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It might be time to finally upgrade that toner you’ve been using since high school, and switch to one of the best milky toners. This particular type works like the classic skin care product to exfoliate and clarify, but also hydrates for a more glowy complexion. They tend to focus more on hydration and barrier support, which makes them a great choice for those with redness-prone and sensitive skin, says Brooke Jeffy, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Arizona.
To find the right one for your skin type, our editors spoke to dermatologists and put a handful of the most popular ones to the test. After trying just over a dozen, the Tirtir Milk Skin Rice Toner came out on top because it’s affordable at under $30, helps minimize redness and oiliness, doesn’t feel sticky after application, and makes skin look plump and radiant. We also found options for aging skin types, plus picks suitable for acne-prone and dry skin.
The best milky toners, at a glance
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How we tested
We tested milky toners by evaluating ingredients, texture, absorbency, and efficacy. The best ones had moisture-replenishing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, niacinamide, and peptides to help plump and firm the skin. They also absorbed quickly and dried down with no stickiness or residue. The textures were as promised: milky and creamy but not overly liquid. Finally, the winners on this list made the cut for giving us a radiant, glowing complexion that didn’t feel stripped or dry after application.
Best Overall: Tirtir Milk Skin Rice Toner
- Pros: Gives you fresh, dewy skin and hydration that lasts all day; free of alcohol and fragrance
- Cons: It’s a bit sticky and takes a minute to dry down
“Milky toners have a creamy, emulsion-like texture that sets them apart from the watery, astringent toners you may be used to. Instead of stripping, they deliver hydration and comfort to the skin—making them an especially good choice for anyone with dryness, sensitivity, or mature skin,” says Ashley Magovern, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and Dermstore medical advisory board member. This antiaging toner is at the top of our list because it does all of these things, and really replenishes like no toner we’ve tried before. It has a blend of niacinamide, ceramides, and rice bran, plus sodium hyaluronate to ensure that skin stays moisturized for hours on end. It doesn’t make oily skin appear shiny or greasy either; instead, it gives all skin types a radiant, lit-from-within-glow. We also recommend it because of its value: At under $30 for a whopping 5 fl. oz., it’ll last you for months.
What our tester says: “I can never go back to any other toner after using this Tirtir one. I wasn’t convinced that a milky toner was necessary since I already use toner pads for exfoliation, but after adding it to my routine, I’ve noticed my skin barrier feels so silky, smooth, and hydrated. I use it in the morning and layer it under other skin care and makeup products. It doesn’t pill and the texture is a bit thicker than other toners, so I can really feel it add moisture back to my skin. It’s still a liquid so I would recommend using a cotton pad, but I like to use my hands to really press the product onto my skin,” says Glamour senior commerce editor Jenifer Calle, who has oily, combination skin.
Best for Dry Skin: Laneige Cream Skin Refillable Toner & Moisturizer with Ceramides and Peptides
- Pros: Helps improve discoloration; deeply hydrates dry patches
- Cons: Pricey for the size
“This toner is packed with ceramides and peptides, providing long-lasting hydration to dry skin,” says Dr. Jeffy, who shares that it’s one of her favorite milky toners on the market. It has a lightweight, nonsticky texture that dries down quickly, and makes skin look and feel soft and glossy. It’s also perfect if you often deal with skin tightness, dryness, or flaking.
What our tester says: “A toner and moisturizer together is something I never thought was possible, as toners are typically very drying and usually sting your skin when you apply it. The opposite happened when I used the Laneige Cream Skin—my skin felt so soothed right after my first application and looked radiant because it was instantly hydrated. The formula is very light and doesn’t have any smell to it. This is a great solution to solve dryness after you wash your face, and it’s a product I am absolutely incorporating into my morning and nightly routines. I did apply a very light moisturizer on top for my daily facial SPF, but at night you really don’t need anything else before bed,” says Condé Nast executive director Norell Zable.
Best for Redness: Anua Rice 70 Glow Milky Toner
- Pros: Has a luxurious milky texture that skin simply drinks up; affordable
- Cons: Bottle is a little leaky
A nourishing milky toner is a great option for those dealing with skin redness and rosacea because its hydrating ingredients often help decrease inflammation and discoloration. This Korean toner has a blend of niacinamide and ceramides, and is completely noncomedogenic, which ensures that it won’t clog pores and cause pimples. It’s also suitable for those who deal with a lot of oiliness, and helps balance out sebum production.
What our testers say: “Whenever I want my skin to look extra glassy and radiant, I use this rice toner,” says Sarah Y. Wu, who has dry skin. She likes that it gradually brightens her dark spots and absorbs quickly.
Glamour senior analyst Loneeja Talukdar is also a fan. “It feels so light, soothing, and refreshing every time I apply it. It absorbs quickly without any heaviness or stickiness, but still manages to give my skin that soft, plump, and well-hydrated feeling that lasts all day. It makes serums and moisturizers glide on better, while also being gentle enough on my sensitive skin. With regular use, I’ve noticed my skin feels smoother, and has a healthy glow that makes me want to keep reaching for it every day,” she says.
Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Thayers Hydrating Milky Face Toner
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- Pros: Keeps skin hydrated; doesn’t feel greasy; calms inflammation
- Cons: Can be a bit drying
Acne-prone skin types can benefit from a milky face toner that strengthens the skin barrier and smooths texture. It has a blend of hyaluronic acid, snow mushroom, and elderflower water to help increase moisture levels and calm skin.
What our tester says: “I always deal with redness and breakouts around my nose and on my chin, so a toner is a nonnegotiable for me,” says Glamour commerce writer Alanna Martine Kilkeary. “While I usually douse myself in AHA/BHA formulas to help exfoliate away dead skin in these areas, sometimes when my skin is a little extra sensitive (often during temperature and season changes), I opt for this gentler toner to smooth out the area. After using it recently for a few weeks, the uneven texture on my chin is a lot softer and less noticeable, and I’ve broken out very little. Definitely keeping this one with me as we transition to the colder months.”
Best for Sensitive and Aging Skin: Charlotte Tilbury Daily Glow Toner With Niacinamide
- Pros: Silky, lightweight texture; hydrating; cruelty-free formula
- Cons: Pricey
“Unlike most exfoliating toners, this one is acid-free, and has prickly-pear and red-clover-flower extracts, plus peptides to support skin cell turnover. It also contains glycerin and sodium hyaluronate to hydrate, shea butter to support the skin barrier, and niacinamide to improve tone and texture,” says Hadley King, MD, a certified NYC-based dermatologist.
What our tester says: Glamour’s Kilkeary is a fan, too, and swears that it’s great for sensitive or aging skin that’s prone to breakouts. “While this pick does the job of making my skin feel smooth and fresh, it also gives you the most gentle exfoliation to keep pimples at bay. I really love using this one at night after taking my makeup off because it has a nice, clean finish and a calming texture. I’ve also noticed an improvement in my fine lines after using this,” she says.
Best for Combination Skin: Rhode Glazing Milk
- Pros: Adds glow and hydration without feeling greasy; gently exfoliates
- Cons: Pricey for the size
If you have combination skin, you know the struggle of finding a skin toner that will both gently exfoliate and hydrate. Hailey Bieber manages to accomplish the best of both worlds with her glazing milk: It’s filled with ceramides, beta-glucan, and vitamin E to help strengthen the skin’s barrier, and improve dullness and discoloration.
What our tester says: “I sometimes deal with small eczema flare-ups on my face, and oily skin in other areas, so settling on a toner that’s hydrating yet doesn’t leave any sticky residue or heaviness behind is much needed. This glazing milk lives up to the hype for all the things—it keeps my skin calm and even-toned, and is perfect for makeup prep,” says Glamour’s Kilkeary.
Best Korean Beauty Toner: Beauty of Joseon Glow Replenishing Rice Milk
- Pros: Gives you glowing, fresh skin
- Cons: A little sticky
Dr. Jeffy recommends this K-beauty rice-milk toner because it offers up “tried-and-true hydration that is not overwhelming to normal to oily skin types,” she says. It has a combination of rice extract and amino acids, plus a sebum-absorbing complex that helps balance out the skin and suck up pollution from pores, making it a staple in any Korean skin care routine.
What our tester says: Glamour’s Calle likes that it adds just enough hydration on her oily, combo complexion. “My skin feels balanced when I use this milky rice toner. It gives me a radiant glow and hydrates enough that I don’t need more products at night (thought I still like to use more). On the flip side, it might not be hydrating enough for extremely dry skin, it’s runny, and you do have to shake the product before using it,” she says.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly is a milky toner, and how is it different from a regular toner?
Milky toners focus more on hydration and supporting the skin’s barrier, according to Dr. Jeffy. “Within the category of toners, milky toners more aggressively hydrate drier skin and provide hydration more comfortably to oily skin,” she says.
How often should you use a milky toner?
You can use a milky toner once to twice a day, says Dr. Jeffy. Most are packed with hydrating skin ingredients that won’t necessarily strip or harshly exfoliate your skin, so they’re pretty easy to incorporate into an existing skin care routine. Dr. Magovern notes that even once a day can make a huge difference if you have dry or sensitive skin.
Do milky toners clog pores? Do they brighten the skin?
For the most part, milky toners are noncomedogenic, says Dr. Magovern, meaning they won’t clog your pores. “While they don’t exfoliate like acid toners, the hydration they deliver leaves skin plumper, smoother, and more radiant,” says Dr. Magovern. If they do contain ingredients like hydroxy acids or niacinamide, they may brighten the skin, Dr. Jeffy adds.
Meet the experts
- Brooke Jeffy, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Arizona
- Ashley Magovern, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and Dermstore medical advisory board member