7 Best Glycolic Acid Toners for Fresh & Fab Skin (2021 ✅)

A few years ago, I stumbled across La Roche-Posay after falling in love with Cicaplast Balm B5.

(I literally achieved glass skin using this face cream 😀)

To my surprise, La Roche-Posay was very affordable, no more than your average drugstore brand.

And yet, this company always provides amazing formulas that are gentle yet effective and safe for sensitive skin.

That's why I recommend Effaclar Clarifying Solution as the best glycolic acid toner for most skin conditions.

With 0.5% salicylic acid and 2% glycolic acid, this toner is excellent for refreshing tired skin, purifying clogged pores, and reducing the appearance of acne.

Using a daily toner, especially one with both AHA/BHAs, helps regulate oily skin by removing excess oils, dirt, makeup, and dead skin cells to avoid clogging pores, preventing future blemishes and breakouts.

From the makers of the #1 bestselling Meladerm, comes an equally excellent (but lesser-known) facial toner.

Purifying Toner is part of a brightening routine inspired by the massive success of Meladerm for treating hyperpigmentation, dark spots, melasma, and age spots.

(for more info, check out the Starter Brightening Kit which comes with 2 full-size bottles of Meladerm)

Upon reviewing the ingredient list (as I do for every product in my articles), I quickly realized that this toner was loaded with botanical extracts without common harsh chemicals like parabens, sulfates, or phthalates.

Aloe vera, glycolic acid, and witch hazel are all at the top and help hydrate, exfoliate, and cleanse, respectively.

Ginkgo biloba (Maidenhair tree) contains quercetin, an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, that along with chamomile, green tea, and ginger root, soothes skin inflammation like acne and reduces signs of aging.

Meanwhile, kojic acid and licorice root are powerful and natural skin brighteners that inhibit melanin and fade dark spots (both are found in Meladerm as well).

Does your skin need a professional treatment?

Glytone is a brand of dermatologist grade products that specializes in alpha hydroxy acids.

They are best known for formulating their products based on free acid value, which is a more accurate measure of the true concentration of glycolic acid.

(in this rare case, Glytone doesn't disclose a free acid value but we know it's less than 5% glycolic acid)

Enhance Brightening Solution is designed to brighten dark spots and uneven skin tone with an azelaic acid derivative (potassium azeloyl diglycinate) and niacinamide.

Both are melanin inhibitors that slow melanin synthesis or prevent skin cells from receiving melanosomes. (source: British Journal of Dermatology, 2013)

In addition, the azelaic acid derivative has been shown to reduce excess sebum by 32% over a 4-week period. (source: Cosmetics and Toiletries, 2002)

If you're looking for the strongest glycolic acid toner, Platinum Skin Care uses a full 10% glycolic acid at pH 4.5 for more significant skincare benefits.

This is a great toner to incorporate into an anti-aging skincare routine as glycolic acid helps break down damaged skin tissues like wrinkles and fine lines to stimulate the growth of new, healthy skin.

Hyperpigmentation, such as melasma and sun damage, will also benefit from a regular glycolic acid routine, including a cleanser, toner, cream, and chemical peel.

RELATED:

• The 7 Best Glycolic Acid Products (2021 ✅)

Aside from glycolic acid, Revitalizing Glycolic Toner includes smaller amounts of lactic and citric acids, plus aloe vera and chamomile to hydrate and soothe skin.

And, if you didn't know, Platinum Skin Care has some of the best chemical peels too, including their #1 TCA peel.

If you've read this far into my article, you're in for a special skin treat!

Pixi Glow Tonic is an award-winning toner (although they don't state which award 🤔) that's available at drugstores, Target, Ulta, and Pixi Beauty. 

(I don't recommend buying from Amazon, however, as I've seen many customers complain about knock-offs)

At 8.5 oz for only $29, Pixi Glow Tonic is very good value, considering that you get 5% glycolic acid while most glycolic acid toners don't even list the actual percentage.

I particularly like that this toner is alcohol-free (which was surprisingly hard to find!) but there's still a number of preservatives and fragrances on the ingredient list.

Of course, it'd be a sin if I didn't include the cult classic, The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution.

If you plan to get it, I recommend buying directly from DECIEM as the prices on Amazon are always higher.

Like most The Ordinary products, this toner has both an amazing formula and an amazing price.

Most notably, it's been formulated at pH 3.5-3.7, which is closer to the natural pH of glycolic acid at 3.83.

The lower pH creates more free acids of glycolic acid (more effective) but increases the risk of skin irritation.

Personally, I've tried this toner before but it always left behind an itchy feeling that made it difficult to leave on.

But with 7% glycolic acid, rose water, aloe vera, ginseng, and amino acids, it's definitely a ton of value compared to competing glycolic acid toners at this price point.

Have you ever thought to yourself, "why don't they make exfoliating toners in spray forms?"

Well, CosRX actually did and it's quickly turned into a bestselling K-beauty product!

The CosRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner features natural AHAs and BHAs from apple water (malic acid) and willow bark water (salicylic acid).

Add in mineral water, a bit of glycolic acid, allantoin, and panthenol, and you've got yourself a refreshing toner mist to cleanse and hydrate your skin anywhere, anytime.

At 5 oz for around $15, it's affordable enough to apply generously to your face or body to cleanse and refresh before additional skincare treatments.