Best Pregnancy-Safe Skin Toner: Top Brands That Are Safe for You and the Baby

We've all been there: you're pregnant, your skin is going through the wringer, and a pregnancy-safe skin toner is included in your self-care list.

One of the best things you can do for yourself is get a good skin toner. Toner helps balance your skin's pH levels and removes excess dirt, oil, and makeup without stripping it of moisture.

What's usually searched by expectant mums is sensitive skin toner. Those that have natural ingredients that help calm inflammation and redness—are perfect for pregnancy!

Maintaining your skincare regimen is a good self-care step, but you want to ensure that the products you use contain safe ingredients for pregnancy. Join us as we share with you a curated list of pregnancy-safe skin toner products. 

Best pregnancy-safe skin toner: Top brands that are safe for you and the baby

We went ahead and searched for the best pregnancy-safe skin toner brands on the market today, so you’ll have one less thing to worry about!

ELEMIS Toner

Best Toner with Natural Extracts

Elemis Balancing Lavender Toner for skin contains calming and refreshing extracts such as saponins, lavender, and Sweet Betty Flower. It’s perfect for not just combination skin, but also acne-prone skin. 

This deeply soothing, hydrating and sensitive skin toner will help restore your skin for a fresh and clear complexion. What’s more, it rebalances your skin’s pH level without using alcohol or harsh detergents.

Skin Types:

• Best toner for combination skin
• Best toner for oily skin
• Best toner for acne-prone skin
• Best toner for sensitive skin
• Best toner for dry skin

Features We Love:

• Gentle ingredients.
• Helps remove all impurities.
• Softens and hydrates the skin.

Mario Badescu Toner

Best Toner for Reducing Acne Scars 

This product is best for reducing acne scars due to its high dose of AHAs, antioxidants, and vitamins. With a lightweight texture, this heavenly-smelling toner for skin helps hydrate, cleanse, and soothe the skin. 

In addition, it does not contain any parabens or sulfates. Best of all, it’s suitable for all skin types. And for pregnant mums, this is one of the best sensitive skin toners.

Skin Types:

• Best toner for combination skin
• Best toner for oily skin
• Best toner for acne prone skin
• Best toner for sensitive skin
• Best toner for dry skin

Features We Love:

• Paraben-free and sulfate-free.
• Beautiful scent of rose and witch hazel.
• Suitable for all skin types.

Neutrogena Facial Toner

Best Toner for Sensitive Skin 

This toner is oil-free, hypoallergenic and alcohol-free. Perfect for cleansing and refreshing without irritating sensitive skin. In addition, it’s non-comedogenic so it won’t clog your pores. It's definitely a sensitive skin toner.

With a very affordable price, this toner for skin is perfect for affordable at-home self-care. 

Skin Types:

• Best toner for combination skin
• Best toner for oily skin
• Best toner for acne prone skin
• Best toner for sensitive skin
• Best toner for dry skin

Features We Love: 

• Reconditions skin and removes impurities. 
• Affordable price.
• Non-comedogenic.

E.l.f Supertone Facial Toner

Best Toner for a Natural Glow 

This vegan and cruelty-free toner for skin gently removes dead skin cells for a more radiant and brighter complexion.

The winning combination not only brightens skin, but it also reduces inflammation and soothes and hydrates skin. It's another good sensitive skin toner because it's free from parabens and phthalates, it’s definitely a must-try. 

Skin Types:

• Best toner for combination skin
• Best toner for oily skin
• Best toner for acne prone skin
• Best toner for sensitive skin
• Best toner for dry skin

Features We Love: 

• Alpha Hydroxy Acid from fruit acids helps brighten the skin. 
• Aloe helps soothe skin.
• Witch hazel and castor oil soothe skin and prevent over-drying.

Dickinson’s Hydrating Toner

Best Toner for Hydration 

This hydrating toner for skin has an exclusive formula made with 98% natural and distilled witch hazel, with the enhancing ingredient of invigorating rosewater.

The result is ultra-clean and fresh skin with no tightness. The nice floral scent also helps you feel relaxed.

Skin Types:

• Best toner for combination skin
• Best toner for oily skin
• Best toner for acne prone skin
• Best toner for sensitive skin
• Best toner for dry skin

Features We Love: 

• Enhanced with hyaluronic acid and vitamin E.
• Removes impurities, moisturises skin, and refines pores.
• Dermatologist recommended witch hazel.

CeraVe Hydrating Toner

Best Toner for Sensitive Dry Skin

CeraVe Hydrating Toner is a great choice for the mum-to-be who wants to keep her skin healthy and looking its best.

This product is packed with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and three essential ceramides (1, 3, 6-6-II). These ingredients work to help restore your skin's moisture barrier and improve its ability to retain water.

This will help you avoid dryness and irritation during pregnancy, which can cause itching and flaking as well as make your skin more susceptible to sun damage.

The formula also contains hyaluronic acid, which helps draw moisture into your skin cells so that they can stay hydrated longer. This will help prevent dehydration, which can lead to dullness and fine lines.

CeraVe Hydrating Toner is fragrance-free, so it won't irritate your skin or cause any allergic reactions—and it's safe for use during pregnancy!

