Updated 3/22/2024

I’ll be honest, beauty facial toners were something I had to relearn and understand what they actually were and how they should be used. Especially when I embarked on a toxic-free clean beauty skincare routine. When I thought about facial toners, I thought of…you guessed it, Sea Breeze Astringent.

Yep. Y’all thought it too!

It was something I wanted no parts of. It was full of alcohol, it was drying and low-key burned your face off.

Over the years, the cosmetic industry had to really revamp that view of facial toners and how they fit into a skincare and it has changed drastically.

While some may argue that toners might not be a true necessity, you really should incorporate one into your skincare routine.

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What does a face toner do?

Toners can be a range of things from hydrating to exfoliating. Below are a few things they are known to do:

1. Remove excess oil and impurities

2. Hydrate

3. Exfoliate

4. Cleanse

5. Brighten

6. Reduce inflammation and redness

Probably the biggest takeaway of what a facial toner is supposed to do is, hydrate. Most toners are liquid and depending on the type of toner, you use a cotton pad or your clean fingers and apply the toner to your face after cleansing.

Why should I get a face toner?

Toners are like a base to your foundation. They help your serums, facial oils and other skincare products work at its best. Depending on the toner, it will prep your skin so it is clean and hydrated and ready to absorb other products.

Tip: be sure to apply your face toner no more than a minute after you have cleansed. The skin is still damp and will absorb the product best.

Why chose a toxic free toner?

Simply put, they have a bunch of gunk in them. From synthetic fragrances, too dyes, too toxic chemicals that can cause serious harm to the body and our environment. The toners listed below have all natural and clean ingredients.

Note: I am not a Dermatologist nor an Esthetician. This is solely based on my research, knowledge, and opinion.

Here are my top 5 toxic free facial toners from Clean Beauty Brands.

1. Ursa Major: 4-in-1 Essential Face Tonic
   

It is hard to find a consistent brand that almost every product they have passes my clean beauty/toxic free standards test and this face toner does not disappoint. According to their site, this is an all in one that will cleanse, hydrate, soothe and exfoliate.

I love this toner. Sometimes I just use this in morning in place of my face wash and it does the job every time. The ingredient list is amazing with one of its main ingredients being aloe vera. It leave my skin feeling refreshed and energized. I would recommend this face toner for all skin types but with normal to combination skin types benefiting the most.

Retail locations:

Amazon

Ursa Major

Credo Beauty

This face toner is new on the scene but is making a big statement. It has a very popular and powerful ingredient, Beta-Hydroxy Acid (BHA). If you are not familiar with BHAs then get familiar because they will change your life! The most common type of BHA is salicylic acid. This baby will unclog pores, treat and prevent acne, shrink pores, reduce oil production, and exfoliate. Talk about a powerhouse. This face toner is ideal for combination to acne prone skin.

I have combination to oily skin sometimes so salicylic acid is a must in my skincare routine. Did I mention that this is in a glass bottle? This is a win for the skin and a win for the environment.

Retail Locations:

Sephora

3. Vie Beauty 30ROSES Hydrating Rose Water Facial Mist

This face toner is nice and soothing and helps to balance the skin. The Rose Water facial spray pairs well with serums and moisturizers rich in ceramides, hyaluronic acid and hydrating properties. This amazing facial spray is woman black owned. 

Amazon 30Roses

I just love rose water. Rosewater is so hydrating, it provides antioxidants and balance to the skin. It reduces wrinkles, minimize pores and a host of other wonderful things.

The thing I love most about this face toner is that it only has one ingredient, organic rosewater. Another thing I love about this toner, you can get it from Target. Win!

Any and everyone with all skin types can benefit from this toner!

Amazon

Target

Ulta

Walmart

5. January Labs: Daily Brightening Tonic

This face toner has all of the ingredients that anyone would want in a toner. It stimulates collagen, targets hyperpigmentation, while giving you a little exfoliation using glycolic acid. It evens hydrates and balances your skin. What more could you ask for?

Normal to combination skin can benefit from this toner!

Price: $28.00 USD

Retail Location

Amazon

Credo Beauty
Neiman Marcus

Have you all found a non toxic face toner that works? If so, let me know and share below!

Ingredients to avoid in skincare

Below are a list of ingredients that are typically found in skincare products, that should be avoided: to see the complete list of toxic-ingredients to avoid, click here —> LINK

SkinCare:

• Face moisturizers, Sunscreen, Face wash, Face mask, Serums, Face Toners

  • Benzalkonium Chloride

  • Butylatedhydroxy Anisole and Butylated Hydroxytoluen

  • Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)

  • Hydroquinone

    • Benzene

  • Methylisothiazolinone and methylchloroisothiazolinone

  • Benzophenone, Oxybenzone, and Octinoxate

  • Parabens (methyl-, isobutyl-, propyl- and others)

  • Ethoxylated Ingredients

    • Ceteareth-20, Emulsifying wax, Polysorbate 60, Polysorbate-20, 1,4-Dioxane, Ethylene Oxide

  • Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLS and SLES)

  • Synthetic flavor or fragrance

  • Ethylhexylglycerin

  • Phenoxyethanol (maximum concentration of 1.0%)

  • Polyethylene glycol (PEG compounds)

  • Petrolatum and Paraffin

    • possible PAH contamination. PAH (which stands for Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons)

  • Triclosan and Triclocarban

  • Aluminum Chlorhydrate

  • Ethanolamines (MEA/DEA/TEA)

  • Formaldehyde

    • Hydantoin, Diazolidinyl Urea and Quaternium-15

  • Food dyes

You will hear me say this throughout this journey at the end of every blog, this is a jog, not a sprint, and you got this.

You do not have to tackle everything at once. Take it one step at a time and I will help you along the way!

If you have any questions that you want to ask me directly, please click the email icon at the top left of the page.

With love,

Mundi🌱