12 Best Toners For All Your Oily Skin Concerns

Last Updated on April 2, 2024

Toners as our skin’s new best friends. And this guide will uncover all the essentials you need to know about using a face toner for oily skin, along with some of the best options available here in India.

What Do Face Toners Do For Oily Skin?

When you have oily skin, your sebaceous glands decide to go into overdrive, producing more oil than your skin needs. This excess oil can lead to enlarged pores, blackheads and sometimes, pesky breakouts.

So you need the right skincare products to manage your oily skin. Now, why toners, you might ask? In the past, toners had high levels of alcohol, which could be harsh on the skin, leading to the belief that toners were unnecessary or even harmful.

However, modern toners have evolved significantly, with many formulated to provide specific benefits for different skin concerns. From helping to balance pH and hydration levels, tighten pores, and even prep your skin for serums and moisturizers, toners have become multi-faceted.

Which Toner Is Best For Oily Skin?

In India, you’ll find a wide range of toners specially formulated to address various skin concerns faced by people with oily skin, such as :

1. Hydrating Toners:

When your skin is properly hydrated, it’s less likely to go into panic mode and produce excess oil to compensate for dryness. Toners infused with humectants like glycerin, aloe vera or hyaluronic acid will help bind water to your skin, keeping it plump and hydrated without feeling greasy.

2. Pore Tightening Toners:

Your pores don’t have little doors that open and close. However, they can expand in size, leading to excess oil production and visible pores. Toners formulated with ingredients like niacinamide or witch hazel will work wonders when it comes to minimizing the appearance of enlarged pores.

3. Exfoliating Toners:

Exfoliating toners containing salicylic acid can penetrate deep into your pores, dissolving oil and dead skin cells that clog them up. By keeping your pores clear, they help prevent blackheads, whiteheads, and even acne before they even have a chance to peak through the skin.

Also Read: Best Salicylic Acid Face Wash For Oily Skin

4. Soothing Toners:

Acne is often aggravated by inflammation, so toners with soothing ingredients like chamomile, Centella asiatica, aloe vera, or green tea extract can work wonders for calming angry, irritated skin. These ingredients help reduce redness and swelling and promote faster healing, making your breakouts less noticeable.

5. Aromatic Toners:

Apart from the skincare benefits, some toners also provide relaxation and mood-enhancing benefits. The gentle aroma from floral hydrosols and essential oils can help to unwind built-up stress, turning your skincare regime into a self-care ritual rather than a chore.

Best Toner For Oily Skin In India

1.  Plum Green Tea Toner

Formulated to address skincare concerns faced by oily skin, this lightweight toner has a non-drying formula that absorbs instantly into the skin. It is infused with green tea extracts, glycolic acid and glycerin to gently fight pimples, minimize the appearance of pores, and exfoliate dead skin cells. 

The toner leaves skin softer, and brighter and helps prevent breakouts while keeping skin hydrated. Additionally, it is also vegan-friendly and suitable for combination, oily and acne-prone skin types.

2. Dot & Key Watermelon & Glycolic Toner

Packed with skin-loving ingredients like watermelon extract, glycolic, and lactic acid, this alcohol-free toner reduces the appearance of large pores while balancing sebum production for a shine-free complexion. 

Its formula gently exfoliates skin and fights pigmentation, leaving your skin even-toned all while boasting a refreshing melony fragrance. And it is free of parabens, GMOs, and sulphates.

3. Re’equil Pore Refining Toner

This toner acts as an astringent to help shrink pores, soothe the skin, and minimize oiliness. Specifically designed for oily and acne-prone skin types, it has 9 botanical extracts including witch hazel, aloe vera juice and sage, along with glycerin and allantoin as the star ingredients.

This toner has a water-like texture, balances sebum levels and prevents breakouts without stripping the skin of moisture, ensuring your skin feels comfortable. 

