Best Toner for Oily Skin and Large Pores – Complete Reviews with Comparison
Those of us with oily skin know how difficult it can be to find skincare products that cater to our skin type, especially when considering toners. Not to mention the fact that some folks with oily skin also have large pores, and it’s almost impossible to find products that minimize their appearance.
That’s why we’ve compiled this list of some of the best toners for folks with oily skin and large pores. We’ll be going over five of the best toner for oily skin and large pores, their benefits, pros, and cons.
Toners for Oily Skin and Large Pores Reviews
Paula’s Choice Skin Balancing Toner
As the name suggests, this toner from Paula’s Choice is designed to balance oily skin and minimize the appearance of large pores. It is a great quality product that does not come with a bloated price tag attached. If you’re looking to control your oily skin and reduce your pores while also maintaining a youthful appearance, then this is the toner for you.
Review
Paula Begoun, the founder of Paula’s Choice, is a skincare visionary, and she founded her company with one goal in mind – to help women uncover the secrets of skincare. She set out to discover the products that would truly transform the health and appearance of the skin, and which ones were not worth your time, over 35 years ago.
Staying true to this philosophy, Paula’s Choice skincare specializes in formulating products that are effective and rooted in scientific research, backed by palpable results. The skin balancing toner from Paula’s Choice is made with a gentle formula that is a critical step in prepping your face for the rest of your skincare routine.
The formula is designed to nourish and replenish your skin after it has been cleansed and minimise the appearance of pores that are enlarged. It provides hydration that is lightweight and also balances oily skin to reduce the appearance of unwanted shine.
The toner minimizes the appearance of large pores and promotes an even and healthy skin tone. Chamomile and burdock root extract work to suit sensitive skin and provide benefits from antioxidants.
Hyaluronic acid – which has become a coveted skincare ingredient lately – works with Ceramides to restore the moisture barrier of your skin and provide hydration that is lightweight yet effective.
Paula’s Choice recommends using its skin-balancing toner after you cleanse your face as part of your morning or nighttime skincare routine. If you do use this during the day be sure to follow up with a sunscreen with an SPF rating of 30 or higher.
They recommend applying the toner with a cotton pad all over your neck and face, using gentle circular motions. One of the greatest benefits of all Paula’s Choice products is that they don’t contain any parabens or fragrance.
This is especially beneficial to folks with sensitive skin as fragrances tend to sting.
Pros
- Balances skin
- Promotes even skin tone
- Soothes sensitive skin
- Restores skin’s moisture barrier
- Provides lightweight hydration
Cons
- May cause breakouts in acne-prone skin
- May leave greasy residue
La Roche Posay Effaclar Astringent Face Toner
If you love skincare and take your skincare routine very seriously, then you’ll love La-Roche Posay. Like Paula’s Choice toner, this face toner from La Roche Posay brings you great quality and excellent results without having an inflated price tag. The brand is recommended by 90,000 dermatologists around the world, which says a lot about its quality.
Review
The La Roche Posay face toner features micro-exfoliating LHA (Lipohydroxy Acid). It is suitable for folks with enlarged pores and oily skin. It is smooth to the touch of your skin while also exfoliating, which helps to unblock and reduce the appearance of large pores.
Unfortunately this product might not be suitable for those who have sensitive skin. If you have even a moderate interest in skincare, then your nightly skincare routine probably follows the formula of thoroughly cleansing, using some toner to remove dead skin or makeup residue, and prepping your skin for your night cream.
A little tightness and stinging is to be expected when using any kind of toner. Unfortunately, the La Roche effaclar astringent face toner has a high concentration of alcohol tenant – it’s listed as the second ingredient.
While alcohol is not anything new in the world of skincare, especially not in toners, it has been proven to be an exceptional skin irritant after several research studies conducted regarding cosmetics. Alcohol gives any toner a quick-drying effect which is what makes it effective on oily skin types.
With all that being said, this is definitely a major turn-off for people trying to control their oily skin and minimize the appearance of their large pores. La Roche-Posay recommends dampening some cotton wool with the toner and gently applying to the face in the morning and/or the evening.
Be sure to do so after you cleanse your face and before you moisturize. You don’t need to rinse the toner off, and you should avoid applying it to your eye area.
Pros
- Exfoliates skin
- Evens-out skin tone
- Reduces pore size
- Controls oil
- Unblocks pores
Cons
- Not suitable for sensitive skin
- May cause redness
Humane Clarifying Toner
This is the perfect toner for folks who’ve been scared away by horror stories of breakouts and red noses caused by other toners. It is extremely gentle on the skin while still having the ability to minimize the appearance of large pores and exfoliating the face to leave your skin looking smooth and even. It is one of the cheaper toners on this list making it perfect for skincare lovers on a budget.
Review
The humane Clarifying toner is gentle enough to be used every day without causing breakouts or excess sensitivity. It will unclog your pores and reduce the amount of sebum that your skin produces.
This helps keep blemishes and blackheads away and provides an overall even and smooth appearance to the skin. One of the greatest benefits that the Humane Clarifying Toner provides is that it speeds up the turn over on your cells.
