7 Top Cruelty-Free Toners For Amazing Skin In 2024
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Our skin can tell a lot about our health and well-being.
It will show on our skin if we are tired, stressed, or not eating well. This is why taking good care of our skin is important, and using quality skin care products is a crucial part of any good skincare routine.

A critical step in any skincare routine is using a toner. A good toner can help remove impurities and dirt from the skin, balance pH levels, and hydrate the skin.
While toners are abundant on the market, finding a cruelty-free toner can be a bit more challenging.
However, many cruelty-free and vegan toners on the market are just as effective (if not more so) than their non-cruelty-free counterparts.
Keep reading to learn more about facial toners, how they can benefit your skin and our top 10 cruelty-free toners.
Table of Contents
What is a Toner?
A facial toner is a skincare product typically applied after cleansing the face and before using serum or moisturizer.
Toners can come in different forms, including liquids, gels, pads, and sprays, and it depends on personal preference which type you use.
They help to remove any remaining dirt and oil from the skin, balance pH levels, and prep the skin for the next steps in your skincare routine.
Plus, they can be packed with beneficial ingredients like hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, and glycerin to hydrate and soothe the skin.
For this reason, vegan and cruelty-free toners are a great addition to any skincare routine.
Unlike traditional toners that often contain harsh chemicals and alcohol, cruelty-free toners are gentle on the skin and packed with good-for-you ingredients.
Benefits of Including Toners in Your Routine
A person’s skincare routine should not just be about cleansing and moisturizing the skin.
While those steps are essential, toning the skin is just as crucial for maintaining healthy and balanced skin.
These are just some of the benefits you’ll reap by including a cruelty-free toner in your skincare routine:
Refreshes the Skin
Toners can help to refresh and wake up the skin, especially on those mornings when you can’t seem to get going.
A few spritzes of toner on your face will help to perk up your skin (and mood) and prepare you for the day ahead.
It will help you look and feel more awake and alert, even if you didn’t get eight hours of sleep the night before.
Removes Excess Oil and Dirt
After you’ve washed your face, you might think that all the dirt and oil are gone.
However, there’s always a bit of residue left behind, no matter how thoroughly you cleanse your skin.
A toner can help remove that last bit of dirt and oil, leaving your skin truly clean and refreshed.
Reduces the Appearance of Pores
Large pores can be a real pain, especially if you’re prone to breakouts.
Fortunately, using a toner can help reduce pores’ appearance, giving your skin a smoother and more even appearance.
Plus, it can also help to control excess oil production, which can further reduce the appearance of pores.
Hydrates the Skin
Hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, and glycerin are some of the ingredients often found in cruelty-free toners.
These ingredients help hydrate and nourish the skin, leaving it soft and supple.
They can also help to lock in moisture, preventing the skin from becoming dry and irritated.
Reduces Fine Lines and Wrinkles
Some face toners contain anti-aging ingredients like retinol, glycolic acid, vitamin C, and green tea extract.
These ingredients can help reduce fine lines and wrinkles, giving your skin a more youthful appearance.
They can also help brighten the skin and even tone, giving you a more radiant complexion.

Who Should Use Facial Toners?
Toners can be beneficial for all skin types, including sensitive skin.
But, it’s better to be extra careful not to overdo it if you have sensitive skin.
You need to be aware of the ingredients in your toner, and start using it just once a day to see how your skin reacts.
If your skin can handle it, you can then increase to using it twice a day.
Avoid ingredients such as alcohol, citrus, and essential oils if you have sensitive skin.
These ingredients can be drying and irritating to the skin.
It’s also a good idea to do a patch test on your wrist before using any new products on your face, just to be on the safe side.
When Do Toners Fit Into Your Routine?
So, when do you use a cruelty-free toner in your skincare routine?
The short answer is that you can use it at any time.
But, the most common time to use a toner is after cleansing your face and before applying moisturizer.
This will help to remove any last traces of dirt and oil, prep the skin for moisturizer, and give you the full benefits of the toner.
If you want to use it more than once daily, that’s fine.
Just be sure to follow up with sunscreen if you’re using it in the morning, as some ingredients in toners can make the skin more sensitive to sunlight.
Our Top 7 Cruelty-Free Toners That Will Make Your Skin Glow
Vegan facial toners are becoming more and more popular as people become more conscious of the ingredients they’re putting on their skin.
If you’re looking for a cruelty-free toner that will leave your skin feeling refreshed and looking radiant, here are seven of the best options to consider:
We love this award-winning toner that gently scrapes away dead skin cells and unclogs pores, leaving your skin feeling refreshed and looking radiant.
Primary benefits: Exfoliates and brightens the skin, provides moisture, and is ideal for sensitive skin
Features:
- Unscented
- Infused with red ginseng
- 5% glycolic acid
PIXI has been featured on some of our blog posts before because they make cruelty-free skincare products that actually work.

The Glow Tonic is no exception.
This toner will leave your skin feeling hydrated and radiant with botanical extracts like Ginseng and Aloe Vera.
It’s also alcohol-free and ideal for sensitive skin.
And with 5% Glycolic Acid, it gently removes dead skin cells, giving your skin a more even appearance.

