrated thanks to the nutrient-dense ‘living water’ which circulates within the Lotus plant making this tonic rich in vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.

“Cultivated for over 3,000 years, the Lotus Flower meets 21st-century knowhow to extract the active water direct from the plant. This plant "juice" drinks up skin-loving nutrients from the soil and the clever extraction process retains the balanced content of trace elements, minerals, and salts. It is also the exact pH of healthy skin. Lotus seeds can lie dormant for centuries before the right circumstances coax them into flowering. This is the love your skin needs to bloom again.”

This toner has helped improve my skin tone and texture, while Orange Blossom helps to refresh and brighten skin prone to dryness.

Every Pai product is formulated and manufactured in their London HQ and they are independently certified by COSMOS (Soil Association), Cruelty-Free International, and The Vegan Society. Bottled in glass.

8. Activist Healing Water Toning Mist

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As we age our skin starts to show the signs of aging, it’s why it's so important to apply good sunscreen on a daily basis. Aging skin needs more hydration and for this, I turn to Activist's Healing Water Toning Mist.

My skin has changed as I’ve aged, it’s not as resilient as it was a few years ago, it’s why I really love this mist, its lightweight, and easily absorbed, never causes breakouts or clogged pores, and contains high-activity antioxidant properties due to Licorice root extract which promotes repair and reduces hyperpigmentation.

The Refreshing green scent of freshly sliced cucumbers will make you feel as cool as a...cucumber!

These impeccable ingredients are so pure, so rich, and in such high concentrations, that they infuse each product with a blanket of natural living color that produces results.

Activist is a “small, but mighty team” whose products are handmade in small batches in their studio lab in California.

What I really LOVE so much about this brand is you have the option to refill your product.

“Our eco-friendly packaging system, which pairs gorgeous refillable glass containers with low-waste refill pouches, makes it super convenient to reduce your footprint.”

On top of this, they ship all of their orders using low-impact packing materials that are recyclable and/or compostable and made with post-consumer waste.

All products are free from crappy ingredients we want to avoid, they seek sustainably-minded suppliers, and prioritize women and people of color when selecting their partners.

Every purchase from Activist Skincare also goes further to support real activism. 5% of all sales are donated to environmental advocacy groups, supporting various NGOs and helping to fund the change and they are vegan and cruelty-free.

9. Best Homemade Toner: Aloe Vera + Rose Water Toner

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I've been making this homemade toner for years and I've even gifted it to friends and family who love it, which makes me very happy. It's a simple rosepetal-infused base that will hydrate and refresh normal or dehydrated skin. Rose is a natural astringent that helps to tighten pores leaving the skin feeling smooth and hydrated. It's also really calming for rosacea and eczema.

Aloe Vera is well known for soothing the skin and has a wonderful cooling effect. It can also heal and moisturize.

Ingredients

1. 100ml mineral water
2. 1 tbsp dried rose petals
3. 1 tsp glycerin
4. 1 tsp aloe vera juice

Instructions

1. Boil the mineral water
2. Place rose petals into a glass bowl and pour in the boiling water
3. Let it steep for 10 mins then strain
4. Add the glycerin and aloe vera juice to the infusion and stir thoroughly
5. Pour the mixture into a sterilized bottle
6. Once it's cooled, seal the bottle
7. Stores in the fridge for up to 6 weeks

How to use

Shake before use. Once you have cleansed and washed your face apply to your face using a reusable cotton round. Avoid the eye area. You can also attach an atomizer to the bottle for a facial spritz. Makes 3.5Fl OZ (100ml).

What are natural toners?

Natural face toner can be your skin's secret weapon! It’s typically a lightweight liquid that can penetrate the skin quickly leaving it feeling fresh and hydrated. Its main job is to get rid of any build-up left behind by makeup, skincare, or even dirt.

A good eco-friendly toner is formulated with powerful, skin-soothing ingredients like aloe, witch-hazel, green tea, fermented rice water, apple cider vinegar, and rosewater.

Your toner should never irritate your skin or cause excessive dryness. It should tighten pores and cleanse the skin thoroughly.

A toner is not an “astringent”, which usually contains alcohol, they are great for people with very oily skin, but should not be used as a toner. A good toner will help prep your skin letting it absorb your other skincare and makeup products.

Why consider a natural face toner?

It’s simple. To avoid toxic and synthetic ingredients found in most conventional toners. Be on the lookout for:

Benzoyl peroxide is used in toners to help clogged pores and oily skin, the problem is it also reduces the bacteria on the surface of your face which can lead to black and whiteheads. It’s also very drying.

Synthetic Fragrances are a concoction of toxins used in the industry. It’s a blanket term used by the industry, the issue is we don’t know what ingredients fall under this term. Synthetic fragrances can cause headaches, dermatitis, breakouts, and more!

Other ingredients to avoid: parabens and PEG compounds.

How do we pick the best natural toner?

Whether you are looking for organic face wash, natural makeup remover, or organic moisturizer, we review and vet all beauty products using our clean beauty criteria.

We tend to favor products that are local and where the ingredients are sourced locally or sustainably.

For ingredients like mica and palm oil, we try to feature brands that are not using either. Or at the very least have reputable certification in place that can vouch for their origins. Animal-derived ingredients are also accounted for so we’ve got your back if you’re vegan. And many brands are cruelty-free so it’s a lot easier to find products that are not tested on animals.

Both our oceans and our landfills are filling up with trash at an astonishing rate, and choosing thoughtfully packaged products is one of our first lines of defense.

Since plastic is simply everywhere we really just try our best to find products that use packaging that can either be composted, easily recycled, or at the very least reused or repurposed.

Brands that offer their own take-back or recycling programs are arguably the real MVPs though carbon emissions from shipping should also be considered (or offset).

Inclusivity in terms of skin tone and access is super crucial when it comes to sustainability so we also make it a point to look for brands that can serve a wide range of people all around.

How to choose the right natural toner for your skin type?

It all comes down to the ingredients, look for these on the bottle:

Oily/Acne-prone skin: Antibacterial ingredients are best, look for aloe Vera, tea tree, willow bark, lavender, and witch hazel.

Dry/aging skin: Look for soothing ingredients like chamomile, rose, or aloe Vera. 

Combination /Normal Skin: Look for ingredients like willow bark, chamomile, rose, and witch hazel.

A final word on natural toners

Many think that natural toners for your face are optional, but over the years I have come to believe that they are essential steps in my skincare regime. Whether you use simple floral water or herbal water or something a little more complex. A good organic toner — one rich in nourishing herbal extracts and antioxidants, and free from alcohol and harsh preservatives — helps to rebalance the skin after washing and prepares the skin for your moisturizer.

If you work out, refresh your skin with a natural toner afterward. Swat can clog pores, making your skin look blotchy and aggravating existing conditions, like ance.

Do you use toners? Which are your favorites? If you found this post helpful, please help someone by sharing this article – Sharing is caring 🙂!

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