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13 best salicylic acid toners to combat oily skin, tried and tested
These exfoliating BHA toners will leave your complexion silky smooth
Tested by Orla BadgerFormer Senior Beauty and Grooming Tester
Salicylic acid is a member of the BHA (beta hydroxy acid) family and is best known for its spot-fighting capabilities. Its other benefits include reducing excess shine and oil build up and removing dead skin cells.
Interested? Well, if you’re new to the world of BHAs and don’t know where to start, our GHI beauty panel tested the best salicylic acid toners over a four-week period. Here are their winners:
Best salicylic acid toners for 2024
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Best salicylic acid toner for hyperpigmentation
Ren Clean Skincare Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic
Read review - 4
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What are the benefits of salicylic acid?
You'll often find salicylic acid in any product that claims to combat blemishes or clarify skin – be that a cleanser, serum or toner. It's well known for its exfoliating powers too, helping to unclog pores and remove excess oil.
As consultant dermatologist Dr Ophelia Veraitch explains: 'Salicylic acid penetrates deep into the pores to break down skin cells and sebum and clear the blockages that can often result in acne and breakouts. It also has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties and is typically used for skin exfoliation and treating acne and blemishes.'
Essentially, if you have oilier skin, this skincare ingredient is a must-have.
How often should you use salicylic acid?
This depends on your skin type and the percentage of salicylic acid in the product you're using.
If you're trying BHAs for the first time, it's always better to start at a lower percentage and work your way up. A low percentage in a salicylic acid toner will usually be around 2% – it will still provide you with the skin-buffing powers you're after, but without as much irritation.
Use a higher percentage (8% and above) if you've tried acids before or are more prone to oiliness than sensitivity. But the general rule is to always start lower to give your skin time to adjust.
Each individual product will come with its own set of instructions on how often you should use it, but in general, toners should be used roughly three times a week. And no matter what BHA toner you're introducing into your morning regime, always follow up with SPF, as BHAs can make skin more sensitive to sun damage.
Can anyone use salicylic acid?
'You should be careful when using salicylic acid if you have sensitive or overly dry skin because its exfoliating properties can make this worse,' says Dr Veraitch. However, if you do have sensitive or dry skin, it doesn't mean you have to steer clear completely. 'In such cases, salicylic acid can be formulated in a lower concentration in a more gentle formulation, so you can still get results without exacerbating your skin concerns,' Dr Veraitch explains.
Still hesitant? Try an exfoliating acid cleanser first, as these will usually contain a lower percentage of acid and are only on the skin for a limited amount of time, meaning they're less likely to cause sensitivity.
How we test
We asked our panel of 343 testers to trial 26 BHA toners over a four-week period, to see which ones helped boost the appearance of their skin. They judged each toner on how well they improved smoothness, oiliness, dullness and their overall complexion.
In the GHI lab, we used a VISIA image analysis machine to assess testers' spots, texture and pores before and after a month of use.
Ole Henriksen Balancing Force Oil Control Toner
Score: 81/100
Our joint winner scored highly in the lab for reducing the look of pores, blemishes and improving skin texture.
Our whole panel also said their skin appeared brighter and more radiant after the trial, while it also helped tackle excess oil with ease. There were no sensitivity issues either.
Key specifications
| Size | 190 ml |
|---|---|
| Designed for | Congested, oily skin |
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Clarifying Lotion
Score: 81/100
Our joint winner is ideal for anyone with sensitive skin who's also prone to both breakouts and oiliness. Our lab test showed that it helped minimise the look of pores, reduce blemishes and improve overall texture.
Our panel said their skin appeared less oily, with a mattifying effect that also seemed to unblock pores. All said hyperpigmentation and age spots appeared less visible too, with just over half noticing fewer breakouts over the trial period.
Key specifications
| Blob | 200 ml |
|---|---|
| Designed for | Congested, oily, sensitive skin |
Ren Clean Skincare Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic
Score: 80/100
Ren is known in the skincare industry for producing sustainable, waste-free skincare products that work, and this toner is no exception.
Getting rid of hyperpigmentation is no easy feat, but all of our testers saw an improvement, as well as a reduction in the appearance of post-acne scarring. Most also noticed fewer breakouts during the trial too, and almost everyone reported a more glowy complexion.
Key specifications
| Size | 250 ml |
|---|---|
| Designed for | Congested, oily, dull, mature skin |
Nip+Fab Salicylic Fix Extreme Tonic XXL
Score: 80/100
Texture irregularities are a bugbear for many, but here's a toner that will make skin feel smoother, with most of our testers reporting an improvement in texture after use.
It didn’t skimp on glow either, with all saying it boosted radiance and improved the appearance of any scarring and age spots. Some of our testers also found their fine lines and wrinkles were less visible after the month trial.
Key specifications
| Size | 190 ml |
|---|---|
| Designed for | Congested, oily skin |
111Skin Hydrolat Anti Blemish Tonic
Score: 78/100
After that clean, revitalised feeling? Look no further. This tonic helped minimise congestion to leave skin feeling healthier. Testers loved the light, refreshing scent, too.
