From overnight masks to facial oils and everything that has niacinamide in its ingredient roster, it’s little surprise toners get somewhat neglected where our skin care routine is concerned. We get it; after all, they can’t offer glitter-laden, glass-skinned selfies, and the application is somewhat anti-climactic.
Most Affordable Toners for Oily Skin
Aiken Tea Tree Oil Toner
Containing Tea Tree Oil, this mild toner targets at acne-prone and oily skin by removing excess oil, controlling shine, and refining pores.
You’ll enjoy its soothing and refreshing texture and how it restores the moisture balance on your skin.
Aiken Tea Tree Oil Toner retails for RM10.90 and is available at Watsons. A discount is available at the time of writing. Tap in the link to see updated price.
Cosmoderm Niacinamide Salicylic Acid Calming Toning Water
Lightweight and calming, this toner for oily skin is formulated with peppermint oil to soothe acne irritation. Containing Salicylic Acid, it also reduces the occurrences of acne.
Simply pat this toner gently onto your face and allow it to prep your skin for the rest of your skincare routine.
Cosmoderm Niacinamide Salicylic Acid Calming Toning Water retails for RM23.60 and is available at Watsons.
Naruko Tea Tree Shine Control & Blemish Clear Toner
A Taiwanese brand by celebrity skincare expert Niu Er, Naruko has a series of well-loved products, including this toner that’s designed for oily skin.
It promises to purify oily skin by first controlling sebum production and then accelerating cutin metabolism and clearing pores so that pimples and shine can be prevented.
Besides these, it also offers deep hydration so an oil-water balance can be struck!
Naruko Tea Tree Shine Control & Blemish Clear Toner retails for RM45 and is available at Watsons. A discount is available at the time of writing. Tap in the link to see updated price.
Alia Tea Tree Toner
This affordable toner for oily skin soothes and moisturises skin while controlling sebum and reducing blemishes.
Formulated with ingredients such as Tea Tree Oil, Jeju Green Tea, and Habbatus Sauda, this is great for acne care and offers antioxidant benefits too.
Alia Tea Tree Toner retails for RM16.90 and is available at Watsons. A discount is available at the time of writing. Tap in the link to see updated price.
Clinelle Purifying Toner
This skin refining toner helps control acne while promoting micro-circulation so that cell renewal can be accelerated.
Using a three-prong approach of repairing, refining, and re-shieldin, the toner is formulated with the moisturising Panthenol, soothing Chamomile, and Lavender Oil, which helps with sebum control and new cell growth.
Clinelle Purifying Toner retails for RM37.90 and is available at Watsons. A discount is available at the time of writing. Tap in the link to see updated price.
Azarine Blemish Rescue Mild Purifying Toner
This toner is able to visibly reduce excess oil on your skin surface so you can keep shine at bay.
It also reduces the appearance of pores and overcome the occurrences of acne and blackheads, making it an ideal toner for oily skin, combination skin, and acne prone skin.
Azarine Blemish Rescue Mild Purifying Toner retails for RM26.50 and is available at Watsons.
Wetcode Oil Removing and Balancing Toner
Containing oil-absorbing powder, this is a toner that will really give you an instant mattifying effect if you need an SOS for that shiny skin.
This toner also contains ingredients that are antioxidant-rich and are hydrating so that you can see a youthful glow while managing pores and excess sebum.
Wetcode Oil Removing and Balancing Toner retails for RM45 and is available at Watsons.
Popular Toners for Oily Skin From Drugstores
Hada Labo Blemish & Oil Control Hydrating Lotion
This popular toner offers a variant that supports oil control without compromising moisture, thanks to the use of Hyaluronic Acid, Hatomugi, Bishop’s Weed, and Chamomile flower in its formula.
Use it regularly and you’ll find your pores more refined, and acne occurs less frequently.
Hada Labo Blemish & Oil Control Hydrating Lotion retails for RM73.50 and is available at Watsons.
Naturals by Watsons Tea Tree & Green Tea Mattifying Toner
If you’re looking for a tone with lightweight texture, you’ll appreciate this one by Naturals by Watsons.
This toner removes residual makeup and excess oil so that your skin feels refreshed and mattified.
Naturals by Watsons Tea Tree & Green Tea Mattifying Toner retails for RM52.90 and is available at Watsons. A discount is available at the time of writing. Tap in the link to see updated price.
