FACIAL MIST/TONER

These are used for swiping away the last traces, for freshening the face in the morning if you can’t face the faff of a proper cleanse, or for a pick-me-up when you (and your face) are flagging; some also like a facial spritz to set make-up, though we didn’t specifically test for that. 

These are NOT exfoliating toners, specifically designed to have a skin-brightening action, by removing dead skin cells. We had plenty of winners in that category, though, which you can read about here. Many of the testers of the winning products – of which there are many, scoring too close to call – were converted to using a toner, seeing the results of a more thorough cleanse and enjoying the sense of freshness delivered.

Some of the products below are mists, some are designed to be drenched onto a pad, before sweeping over the face. We make that clear, from the write-ups, as well as indicating whether there’s any alcohol (which some people find drying), in the formula.

GOLD (JOINT) AWARD L’OCCITANE Immortelle Precious Essential Water

Yet another winner from L’Occitane’s age-defying Immortelle range, which has long been a skincare love of ours, at Beauty Bible. Created from 97% natural ingredients, this alcohol-free facial freshener gives back to skin, as well as sweeping away the last traces of make-up, via ‘macro hyaluronic acid’, to moisturise, plump and ‘reinforce’ the skin, together with a lentil extract to refine the appearance of pores – plus, of course, that immortelle flower water, from a plant that naturally offers some of the benefits of vitamin A-based products. Newly reformulated and repackaged, for 2023 – and better than ever, our testers felt.

£22 for 200ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘The best toner I've used! Smells divine, dispenses easily and magically makes my skin look a few years younger than it actually is. It's a little treat to yourself’ • ‘A couple of people commented that my skin looked clear. I've been having laser hair removal treatments and the ex-nurse/beautician commented that it was obvious that I looked after my skin. A couple of people commented that my skin looked clear’ • ‘Absolutely loved using this product. Gentle to use, no hot red skin like I get with other toners! It gives such a lovely finish to the skin and I felt provided a great base for moisturiser. A pleasure to use as the scent is lovely, especially in the evening, as it's very relaxing. I noticed it would pick up any dirt or make-up left on my skin and left it perfectly prepped for serums and moisturisers’ • ‘While it remains gentle and refreshing, it tackles everything that’s on my face. No stinging or burning sensation, it’s super delicate around eyes. I couldn’t believe how dirty and gross my face was sometimes, and it removed all types of make-up’ • ‘One of the most pleasant, refreshing, effortless and simply nice toners I have ever tried. I looked forward to using it every single day. I noticed following continued use of this product it had a positive effect on my skin’s appearance and tone; it appeared more even and the product leaves a dewy finish when dried which gives a nice subtle fresh glow to the skin.’

£22 for 200ml - click to buy 

GOLD (JOINT) AWARD  Skin in Motion PURIFY IT Witch Hazel Water

The clue’s in the name: Skin in Motion is a range developed with an active lifestyle in mind: ‘exercise-friendly skinwear,’ they call it. Still, you could be a complete couch potato and fall for this alcohol-free toner, we suggest, whose active botanical ingredient is witch hazel – a natural astringent that is also packed with powerful antioxidants. Any drying action is balanced by a castor oil ingredient, meanwhile, and the formula is designed to soothe irritation and sensitivity. Comes in a flip-top bottle.

£13.99 for 100ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘This has been amazing. I love it! I love how easy this product is to use, with its press pump dispenser that makes sure you have enough product, without overloading. It is gentle enough to use all over your face including your eye and lips, unlike some harsher toners’ • ‘Has a powerful cleansing ability, only requiring me to use two cotton pads, and then have a clean face’ • ‘The first thing I noticed after using this toner is the "glow" it gave my skin, something I am a big fan of. Reminded me of an astringent my grandmother introduced me to, as a teen’ • ‘Lots of people have commented to say my skin looks lovely, refreshed and glowing’ • ‘Would complement any person’s regime. It is perfect for the sporty type wanting to "freshen" up, perfect for the teenager that has oily, hormonal, blemish prone skin but isn’t quite committed to a dedicated full routine, the busy mum who misses being able to spend lots of time on her beauty regime but wants the "feel like I am looking after me" feeling, through to the dedicated focused beauty enthusiast who enjoys multiple products’ • ‘Skin did seem clearer and with less breakouts than normal, and my children agreed my skin looked clearer. I will continue to use this product’ • ‘My moisturiser sunk into my skin beautifully; which suggests to me through experience that this toner does exactly what a toner is meant to do: hydrating and preparing the skin to absorb other products, whether that be a serum for anti-ageing products, or a moisturiser for hungry, dehydrated skin. 