In the lab, we found it helped improve skin texture after four weeks and made pigmentation marks appear less visible, which our testers with scarring greatly appreciated. Some found it left a sticky residue behind but eventually left skin feeling smoother.
Key specifications
| Size | 100 ml |
|---|---|
| Designed for | Congested, dull, oily skin |
Vichy Normaderm Anti-Blemish Purifying Pore Tightening Lotion
Score: 77/100
If you're constantly having to powder your T-zone to rid it of oil, try this £13 lotion. Our testers with oily skin found it helped mattify slick areas, with most finding their spots were less visible after the trial.
Despite its impressive mattifying powers, our testers were impressed that their skin didn’t feel tight or dry after use. But it wasn’t the most effective at addressing hyperpigmentation.
Key specifications
| Size | 200 ml |
|---|---|
| Designed for | Congested, oily skin |
Omorovicza Silver Skin Tonic
Score: 76/100
Containing a powerful combination of salicylic acid and niacinamide, this toner reduced the look of pores and blemishes and improved skin texture, scoring highly in the lab.
Testers appreciated that it reduced oil without leaving skin feeling dry, with most saying it added moisture. It wasn't the best in test when it came to reducing breakouts and improving the appearance of blemishes, but skin was left looking brighter.
Key specifications
| Size | 100ml |
|---|---|
| Designed for | Combination, normal, oily skin |
Madara Organic Face Deep Clarifying Toner
Score: 76/100
This organic, vegan formula boosted glow for the majority of our panel, who also reported smoother looking skin. Some noticed a reduction in oiliness, and most felt they had a better overall complexion after the trial.
It didn't do much to improve the appearance of wrinkles, but it didn’t leave anyone with any tightness or sensitivity issues.
Key specifications
| Size | 200 ml |
|---|---|
| Designed for | Congested oily skin |
Kiehl's Daily Refining Milk-Peel Toner
Score: 74/100
Fine lines and wrinkles don’t disappear overnight, but they did improve after a month of using this toner for our panel. Testers also found it reduced the appearance of age spots and left them with smoother-looking skin.
It wasn’t as effective at dealing with active breakouts and excess oil, but for those searching for anti-ageing benefits, look no further.
Key specifications
| Size | 200 ml |
|---|---|
| Designed for | Sensitive, dry, congested, normal skin |
The Inkey List Beta Hydroxy Acid
Score: 74/100
Although small in size (30ml, to be precise), this hard-working toner performed excellently in our lab for improving skin texture, making it ideal for those struggling with any pesky bumps caused by blemishes.
The majority of our testing panel reported fewer breakouts and said their pores appeared reduced. It left them with a more radiant appearance too, but it was quite drying, so it's best for those with oily skin types.
Key specifications
| Size | 30 ml |
|---|---|
| Designed for | Congested skin |
Origins Zero Oil Refining Toner with Saw Palmetto and Mint
Score: 73/100
This quick-drying toner reduced the appearance of spots for most of our panel and didn’t cause any discomfort or irritation. It wasn't as effective at boosting radiance but almost everyone said they planned to continue using it after the trial.
Key specifications
| Size | 150 ml |
|---|---|
| Designed for | Oily skin |
Farmacy Beauty Deep Sweep 2% BHA Pore Cleansing Toner
Score: 73/100
If you struggle with age spots, it may be worth trying Farmacy's cleansing toner, as all of our testers said they were noticeably reduced after one month of use.
It didn’t increase sensitivity either, and helped boost radiance for most. Although it didn't perform as well when it came to reducing the appearance of wrinkles, our testers said it wouldn't put them off using it after the trial period ended.
Key specifications
| Size | 120 ml |
|---|---|
| Designed for | Congested, combination, oily skin |
Aveda Botanical Kinetics Exfoliant
Score: 71/100
Blemishes can plague you at any age, which is where Aveda's exfoliant can help. Our panel found they had fewer breakouts after using this toner, with most also reporting a brighter complexion and a reduction in oiliness. A reliable option for anyone prone to breakouts.
Key specifications
| Size | 150 ml |
|---|---|
| Designed for | Congested, dull skin |
Florence is our Senior Beauty Writer, specialising in expert-tested beauty and grooming reviews — from toothbrushes to the latest skincare launches. She’s committed to sharing recommendations for products that truly work and make people feel confident and healthy. Prior to this she was at Tropic Skincare, where she worked closely with biochemists in the lab, delving into the functions of each fresh, natural ingredient and conveying its efficacy to her audience in easy-to-digest terms.
With over five years’ experience in beauty and health journalism, Florence has written for ELLE, Women’s Fitness, Sister Magazine, National Geographic Traveller and many more, with a strong sustainability angle thread through much of her work.
When she isn’t packing for a trip away, working out, eating out or reading up on retinol serums, you’ll probably find her experimenting with her film camera and building her portfolio of portraits. Florence’s photography can be found at florencereeves-white.com, her Instagram is @florencereeveswhite and her twitter is @floreadsnwrites
Orla was our Former Senior Beauty and Grooming Tester.
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