Manyo Factory Blackhead & Pore Toner
People with oily skin tend to struggle with blackheads and enlarged pores too. If these describe your skin concerns, consider this toner that’s formulated with Salicylic Acid to purify pores and eliminate blackheads.
Besides this, it also contains Tea Tree Leaf and Witch Hazel extracts that offer anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties to help combat acne.
Your skin will be left feeling smooth and refreshed after using this toner!
Manyo Factory Blackhead & Pore Toner retails for RM87 and is available at Watsons. A discount is available at the time of writing. Tap in the link to see updated price.
COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid
COSRX carries many great products for oily and acne-prone skin, which makes it one of the most popular brands among people with these skin concerns.
If you’re looking for a toner that has exfoliating benefits and helps improve acne-prone skin, this might be the product to look out for.
Containing BHA, Sodium Hyaluronate and Niacinamide, this toner gently exfoliates dead skin cells while improving skin’s glow and texture.
COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid retails for RM92 and is available at Watsons. A discount is available at the time of writing. Tap in the link to see updated price.
Beplain Greenful Balancing Toner
If you prefer a K-beauty brand, then this toner by Beplain may just be what you’re looking for.
A gentle exfoliating toner, this is enriched with Mung Bean Seed Extract, which is rich in antioxidants. It also contains PHA to gently remove dead skin cells while locking in moisture.
Suitable for oily and acne-prone skin, this toner will leave your skin feeling refreshed and purified.
Beplain Greenful Balancing Toner retails for RM78 and is available at Watsons. A discount is available at the time of writing. Tap in the link to see updated price.
Medicube Zero Pore Pad 2.0
This convenient tub of dual-textured toner pads help to exfoliate dead skin cells, clear away trapped impurities, regulate sebum, and tighten pores with an AHA fruit complex. Moisturising agents in the formula help provide an irritation-free, hydrating toning solution.
Medicube Zero Pore Pad 2.0 retails for RM110 on Shopee. A discount is available at the time of writing. Tap into the link for the updated price.
Effective, Splurge-worthy Toners for Oily Skin
Origins Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins Mega-Mushroom Relief & Resilience Soothing Treatment Lotion
Got sensitive skin and dealing with excess oil and sebum at the same time? We get it, it’s an endlessly frustrating and vicious cycle of acne, redness, and pigmentation.
Packed with reishi mushroom, sea buckthorn and fermented chaga, this is one of the best toners for oily skin out there for soothing and solving all of the aforementioned skin woes, making it especially beneficial for those with oily and sensitive skin.
Origins Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins Mega-Mushroom Relief & Resilience Soothing Treatment Lotion retails for RM123 (100ml) and RM189 (200ml) at all Origins and Sephora stores, as well as online at sephora.my.
Pixi Glow Tonic
This gentle exfoliating toner doesn’t get its cult status for nothing; after all, more than 7,000 users have rated the glow-inducing formula 4.5 stars on Google Reviews for its ability to refine texture as well as reduce acne and the appearance of pores with a blend of botanical extracts, including aloe vera and ginseng to soothe sensitive skin.
Feeling a little afraid of the word “glow” in the product name? Don’t be, for your complexion will look refreshed rather than overly dewy or even oily. If you need proof that it works even on sensitive, acne-prone skin, check out our writer’s honest review here.
Pixi Glow Tonic retails for RM72 (100ml), and RM147 (250ml) at all Sephora stores and on sephora.my.
Clinique Clarifying Lotion 3
Widely regarded as one of the best toners for oily skin worldwide, this signature bottle of dermatologist-developed pink toner is a miracle worker for oily and combination skin types. Made with salicylic acid, it sweeps away pollution and grime while sloughing away dulling flakes effectively to reveal smoother, clearer skin without any stinging or burning sensation.
Clinique Clarifying Lotion 3 retails for RM140 (200ml) and RM238 (400ml) at all Clinique and Sephora stores as well as online at sephora.my.
Mario Badescu Witch Hazel & Rosewater Toner
Boasting natural astringent properties with its two key ingredients, this is considered by many as the best toner for oily skin as it helps ensure surface impurities are removed without stripping the skin dry while replenishing skin with soothing hydration and an antioxidant boost with a blend of aloe vera, black rose, and rose oil.
