Editor’s Picks: 7 of the Best Salicylic Acid Toners to Exfoliate, Clarify and Mattify Your Skin

As a beauty editor, I’ve tested and evaluated salicylic acid toners from a range of brands. These are my top picks for every preference:

Best Gentle

• Benton Aloe BHA Skin Toner
• Medik8 Press Clear Exfoliating 2% BHA Tonic

Best Mattifying

• First Aid Beauty Oil-Minimizing Toner

Best for Acne-Prone Skin

• Peach Slices Acne Exfoliating Toner
• Glytone Acne Clearing Toner

Best Clean Beauty

• Farmacy Deep Sweep 2% BHA Pore Cleaning Toner

Best K-Beauty

• Anua BHA 2% Gentle Exfoliating Toner

For more details on each formula, read on.

Benton Aloe BHA Skin Toner is one of the most popular K-beauty toners, and it’s not hard to understand why. This toner contains 0.5% salicylic acid at a non-acidic neutral pH, so it’s a gentle enough for all skin types to use daily, even sensitive skin. What makes it even more special? It also contains over 80% aloe, which has soothing and hydrating properties. It has a slightly thicker texture than most toners (almost like a cross between a toner and an essence), but it isn’t sticky.

• Pros: Gentle, soothing, hydrating
• Cons: Some may find it too mild

iHerb reviewer: “I love how soothing and hydrating it is for my dry and sensitive skin. It calms down the redness, and it leaves my skin refreshed and soft, ready for the next step in my routine. The 0.5% salicylic acid is a good start to BHAs, it is not irritating at all. Also the price is unbeatable!!!”

Medik8 Press Clear Exfoliating 2% BHA Tonic is a 2% salicylic acid toner that even sensitive skin can use daily. That’s because the salicylic acid is encapsulated and time-released, which makes it much gentler on your skin. It also has a higher pH level than most toners (pH 5.5), so it’s not as acidic. The other ingredients include soothing aloe, hydrating sake extract, and 2% tranexamic acid to help fade dark spots.

• Pros: Gentle, safe for sensitive skin, fades dark spots
• Cons: Pricey, some may find it too mild

Dermstore reviewer: “I was trying to use the famous Biologique Recherche P50 toners to exfoliate. But they were just too irritating for my sensitive skin... I had never heard of Medik8 but I took a chance and it is absolutely what I want in an exfoliating toner. Strong enough to keep my pores clear but not harsh at all in any way on my super sensitive skin. In fact it feels slightly moisturizing but not too moisturizing where I get oily.”

Need a toner that you can use daily to control excess oil without drying or irritating your skin? First Aid Beauty Oil-Minimizing Toner can do just that. Although we’re not told the exact concentration, it contains salicylic acid and willow bark (a natural BHA) to keep shine at bay. There’s also soothing colloidal oatmeal and witch hazel water, plus papaya extract to help brighten. Like all the brand’s products, it’s free of common irritants (like fragrance), so it can be used by all skin types, even sensitive skin.

• Pros: Minimizes oil, safe for sensitive skin
• Cons: Some may find it too mild

Sephora reviewer: “I have extremely sensitive, acne-prone skin. This toner works amazing to reduce oil on my face and did not irritate my skin at all. Highly recommend for anyone too sensitive for most toners.”

With its clean ingredients and K-beauty-inspired formula, Peach Slices Acne Exfoliating Toner is a step above most drugstore acne toners. It targets breakouts with 2% salicylic acid, but also contains ingredients to soothe irritation, reduce inflammation, lightly hydrate, and strengthen your skin barrier. (Think: Centella Asiatica extract, allantoin, cucumber and acerola cherry.) It works on all types of acne-prone skin, from dry to oily.

• Pros: Clears and prevents acne
• Cons: Some may find it too drying

Ulta reviewer: “Highly recommended this product! I have sensitive, acne-prone skin and this has done wonders for me. I was breaking out a lot on my chin and forehead, but after adding this to my routine my face is clear! It has also lasted me a few months and I use it twice a day. I think it’s definitely worth a try!”

Dermatologists have been recommending Glytone Acne Clearing Toner to their acne patients for more than a decade. Now the formula is better than ever, thanks to a recent upgrade. It still has 2% salicylic acid to combat pimples, whiteheads and blackheads, but it’s free of harsh alcohol, dyes and fragrance. They’ve been replaced by ingredients like niacinamide, allantoin, mandelic acid, aloe, calendula and licorice extract for added soothing, clarifying and brightening benefits.

• Pros: Clears and prevents acne
• Cons: Not as strong as the original formula

Glytone reviewer: “Great toner for acne prone skin. I have been using it for years and it has made quite the difference in my skin. There are no more breakouts.”

If you’re into clean beauty, Farmacy Deep Sweep 2% BHA Pore Cleaning Toner will be right up your alley. This formula has Sephora’s “Clean + Planet Positive” seal of approval, since it’s free of potentially harmful ingredients and comes in a recyclable glass bottle. With 2% salicylic acid at approximately pH 4.0, it’s also highly effective at deep-cleaning pores and keeping oily skin and acne under control. Since it’s alcohol-free and fragrance-free, it’s less likely to cause dryness or irritation.

• Pros: Clean ingredients, deep-cleans pores
• Cons: Some may find it too drying

Sephora reviewer: “I got this toner as a replacement for another toner that I was using with too many chemicals. I have sensitive skin that breaks out easily, but using this hasn’t caused any breakouts, and has improved the tone and texture of my skin. The post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation I’ve had for a while has improved. I have already purchased more bottles so I don’t run out.”

Most K-beauty toners contain only 0.5% salicylic acid, the maximum allowable concentration in Korea—but not Anua BHA 2% Gentle Exfoliating Toner. It’s a made-for-the-US formula with 2% salicylic acid, which makes it extra-effective for excess oil, large pores and uneven tone. Meanwhile, irritation is minimized with soothing panthenol and barrier-protective ceramides. Rather than daily, you’re meant to use this every two to three days, only increasing the frequency if well-tolerated.

• Pros: Deep-cleans pores, minimizes oil, contains ceramides
• Cons: Some may find it too drying

YesStyle reviewer: “This toner is one of my favourites to exfoliate my skin without irritating it. It is a very light and watery toner that absorbs quickly and does not leave a sticky feeling. I have noticed that my skin is smoother, brighter and more uniform. My pores look smaller and less visible. My pimples have reduced and the marks have faded. I am very happy with this toner and recommend it to anyone looking for a gentle and effective exfoliating toner.”