4. Acne Squad Wonder Face Toner

Created with the help of dermatologists, this toner is a versatile solution for acne-prone skin. It is infused with a blend of 4% PHA, niacinamide, allantoin, gluconolactone, Enantia, and Chlorantha Bark Extracts to offer gentle exfoliation.

The non-comedogenic formulation helps remove dead skin cells and minimizes enlarged pores to tighten the skin. The result is reduced oiliness and a clearer, blemish-free complexion that feels fresh.

5. Juicy Chemistry Bulgarian Rose Water

This organic rose water toner delivers a multitude of benefits for your oily skin. It effectively controls excess oil, cleanses pores and hydrates your skin with its soothing, antibacterial, and antiseptic properties. 

Made of steam-distilled Damask roses, the toner is also clinically proven to promote brighter, even-toned skin and is certified organic by Ecocert France.

6. Bonsoul Witch Hazel Toner

Made by steam distillation of twigs from organically grown witch hazel plants, this toner is a natural, alcohol-free solution suitable for sensitive, oily skin. With its soothing natural astringent properties, witch hazel distillate effectively cleanses the skin and removes excess oil.

It also tightens enlarged pores and reduces skin blemishes while also providing relief from itching and discomfort caused by acne.

7. Isntree Green Tea Fresh Facial Toner

This toner is perfect if you have oily or combination skin. Formulated with 80% green tea harvested from Jeju Island, it has a super calming effect that provides you relief from inflammation. 

On top of that, the toner also controls excess sebum levels and has various antioxidant-rich natural extracts that soothe, protect and brighten your skin. The formulation is hypoallergenic and has a watery texture with a strong, natural matcha aroma. 

8. CosRX BHA Blackhead Powder Liquid

If blackheads are your biggest bane, try the Cosrx BHA Blackhead Power Liquid. It is a gentle yet power-packed chemical exfoliant with a watery texture for maintaining clear, acne-free, and well-hydrated skin. 

The toner is infused with 4% Betaine Salicylate, willow bark water (a natural BHA source), and niacinamide to tackle excess sebum and unclog pores without irritating the skin. The addition of sodium hyaluronate ensures your skin doesn’t dry out and feels smooth and plump.

9. Raw Beauty Blue Chamomile Toner

This heavenly-smelling natural toner for oily skin calms skin inflammation, redness, and rashes, and provides instant relief when your skin needs it most. Made with 100% Blue Chamomile hydrosol, it soothes troubled skin and also helps reduce puffiness around the eye area.

Vegan-friendly and ideal for anyone with irritated, sensitive, or dehydrated skin, this hydrosol will drive away your tiredness after a long day with its uplifting natural aroma.

10. Dear Klairs Supple Preparation Toner

The hydrating, vegan toner from Klairs is a powerhouse product designed to balance, prep, and hydrate your oily skin. Packed with beta-glucan, lipidure, and hyaluronic acid, it delivers intense hydration deep while removing excess oil and restoring your skin’s pH balance. 

Also enriched with amino acids, the hydrating toner helps reduce irritation and provides and leaves your skin instantly calmer and more supple. Available in both scented and unscented options, this toner is ideal if your oily skin is dehydrated or sensitive.

11. Vilvah Teatree Water Facial Toner

This light and refreshing toner harnesses the power of Tea Tree to reduce acne, redness, and excess oil without leaving your skin feeling dry. Made with only pure steam-distilled tea tree hydrosol,  the toner removes dirt and impurities, fights acne-causing bacteria and soothes blemishes for a clearer, more radiant complexion. 

It is an excellent antibacterial and 100% natural toner for oily, acne-prone skin.

12. Beauty Of Joseon Ginseng Toner

With an impressive 80% ginseng root water, this toner adds an anti-ageing boost to your oily skincare routine. It helps stimulate collagen production, combat breakouts, and reduce inflammation thanks to its high ginseng content. 

Additionally, niacinamide and adenosine balance sebum production and brighten the complexion. Aside from being cruelty-free, the toner is also free of artificial fragrance, colourants, mineral oil, parabens and PEGs.

Best Toner For Oily Skin FAQs