If you’re on the hunt for a product that will give you glowing skin in time for summer, then you might want to include an exfoliating toner into your skincare routine. These gentle but effective liquid formulas work wonders by exfoliating the skin and removing dead cells to reveal a fresh, radiant complexion underneath.
When it comes to liquid exfoliants, there are two main types, AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid) and PHA (Polyhydroxy Acid), both of which have garnered significant attention for their abilities to rejuvenate and illuminate the skin. AHAs, such as glycolic acid and lactic acid, work by loosening the bonds between dead skin cells, promoting their shedding and accelerating cell turnover.
On the other hand, PHAs are a newer generation of exfoliating acids that offer similar benefits to AHAs but with larger molecules, making them gentler on the skin’s surface. The results? Smoother texture, improved tone, reduced fine lines, and a luminous glow.
READ MORE:Woman with ‘airport carousel of eye bags’ ditched filler for £32 ‘magic gel’
However, it’s important to note that with the use of these potent exfoliants, your skin becomes more susceptible to sun damage, so it’s crucial to incorporate SPF into your daily skincare routine. SPF helps protect your skin from harmful UV rays and prevents premature ageing – one we’re currently loving is the new No7 Future Renew Damage Protection Defence Shield SPF50.
So, if you’re ready to get your glow on, here are five of The Mirror beauty team’s top exfoliating toners that deserve a spot in your skincare cupboard.
Medik8 Press & Glow Daily Exfoliating PHA Tonic – £28
If you’re fed up with living with dry, dull-looking skin as a result of the cold weather, beauty fans are raving about this ‘gentle yet effective’ toner from Medik8 which many say gives your skin an ‘instant glow.’ Loved by in-the-know skincare experts, beauty editors and celebs the £28 Press & Glow Daily Exfoliating PHA Tonic gently exfoliates, resurfaces, hydrates and smooths without irritating sensitive skin, drying or leaving any sticky residue.
The radiance-boosting Press & Glow formula has been described as a gentler, more balanced alternative to AHAs as the tonic’s PHA solution contains larger molecules that won’t penetrate as deeply into the skin, but instead work on the surface of the skin.
Prickly pear extract works as an enzyme activator – encouraging cell renewal and therefore helping to bestow you with the ultimate glow, all while diminishing the look of fine lines and wrinkles. You’ll also find comforting aloe vera which helps to reduce irritation while also protecting against free radicals, encouraging moisture retention.
The affordable skincare hero has plenty of fans too, with over 700 five-star customer reviews on Medik8’s website alone. One impressed customer said: “I have really sensitive skin and this is such a great product. It works so well and leaves my skin feeling so good with a lovely glow. It’s perfect for using alongside other actives whereas harsher acid toners would be too much for my skin.”
A second added: “I am all about a simple skincare routine, and this product ticks lots of boxes. It was recommended to me by my facialist, and it’s a firm part of my skincare now. Easy to use, no strong smells, helps keep my ageing skin brighter!”
Now, you know a product is good when there are barely any negative reviews, however, one customer wasn’t a fan of the toner after using it, and said: “It doesn’t irritate but I am left feeling dry after I have used it, not noticed any difference to my face other than that.”
If you already have the Press & Glow toner, don’t throw away your bottle once it’s done as you can pick up a 200ml refill bottle for £23 to avoid waste.
REN Clean Skincare Glow Daily AHA Tonic – £30
REN’s Ready Steady Glow formula is a popular one among The Mirror’s fashion and beauty team, influencers and celebrities alike, with Stacey Solomon’s makeup artist Penelope Ryan using the glow-giving formula on the Sort Your Life Out star ahead of photoshoots.
The glow tonic is a skin resurfacing product that has seven different benefits in one. If the term ‘skin resurfacing’ fills you with fear, don’t worry – it’s not as harsh as it sounds. The toner is gentle enough to be used every day and helps exfoliate your complexion and break up dead skin cells thanks to its lactic acid content.
It also contains salicin from willow bark, which helps your pores appear tighter and your skin appear smoother. It also helps brighten and tighten, whilst hydrating and limiting damage that other harsher exfoliants can cause.
It’s recommended that you use the REN toner as part of your evening skincare routine, and apply it to freshly cleansed skin with a cotton pad, sweeping it across your face to help break down any dead skin, dirt and oils left over from the day. If you suffer with extra sensitive skin, you can also dilute it with water by dampening your cotton pad beforehand while your skin gets used to it.