This results in an overall smoother and more even tone to your complexion, leaving the skin looking youthful and glowy. It also cleans skin that is irritated and red and will help protect your skin from environmental assaults and UV rays.
The salicylic acid in this toner acts as an anti-inflammatory agent and a gentle exfoliant. The Beta hydroxy acid, or BHA, will unclog your pores by breaking down the oil bonds that attach dead skin cells to your skin.
Green tea extract, specifically Camellia sinensis, will help counter any drying effects that the toner might have. This will help to reduce inflammation and redness and will simultaneously deliver a dose of antioxidant protection.
While this toner can be used on all skin types, we’ve included it on this list for a reason. It is particularly useful for those with oily or combination skin that are prone to acne and clogged pores. Humane recommends that you do not use this toner if you are allergic to aspirin.
The Humane Clarifying toner should be soaked on a cotton pad or ball and applied over the entire face while avoiding the areas closest to your eyes. Do not rinse it off and be sure to follow it with a lightweight moisturizer.
If you are applying the toner before going outside be sure to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF rating of 30 or more. Apply one or two times every day after cleansing.
Pros
- Gentle formula
- Reduces sebum production
- Accelerates cell turnover
- Provides antioxidant protection
- Unclogs pores
Cons
- May leave skin dry
- May take weeks to see results
PCA SKIN Smoothing Toner
As you may have guessed by its name, the PCA Skin smoothing toner works to even the appearance of your skin by reducing enlarged pores and reduce excess oil. If you are looking for a smooth and airbrushed finish to your skin then look no further than this toner from PCA Skin.
Review
The PCA Skin smoothing toner is formulated with a solution that is free of alcohol which will still reduce the appearance of oil on the surface of your skin and calm skin that is prone to breakouts. This is all done without over stripping the moisture from your skin which is something that many toners tend to do.
It features a blend of botanical ingredients that work to refine your pores and remove dead skin on the surface of your face which leaves your skin looking clear and smooth. It contains aloe vera which acts as a purifying agent that soothes and softens your skin.
Lactic acid, which is found in sugars, works to smooth and moisturize your skin to leave it looking glowy and youthful. Botanical extracts like goldenseal, marigold, cucumber, guarana, sage, and ivy work to reduce the appearance of your pores and calm irritated, red, and inflamed skin.
All PCA Skin products are scientifically developed and formulated carefully to improve the appearance and health of every type of skin. The company understands how important it is to formulate skincare products with the best and most effective combinations of ingredients that are innovative to provide safe and highly effective products that deliver on their promises.
All PCA Skin products are free of irritants that might cause redness and inflammation to the skin. These include things like fragrances and synthetic dyes.
PCA Skin is a trusted innovator that is known for developing extremely effective skincare products. Their goal is to improve the lives of people around the world by providing skincare products that are focused on results.
After you have cleansed your face, moisten a cotton pad with a small amount of the PCA Skin smoothing toner and apply upwards on your face with circular motions. It is best to use 1 to 2 times each day.
Pros
- Alcohol and irritant-free
- Smoothes skin
- Includes botanical agents
- Softens skin
Cons
- Might irritate very sensitive skin
- Contains allergens
InstaNatural Skin Toner
Finally we come to the last toner on this list. Instanatural is quite a popular brand that is known for creating high-quality and effective products. Their skin toner is the cheapest on this list but is just as effective as the rest.
Review
This skin toner combines the exfoliating benefits with powerful fruit acids that work in tandem to support the natural renewal of the skin. It is designed to prevent dryness and irritation and refine the texture of the skin, all while simultaneously decreasing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and dehydration.
It contains a number of skin-brightening benefits as well. It will brighten dull and uneven skin tones thanks to its vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, and soothing botanical ingredients. It reduces the appearance of hyperpigmentation, dark spots, and pores.
Vitamin C works as a powerful antioxidant to tighten and tone your skin while also supporting a healthy production of collagen. It boosts your skin’s radiance, giving it a natural glow, while also tightening and balancing.
This toner resurfacers the texture of your skin which will shrink the appearance of clogged and enlarged pores. This also helps to reduce whitehead and blackhead issues especially for those with oily skin prone to breakouts. However, it may not be ideal for those with very dry skin.
It is free of alcohol making it both effective and mild. It is also excellent for treating acne and cystic prone skin as well as both youthful and mature skin.
To use, apply a small amount to a cloth and swipe across skin that has been cleansed, being sure to avoid the areas around the eye. Apply daily to see the best results, and be sure to apply an SPF sunscreen during the day.
InstaNatural believes in clean beauty and defines natural by ingredients that are derived from renewable sources that are found in nature.
Pros
- Free from prohibited ingredients
- Effective and mild
- Gives a natural, soft glow
Cons
- Not suited for very dry skin
Wrapping Up
With so many skincare products available on the market today, choosing the right one for your skin type can seem impossible. Hopefully, we’ve made your decision a little easier with this list of toners for oily skin and large pores.