£13.99 for 100ml - click to buy 

SILVER (JOINT) AWARD and BEST NATURAL  OSKIA Floral Water

Definitely at the ultra-luxurious end of the toner spectrum – but yet another winner from OSKIA who have again done so well in these Awards. Delicately fragrant organic rosewater is a key ingredient, here, alongside black carrot juice (to protect against free radical damage), vitamin B5 (soothes and enhances skin’s barrier function), plus OSKIA’s signature ingredient MSM – a skin-boosting form of sulphur. It also offers the benefit of hibiscus, which inhibits the production of the enzyme which breaks down skin’s precious elastin. Use with cotton wool or splash onto face, they suggest. (Testers tried this, and liked the technique.)

£58 for 150ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘Immediately on opening, the scent is just heavenly but it also makes quite some improved impression on the skin, toning it beautifully and effectively. It is calming and soothing, and where I would experience red and sensitive skin with other toners, I will apply this to those specific areas knowing that it will give no irritation and form a skin barrier for further products’ • ‘Skin seems to be plumped up and hydrated; it makes a fantastic base for my chosen serum’ • ‘Certainly brightened my skin, leaving it feeling healthy and in good condition, while lifting the spirits as it feels like such a spoiling treat. I was complimented by a friend who asked if I was using new make-up, and rather think this was a result of the lotion!’ • ‘My skin felt fresher and better hydrated after continued use. On several occasions, I didn’t use any other products on my face and was pleasantly surprised that my skin wasn’t dry and felt fresh all day’ • ‘It was great to use as a double cleanse; anything missed with the first cleanse, this got afterwards’ • ‘The floral water toner created a very smooth surface over which to apply other products such as serum, moisturiser and foundation. Skin feels fresh, calm, soothed, moisturised and soft; at the same time, it is refreshing and cooling on a hot day. No tingling sensation; it is very gentle. I would certainly buy this product and in fact, I think it is the best toner I have found.’

£58 for 150ml - click to buy 

SILVER (JOINT) AWARD Scientia Peach & Glow Hydra Skin Tonic

This is a toner that ‘gives back’ rather than taking away, as many do, thanks to its skin-quenching formula. Although runny in texture, Scientia recommend that you apply it to palms, then to skin. As they put it: ‘Forget the cotton rolls (they’ll just soak up your precious product). Instead, apply directly to skin with clean hands.’ So: press into skin, to deliver active ingredients that include Tranexamic acid (which features across quite a few products here), Matrixyl 3000, glycerine and bakuchiol. Peach, lychee and aloe also refresh and hydrate, with the fruit ingredients contributing to the scent of the product, which most testers loved. Oh, and FYI: as they explain, the brand (which was created by Tiffany Salmon, after 15 years in product innovation), is pronounced ‘see-en-cha’.

£24 for 100ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘My skin feels very nourished and healthy, with a glow that I haven’t had for years! I’ve been complimented on my skin; people have been asking if I have had a facial, while one person even said my skin looks plumper and more youthful’ • ‘I LOVED the fragrance. Very light and slightly fruity; I don't normally like scented products, but this smelled so light and fresh’ • ‘A skin nourishing miracle! Much to my amazement, this product is actually really effective; it seemed too 'plump' my skin and I could tell just by looking whether I'd used it that morning or not’ • ‘I think I might love this tonic; my skin is fresher, cleaner and softer, and I’m feeling more confident because I feel my skin is bright and more supple. It has a fresh very light scent and it does the job brilliantly. instant hydration and softness to my skin’ • ‘Love using this product; it’s light, fresh and works. I feel my skin looks fresher and younger, hydrated and soft, and more even’ • ‘A perfect base for serums, moisturiser and make up as it doesn't dry out my skin. A dream to use, with a real user-friendly push down cap top which delivers just exactly the right amount of product that a face needs to feel toned, nourished, revived and hydrated.’