Shoppers who’ve used the REN toner have been praising it for how bright it leaves their skin, with one saying: “Lovely exfoliating toner, skin looks brighter and feels extra cleansed.”
Another review read: “Works almost immediately! Soft, kind and does the job! love it! It’s in my daily routine for the foreseeable can not see my skin without it now! Game changer on skin, application is easy and brilliant when paired with the cream! Skin recovery in a bottle.”
Though another Cult Beauty shopper penned: “Definitely left my skin glowy, but long term didn’t do much for my skin. Love the dispenser on this.”
Pixi Glow Tonic – £18
While some exfoliating toners can come with a hefty price tag, Pixi’s Glow Tonic is the frontrunner of budget options, coming in under £20 for a full-sized bottle. The exfoliating facial tonic is a skincare staple for achieving radiant, glowing skin. Suitable for all skin types, this alcohol-free tonic is a game-changer, packed with Glycolic Acid, it works to tone, firm, and tighten your complexion, while removing dead skin cells for a healthier look.
Enriched with Ginseng to enhance circulation and energise, as well as Aloe Vera to soothe and hydrate, it refines pores and gently accelerates cell renewal, unveiling a brighter, more luminous complexion. Incorporate it into your morning or evening routine or whenever needed for optimal results.
Cleanse your face, saturate a cotton pad with Glow Tonic, and sweep across your face, neck, and décolletage, avoiding the eye area – then follow up with your favourite serums and moisturisers.
Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant – £35
When it comes to getting clean, clear skin, there’s nothing better than a good exfoliator, and TikTok can’t stop raving about Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant . The peeling liquid exfoliator has racked up hundreds of thousands of views on TikTok, with commenters calling it “The BEST” and “God’s gift” for breakouts, blocked pores and textured skin.
Created with salicylic acid and BHA (beta hydroxy acid), the liquid exfoliant is perfect for helping clear up congested, oily and combination skin whilst also reducing future breakouts and blackheads, leaving you with a clearer, softer complexion.
Created with blemish-prone, oily, or combination skin types in mind, the Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant is a non-abrasive formula that removes dead skin cells both on the surface and deep within your pores to give your skin a thorough exfoliation. It also has anti-inflammatory properties which help reduce blackheads and breakouts and green tea, which provides antioxidants that help to soothe and protect your skin.
The exfoliant has a liquid formula similar to your favourite toners and helps with absorption to boost your skin’s hydration and ensure your skin fully absorbs your other skincare products. To get the most out of the product, soak a cotton pad with it and apply across your face (make sure not to get it on your eyelids and lashes). You don’t need to rinse or wash it off, just continue with your regular skincare routine afterwards.
Due to the acidic nature of the exfoliant, it’s important you gradually introduce it into your usual regime to avoid compromising your skin’s natural barrier. Eventually, you can use it up to twice a day – although don’t forget to apply your sunscreen every day.
Alpha-H Liquid Gold – £42.99
Combining the benefits of a toner, exfoliator, serum and moisturiser in one, the Alpha-H Liquid Gold is clinically proven to improve skin tone, luminosity, skin texture and skin elasticity in just 21 days – so there’s no wonder it’s been hailed as “a miracle in a bottle” by thousands of beauty fans around the world.
The powerful ‘sleep in’ liquid peel quickly revitalises dulled, ageing skin whilst visibly reducing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, enlarged pores, blemishes, pigmentation and scarring.
Star ingredient Glycolic Acid speeds up cell turnover and enhances luminosity by dissolving the bounds holding dead skin cells together to clear the way for fresher, plumper skin cells to come to the surface whilst Liquorice Root Extract helps regulate melanin production to assist in reducing pigmentation.
Also found in the formula are moisture-binding proteins that help minimise skin hydration by preventing trans-epidermal water loss, as well as a pH of 2.8-3.0 which allows the active ingredients to exfoliate deeper within the skin for professional clinical results at home.
The award-winning formula has racked up hundreds of five-star reviews, as well as going viral on TikTok after many skincare enthusiasts tried and tested the Liquid Gold out for themselves, and were left shocked by the results, with TikToker @graces.faces claimingthe toner made a ‘huge difference’ to her acne-prone skin after using it for just a few weeks – however, some say the ‘smell lets it down’.
Alpha-H suggests using the Liquid Gold three times a week on alternating nights to improve skin texture, tone and radiance. You can try out the viral Liquid Gold Exfoliant here for £42.99.