Mario Badescu Witch Hazel & Rosewater Toner retails for RM72 at all Sephora stores and on sephora.my.
Herbivore Botanicals Jasmine Green Tea Balancing Toner
Vegan and cruelty-free, this Instagram-friendly mint-green mist is specifically formulated to treat oily, acne-prone complexion with a powerful clarifying and hydrating lineup of green tea, witch hazel, aloe vera, ginger root, and white willow bark that’s infused with soothing organic jasmine flower.
Herbivore Botanicals Jasmine Green Tea Balancing Toner retails for RM188 at all Sephora stores and sephora.my.
Allies of Skin Molecular Saviour Probiotics Repair Mist
Featuring an alcohol-free aloe-rosewater base that’s supercharged with probiotics, antioxidants, colloidal silver, and silk amino acids, this skin-repairing mist formula can be used in the morning, at night or throughout the day on stressed, thirsty skin to refine pores, get rid of skin dullness, and provide a good dose of healing hydration and antibacterial protection.
Allies of Skin Molecular Saviour Probiotics Repair Mist retails for RM334 on sephora.my.
Related: Blackhead Removal and Blackhead Prevention Tips
Murad Clarifying Toner
Just because you have oily skin doesn’t mean your toner should dry you out – all you really have to do is find the best toner for oily skin like this one here. The oil-fighting toner delivers a major dose of soothing hydration with cucumber and algae extracts while neutralising sebum and impurities with pore-minimising witch hazel.
The result is squeaky clean, mattified skin and we’re totally here for it.
Murad Clarifying Toner retails for RM188 at all Murad stores and authorised facial salons as well as online at the official Murad website.
Saturday Skin Pore Clarifying Toner
This concoction of 10% glycolic acid, witch hazel, tea tree oil, and red clover offers effective pore control and texture-refining actions to keep shine at bay and give you a smoother, clearer complexion.
Saturday Skin Pore Clarifying Toner retails for RM55 for 30ml and RM137 for 125ml on sephora.my.
Caudalie Vinopure Purifying Toner
If your oily skin is looking dull and patchy, let this purifying toner come to the rescue and turn it around. Thanks to 100% natural salicylic acid, it acts like a vacuum for your pores, sucking out gunk and dead skin cells while controlling future breakouts and blackhead formation.
The addition of grape polyphenols, organic essential oils, and grape water helps to moisturise and soothe skin as well as give it a boost of natural antioxidant benefits.
Caudalie Vinopure Purifying Toner retails for RM120 for 200ml at Sephora stores and sephora.my.
Paula’s Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner
Need some help dealing with enlarged pores? This skin-balancing toner is going to be your skin’s difference maker with its combination of antioxidants and ceramides that helps to tone down oiliness and shine while evening out the skin tone.
The formula also uses chamomile and burdock to soothe inflammation and provide antioxidant benefits, and is chock full of hyaluronic acid to offer lightweight moisture and improve skin’s moisture barrier. With so much skin goodness packed in one bottle, we’re not surprised why this is the best toner for oily skin.
Paula’s Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner retails for RM130 on the Paula’s Choice website and sephora.my.
Related: Some By Mi Bye Bye Blackhead Review: Is This Highly Raved About Product Really Good?
Why do you need a toner for oily skin?
While blotting papers and setting powders can be lifesavers in a hurry, if you’re looking to keep that pesky shine at bay, a top-notch toner could be the perfect ally for your oily skin.
If you’re already battling shine by mid-morning (and it’s only 10am), these fantastic toners for oily skin might just be the solution you’ve been searching for. You’ll be glad you tried them!
How to Choose A Toner for Oily Skin
For those with oily skin, incorporating the right toners into your skincare routine is essential. These toners offer a variety of benefits, from balancing your skin’s pH to boosting the effectiveness of your other skincare products for a radiant glow.
If you believe that using toners means applying harsh alcohol to your skin, think again! Oily skin toners have evolved significantly from the days when we used to apply rubbing alcohol to our faces.
Now these modern grease-busting, pore-cleansing formulas are gentler but a whole lot more effective, thanks to a host of both natural and man-made ingredients that will unclog pores, get rid of excess sebum, and tamp down the oiliness without drying your skin out while supporting healthier skin turnover.
Look out for ingredients that are great for oily skin, such as tea tree oil and salicylic acid. These also reduce the chances of breakouts in acne-prone skin.