You can use it up to three times a day, although once or twice a day is probably sufficient for most people.
We love the lightweight, refreshing feeling this toner gives to our skin while eliminating shine and evening out skin tone.
Primary benefits: Reduces shine and oil, hydrates the skin, and mattifies the complexion
Features:
- Ultra-light liquid
- Hydrating formula
- Leaping Bunny Certified
Nourishing ingredients like green tea and willowherb make this cruelty-free toner, from Paula’s Choice, a great option for those with oily skin.
It also contains hyaluronic acid to help lock in moisture, keeping the skin hydrated without making it greasy.
The formula is ultra-lightweight, allowing those with oily skin to enjoy the benefits of a toner without adding more oil to their face.
People with sensitive skin can also use this toner as it’s alcohol-free and non-irritating.
The Hydralight Healthy Skin Refreshing Toner also soothes redness while delivering antioxidants to the skin.
We love the natural and organic ingredients in this toner, which help to soothe and nourish the skin while reducing redness and inflammation.
Primary benefits: Reduces acne, soothes and nourishes the skin, reduces redness and inflammation
Features:
- Spray
- Rose scent
- Can work as a makeup remover
Witch hazel has been credited with helping to clear up acne since it’s a natural astringent.
If you have problematic skin and are looking for a vegan toner that will help to clear up your complexion, this one from Beauty by Earth is definitely worth considering.
It also contains rose water, a natural anti-inflammatory, helping to soothe and calm the skin.
Natural ingredients such as glycerin and cucumber give the skin a boost of hydration, while aloe vera helps to heal blemishes.
What we love about this is it also works as a makeup remover, so you can ditch those harsh chemicals and use this natural toner instead.
We love the moisturizing and anti-aging benefits of this toner, which is perfect for dry skin.
Primary benefits: Moisturizes and protects the skin from free radical damage
Features:
- Skin-balancing
- Fragrance-free
- With CoQ-10
CoQ-10 is an antioxidant often used in skincare products because of its anti-aging properties.
It helps protect the skin from free radicals and environmental damage while hydrating it.
Indie Lee’s toner mist is an excellent option for dry skin because it also contains hyaluronic acid, which we all probably know is fantastic for dry skin.
Along with these two powerhouse ingredients, the toner also contains papaya, sage, and chamomile, which all work together to soothe and nourish the skin.
Just a few spritzes of this toner will leave your skin refreshed and hydrated.
Those with oily skin will also enjoy this cruelty-free toner as it removes extra oil, and shines without making the skin feel dry or tight.
We love how this toner balances our skin and reduces redness and dark spots, making it perfect for those with combination skin.
Primary benefits: Improves skin's pH Balance, fights blemishes, and targets dark spots
Features:
- Soothing
- With BHAs
- Contains antioxidants
While this is probably one of the most expensive toners on our list, it’s definitely worth the splurge if you have combination skin.
The Jasmine Green Tea Balancing Toner from Herbivore restores pH balance while gently eliminating dark spots that can often appear on combination skin.
This toner also has green tea, witch hazel, and willow bark extract, which all work together to reduce inflammation and redness.
Blemishes and enlarged pores are also no match for this toner.
All ingredients are certified organic, and it has a light Jasmine scent that we couldn’t get enough of!
This is one to consider if you’re looking for an all-natural toner.
We love that this toner is approved by Swiss dermatologists in addition to being cruelty-free and vegan..
Primary benefits: Reduces the appearance of pores and wrinkles, protects against environmental damage
Features:
- Swiss-formulated
- Liquid formula
- With edelweiss extract and green tea
Looking to gently exfoliate your skin and get rid of dead skin cells? This Swiss-formulated toner from Geneva Naturals balances the skin’s pH level while working to unclog pores.
Leading Swiss dermatologists have also praised this toner for its anti-aging properties.
The Clarifying Face Toner contains edelweiss and green tea, both rich in antioxidants and helps protect the skin from environmental damage.
No animal testing is conducted on Geneva Naturals’ products; all contain zero parabens, sulfates, or phthalates.
Plus, the lavender scent is so refreshing and relaxing!
We love the PHA toner from The Inkey List because it's gentle enough for all skin types yet still effective at exfoliating the skin.
Primary benefits: Exfoliates the skin, brightens the complexion, and soothes inflammation
Features:
- With PHA and niacinamide
- Moisturizing
Skin texture and tone can often be improved with the help of a PHA toner.
PHA stands for polyhydroxy acid, a type of AHA that’s gentler on the skin.
This particular PHA toner from The Inkey List also contains niacinamide, an ingredient that offers a whole host of benefits for the skin.
Some of these benefits include reducing inflammation, correcting skin tone, and improving the appearance of pores.
We also love this vegan toner that pregnant and breastfeeding women can use safely.
If you are looking for a smoothing and brightening toner, The Inkey List PHA Toner hits the spot!
Your Skin Will Thank You For Using These Cruelty-Free Toners
Despite their popularity, toners often get a bad rap in beauty.
But, we are here to tell you that toners are definitely worth incorporating into your skincare routine—mainly if you use one of the cruelty-free toners from our list!

Once you find the right toner for your skin type, you’ll immediately notice a difference in your complexion.
Give these cruelty-free toners a try and see how your skin responds! We have a feeling you’ll be hooked.