£24 for 100ml - click to buy 

SILVER (JOINT) AWARD RANAVAT Royal Tonique: Hydrating Jasmine Mist

Jasmine, jasmine, jasmine: this part-toner, part facial spray is based entirely on steam-distilled fresh jasmine flowers. harvested from a garden in West India. It works to soothe and hydrate all skintypes, but in particular, dry complexions; jasmine is rich in antioxidants and known for its hydrating power. RANAVAT’s is a fascinating story: its founder, a ‘science-obsessed teen’, qualified in industrial engineering, but became switched on to the benefits of Ayurveda, launching her brand with an on-staff Ayurvedic doctor to ensure that every element of this luxe range is created in line with traditional practice. It won’t come as a surprise to hear that testers in particular love, love, loved the scent.

£45 for 50ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘OMG this is my new Holy Grail product. So long have I been searching for a great facial mist; I use this spray constantly and will be a new long-term staple in my skincare kit. I would recommend this spray to everyone needing added hydration’ • ‘This is one of the best mists I've tried. The smell is simply divine. The way the mist pump works, and the product is distributed is second to none. It's incredibly even, enabling me to use the product frequently without messing up my make-up, and it feels absolutely wonderful on my skin’ • ‘Leaves skin dewy, with added hydration, but not wet. Incredibly beautiful scent (I love jasmine)’ • ‘Skin was fresher, felt softer, and my skin held my make-up really well, too – it almost ‘set’ my face for the day. Very refreshing for use over make-up and throughout the day’ • ‘I would recommend it for anyone feeling unwell, menopause symptoms, heat problems, travelling and working in dry rooms/air conditioning. The fragrance is beautiful and wouldn't clash with other scents, either’ • ‘I received this mist and thought what a gimmick it was – just a spray bottle of smelly water with a fine nozzle to mist it. How wrong I was! It really surprised me how much I appreciated the instant benefits this mist provides – left skin dewy, plumper, more awake and did a great job of setting everything. Truly a miracle type of product!’

£45 for 50ml - click to buy 

SILVER (JOINT) AWARD  Dr. Hauschka Facial Toner

We do rather love it when this happens: a brand enters a product for (at least) two years in a row, and our testers – without any consultation with each other – give it an almost identical mark, in each year. So, it’s silver again for what is a classic of this truly pioneering naturals brand, Dr. Hauschka claim this gives skin ‘bursts of strengthening impulses – in the morning and evening after cleansing, and whenever you like in between. The fine mist,’ they continue, ‘contains an unmistakable plant composition that fortifies and refreshes the complexion.’ Suitable for normal, dry and sensitive skin, it has two main botanical extracts: witch hazel bark/leaf extract, and Anthyllis Vulneraria, a highly antioxidant plant whose name translates as ‘wound healer’. There’s a touch of alcohol in the formula, and Dr. Hauschka also suggest this can be used as an after-shave, for men!

£27 for 100ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘I'd buy it for the way that it helped my moisturiser to sink in; it left skin refreshed, and I also like the design of the pump spray, which delivers the toner evenly all over the face’ • ‘I really like the spray dispenser and preferred to spray directly on to the skin rather than use on a cotton pad. It left my skin feeling really refreshed, and when used alongside my usual skin care regime I thought my skin felt really hydrated’ • ‘A friend commented that my skin looked nice! My normal, mature, occasionally sensitive skin felt refreshed and hydrated’ • ‘An effective toner which supports the cleansing routine in the evening’ • ‘Excellent application system, simply spray, press onto the skin and you are ready. Light feel onto the skin and a lovely “clean, fresh” floral scent. No irritation and the skin was left soft and toned’ • ‘An invigorating, great-smelling and moisturising product that works well. I really enjoyed using the product and felt that the moisture levels in my skin were boosted, with the result I was able to use less moisturiser than previously’ • ‘Left my skin feeling clean and fresh, particularly after my evening cleanse – which basically ticks the toner boxes, doesn’t it?’ 

