6 Best Hydrating Facial Toners, Essences & Mists For Plump, Dewy Skin

No matter the time of year, at least one hydrating toner, essence or mist should feature in your skincare routine. During the summer months, these hydration heroes can be used in between lighter layers to ramp up moisture levels without suffocating the skin. They're light, refreshing and can be reapplied as and when needed to keep your skin happy all day long. In winter, sandwiching every single skincare step with a nourishing liquid locks in maximum hydration and prevents dreaded dryness. I always have a few different formulas on rotation at any one time to tackle different skin concerns, so I thought I'd share my current favourites with you.

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One of my favourite daily hyaluronic acid toners comes in the form of the haruharu wonder Black Rice Moisture Hyaluronic Toner*. This K-beauty classic is iconic for a reason. Whilst the fragrance-free toner simply resembles water, it has a slightly thicker consistency which drenches the skin with a comforting blanket of hydration. You can literally feel the toner flooding your cells to really plump up your skin and leave your face bouncy and supple with a natural matte finish. There's no greasiness or oiliness left behind, so this is great option for anyone that's not a fan of an overtly dewy look. Sensitive skin friendly, the gentle formula contains a number of soothing additions to promote healthy skin, including the brand's hero ingredient fermented black rice, hyaluronic acid, fermented bamboo shoots and glycerin. Unlike more watery toners, this one doesn't dry down so much after application that skin is left tight and craving additional moisture, so much so that you have to rush to apply the next step in your routine. If you're looking for a simple staple toner that you can rely on to get the job done but doesn't break the bank, then haruharu wonder's Black Rice Moisture Hyaluronic Toner is one to beat. Even using it every single day, it takes months to get through the 150ml bottle, so it's a steal at £16 (plus it's regularly on offer for much cheaper)!

Another K-beauty skincare brand that can do no wrong in my eyes is Dr Jart+. I've been impressed by every product I've tried from their range over the years, and the Dr Jart+ Cicapair Intensive Soothing Repair Treatment Lotion is no different. This toner is one that I turn to when my skin needs some extra TLC- after pushing my skin to the brink with too many actives, trying a new product that hasn't worked for me, or struggling with illness/seasonal changes/random reactions that appear from nowhere - and this toner always comes to the rescue. Enriched with centella asiatica (cica), peptides and allantoin, this turbocharged treatment is formulated to soothe sensitised skin, calm redness and repair a compromised skin barrier. The Dr Jart+ Cicapair Intensive Soothing Repair Treatment Lotion may have a water-like texture, providing immediate refreshment and a heavenly cooling sensation when skin is hot and bothered, but don't be fooled. As soon as the scent-free liquid absorbs, the intense comfort it delivers becomes apparent. With continued use, your skin becomes so much more resilient, and the mild rosacea that used to flare up on my nose and cheeks is now a thing of the past thanks to this formula. My dry skin drinks this toner up, and I find myself applying layer upon layer in winter, but it never breaks me out or feels heavy. At £28 for 150ml, this toner is a step up from your basic hydrating formula, however it's a particularly worthy investment for anyone who struggles with redness, irritation or a broken skin barrier at this time of year!

I'm a huge advocate of LED light therapy and make time for an LED treatment every single day. The thing with LED masks is that you have to be careful about which skincare products you use in conjunction with them as some can inhibit the treatment's effectiveness. The Nooance Paris Serum Mist Ultra Radiance+*, however, is especially formulated to work with their Access+ LED mask (reviewed here) and even boosts treatment results by +20%. This fragrance-free spritz is the epitome of luxury. Another formula containing anti-inflammatory centella asiatica to calm, it's combined with polyglutamic acid (ten times more powerful than hyaluronic acid), niacinamide to even skin tone and boost radiance, and a regenerating bi-peptide to promote collagen production. Although it's ultra fine, the mist is super concentrated and delivers a decadent, rich coating of serum. The creamy formula starts to feel tacky as it sinks in, gripping the skin as it gets to work straight away, deeply nourishing below the epidermis whilst leaving a protective glaze on the surface. Nooance Paris' Serum Mist Ultra Radiance+ gives skin that clean-girl, glass skin aesthetic whether it's used in conjunction with an LED treatment or not. So, if you have an LED mask and want to amplify your results even further, this could be the perfect addition to your skincare shelves. If not, it's a supercharged brightening and anti-aging serum that's mess-free, quick to use and gives a gorgeous, glowing finish both short and long term. It's spenny at £63 for 90ml, but it a great all-rounder and can be used as your only hydrating mist and serum step in one if you want to keep things simple. Feel free to use my code ALICEGRACE15 for 15% off your order on the Nooance Paris website!

The SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Cloudy Mist is my go-to for a refreshing pick me up. It's the lightest and freshest mist in my collection, so I prefer to use it to initially dampen my face or almost reactivate my skincare steps as they dry down. It's nowhere near as nourishing or rich as others in my list but offers a nice level of hydration and works wonders to instantly cool hot, irritated skin. The finer, freshly-scented formula is ideal for top ups, and it'd make the perfect mist for anyone with temperamental oily skin. Throughout the day, especially in the summer, I reach for it whenever I fancy an extra moisture boost as it doesn't overload the skin. Despite having such a delicate texture, this spritz is formulated with lots of skin-loving ingredients that work to softly hydrate and boost moisture retention, such as eight layers of hyaluronic acid, centella asiatica, ceramides, green tea and xylitol. SKIN1004's creation has a cloud-like, fine mist which effortlessly covers your entire face in just a few spritzes, making it relaxing to apply. Think steaming your face in a foggy shower but without the heat - divine. The fact that this spritz is so affordable at under £10 for a 120ml bottle from the likes of Stylevana is just a bonus.

Towards the end of my skincare routine, particularly in the evening, I turn to thicker, more milky formulas. The Kiehl's Ultra Facial Toner is tried and true. I've repurchased it for years and would feel bereft if it was ever discontinued. I actually use this product like a traditional toner, applied to a cotton pad and wiped across the face after cleansing. It does a stellar job of catching any pesky impurities that may have evaded your face washing routine (when removing heavy makeup after a boozy evening, possibly) to leave skin just that little more pristinely yet comfortably clean. I really notice how much softer my skin feels when using the Kiehl's Ultra Facial Toner consistently, and the roughness around my mouth and nose always disappears. Full of apricot oil, avocado oil, vitamin E and squalene, it's ideal for those who want every step of their routine to lock in the maximum amount of moisture. Saying that, the creamy liquid has the texture of a lotion and doesn't leave greasy residues behind, so it's not one to be scared of if you have oilier skin. It's a mild, no-frills toner that's ph-balanced and alcohol free, so it's suitable for even sensitive skin. There is a hint of fragrance in there, but it's the natural ingredients within the formula that give it a slight fruity scent. I've been experimenting with not cleansing my face in the AM recently, and although I'm not totally sold on the practice yet, using this revitalising toner in lieu of a cleanser effectively wakes up and preps my skin for the rest of my routine. And for £23, you get a pretty impressive 250ml, which is an absolute bargain in my eyes.

My final favourite is toted as a dupe for Hailey Bieber's beloved but pricey Rhode Glazing Milk - the harharu wonder Probiotics Barrier Essence*. If you want seriously delicious, glossy skin, then look no further than this Korean work of art. The creamy, fragrance-free essence literally melts into the skin to leave it looking gorgeously glowing and feeling like silk. Even though the liquid is lightweight in consistency, it does have a rich texture, which could be too much for oilier skin-types but is literal heaven for my drier visage. It's far more nourishing than other toners, but it's not sticky or unpleasantly oily, and other products apply beautifully over the top of it with no issues. harharu wonder's Probiotics Barrier Essence is packed full to the brim with every ingredient you could think of to hydrate and restore your skin barrier. In there, you've got ceramides, fatty acids, panthenol, cholesterol and fermented rice and bamboo shoots, which all work to improve moisture levels and soothe. Probiotics within the essence also work to gently smooth skin texture to encourage all those hydrating ingredients to penetrate the skin as deeply as possible for even better results. This essence can be difficult to pour out of the bottle, so a thorough shake is required to dispense a few drops, which may be an intentional design to stop you from applying too much of the potent formula at once and prevent waste. A little really goes a long way with this one! If you're looking to recreate the juicy, high-shine skin look that's so popular whilst ensuring your skin remains in great condition all winter long, then you really need to pick this up. It's £21 for 120ml, but the incredible formula really gives you bang for your buck!

Do you use a hydrating toner, essence or mist as part of your skincare routine?

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