£27 for 100ml - click to buy 

SILVER (JOINT) AWARD  GAIA Facial Toner

Sooooo… Devon-based GAIA – an all-natural brand born in one of our favourite spas in the world, at Boringdon Hall – entered this in the FACIAL EXFOLIATORS category. But… while testers may have experienced a brightening action (see comments, below), it really is a very gentle toning product, ‘delicate and soothing’ by their own description (though there’s just a touch of alcohol in there, FYI). In a tall, slim, bamboo-topped bottle, this certified cruelty-free, Vegan-approved toner particularly seduced testers with its fragrance, offering soothing wafts from the blend of rose and geranium single-distilled floral waters.

£22 for 150ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘I was really pleasantly surprised; in a world of acid toners, this was such a nice change. It didn’t have any kind of harsh astringents in it and I didn’t have to worry about any actives interfering with my skin routine; it’s just the perfect product for removing any residue and creating a nice soft canvas for whatever is applied on top of it’ • ‘Easily dispensed onto a reusable cotton pad, although I did in fact decanter some of it into a small travel spray to take on holiday with me – which, I actually preferred to a pad, I discovered’ • ‘So lovely and I'm going to order some; t reminds me very much of Sisley’s Floral Toner, but not such a big price point – I'd say it was equally as good’ • ‘Such a kind toner. Gentle and fresh. Doesn’t strip anything out of the skin and removes any traces of left-over cleanser’ • ‘The toner that works AND looks great on the shelf!’ • ‘I absolutely loved using this in the evenings; I felt it gave a great refreshing feeling at the end of the day and I knew I could rely on it to wipe away any make-up residue’ • ‘Light delicate fragrance of roses. My skin felt quite a bit more hydrated than I find with my usual toner’ • ‘A beautifully scented refreshing toner that is comforting, smoothing and removes any residue make-up left on skin after cleansing’ • ‘Lovely smell, nice to use after cleansing or using a mask; decanted into a spray bottle it’s great for menopausal flushes.’

£22 for 150ml - click to buy 

BRONZE (JOINT) AWARD  PIXI Hydrating Milky Mist

With so many clever-clever and confounding product names out there, we truly appreciate it when a brand tells it like it is. This is hydrating. It’s milky. And it’s a mist! (There. Doesn’t have to be hard, does it?) Our testers used this as a toner step in their cleansing regime, but PIXI also position it as prelude to hydration, ‘the perfect first layer of moisture before serums or make-up’, to be spritzed onto skin beneath a serum or moisturiser. Key ingredients include hyaluronic acid, black oat extract (to ease inflammation) and strengthening B vitamin complex. You can also use it for a moisture top-up, during the day.

£18 for 18ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘Has the best application of any mist that I have tried (and they’ve all been high-end); very fine and feels refreshing on a warm day, with such even delivery that it doesn’t leave the face wet’ • ‘I absolutely love this mist; a holy grail in my skincare routine. It feels so kind to the skin, infusing moisture in a fine, even, refreshing way. It sinks in, plumps up the skin with hydration and provides a beautiful glow. Everyone should try this; I can’t imagine a skin type this wouldn’t be suitable for! It has also helped calm my skin on many occasions when I have overdone the actives! ’ • ‘My skin certainly felt smoother and silky after application; it felt as if I were giving my skin a “boost”, refreshing it during the day, especially in the hot weather we've had during the summer of testing’ • ‘A few people at work have commented that I look well, and I'll definitely be purchasing this in the future instead of my usual mist; it has really helped my skin feel more hydrated, and instantly makes it look better when I spritz late afternoon’ • ‘Skin did feel more moisturised and hydrated. The mist feels quite creamy when sprayed on (more so than the mist I usually use), but absorbed well. It helped to set my makeup and gave a dewy finish; my skin moisture levels were improved and my complexion felt softer with application.’

£18 for 18ml - click to buy