Skin Types:

• Best toner for combination skin
• Best toner for oily skin
• Best toner for acne prone skin
• Best toner for sensitive skin
• Best toner for dry skin

Features We Love:

• Allergy-tested
• Gentle, non-irritating formula
• Suitable for normal-to-dry skin, and sensitive skin

Kiehl’s Cucumber Herbal Alcohol-Free Toner

Best Toner for All Skin Types

This pregnancy toner is a must-have for any mum-to-be. Kiehl's Cucumber Herbal Alcohol-Free Toner helps to soothe and calm the skin, which can be prone to irritation during pregnancy.

It contains cucumber extract, which helps soften and smooth out the skin, and aloe vera gel, which soothes irritation and inflammation. 

All of which are rich in vitamins and minerals that aid in hydration and help prevent dryness and dehydration.

Unlike other alcohol-free toners, this one doesn't leave a sticky residue on your skin. The result is a toner that feels refreshing and moisturising without being heavy or greasy. The best thing about this toner is that it's made with natural ingredients—and we love that!

Skin Types:

• Best toner for combination skin
• Best toner for oily skin
• Best toner for acne prone skin
• Best toner for sensitive skin
• Best toner for dry skin

Features We Love:

• Gently balances and tones skin with a mild astringent effect
• Non-drying formula leaves skin soft, clean and toned with an elegant feel
• For all skin types, particularly dry or sensitive skin

Lancome Tonique Confort Comforting Rehydrating Toner

Best Toner for Removing Impurities

Toner is one of the most important parts of your skincare routine, and it's especially important for mums-to-be.

You need to keep your skin hydrated and fresh, but also feel comfortable with what you're using. That's why we love Lancome's Tonique Confort Comforting Rehydrating Toner. 

It's made with a blend of hydrating ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid, Acacia Honey and Sweet Almond Oil—so you know it'll be great for keeping your skin feeling soft and supple.

Plus, it has a light scent that won't irritate you even if you're sensitive to smells during pregnancy (and who isn't?).

If you're looking for a toner that's going to give you the best results possible without being too harsh on your body during pregnancy or after giving birth, this is definitely the one for you!

Skin Types:

• Best toner for combination skin
• Best toner for oily skin
• Best toner for acne prone skin
• Best toner for sensitive skin
• Best toner for dry skin

Features We Love:

• Consistency is similar to a face serum, rich yet lightweight
• It’s easily spread and quickly absorbed without drying or stripping the skin
• No shiny finish

Price Comparison: Pregnancy-Safe Skin Toner

Here’s a quick look at the prices of the best brands of pregnancy-safe skin toner, especially in Singapore today:

Editor’s Note: Each item and price is up to date at the time of publication (January 2023). However, an item may be sold out or the price may be different at a later date.

What is a toner and why use one?

A toner is a product that is used to remove any remaining makeup or dirt from your face after cleansing. It can be a liquid or a lotion, and it should be applied after cleansing and before your moisturizer.

Using a toner for skin helps:

• Makeup last longer
• Reduce the appearance of pores
• Keep skin hydrated and smooth

Why use a pregnancy-safe skin toner?

You're pregnant. You've got pregnancy brain, constantly hungry, and can't remember the last time you had a good night's sleep. But now your skin is acting up too?

Well, don't worry—it's not just you. Pregnancy hormones can cause all kinds of changes to the way your body functions, including skin-related issues like acne or dryness. That's where pregnancy-safe skin toners come in!

These products are designed specifically for use during pregnancy, meaning they won't contain any harmful chemicals that can harm your baby or affect the development of their organs while they're still in utero.

Pregnancy-safe skin toner also won't irritate sensitive skin that might be more prone to breakouts due to hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy.

Ingredients to avoid 

When looking for a pregnancy-safe skin toner, what ingredients should we avoid? We break it down for you: 

1. Retinoids - High doses of retinoids have been associated with birth defects. 
2. High-dose salicylic acid - avoid facial peels and oral medication with this ingredient during pregnancy. 
3. Hydroquinone - It’s advisable to limit this as the body tends to absorb high amounts of hydroquinone. 
4. Phthalates - regardless of whether we are pregnant or not, they should be avoided as they are endocrine disruptors. 
5. Formaldehyde - This is carcinogenic. Avoid it as it may increase the risk of miscarriage. 

Look for sensitive skin toners. It is the perfect solution for your pregnancy-safe skincare routine. It's made with natural ingredients and leaves your skin feeling smooth and hydrated.

Does the type of skin you have matter?

Yes, the type of skin you have does matter.

If you have sensitive skin, or if your skin has been prone to irritation and breakouts in the past, there are some toners that are better suited for your face than others.

Pregnancy safe toners are generally milder than other kinds of toners and contain ingredients that will not irritate your skin or cause breakouts. They also tend to be more gentle on the skin than other products because they're formulated specifically for use on pregnant women's faces.

If you're looking for a pregnancy safe toner, look for one that contains aloe vera. Aloe vera is known for its soothing properties and many women find that using an aloe vera-based product helps them deal with any irritation caused by hormones during pregnancy (such as acne).

How often should you use toner?

We recommend using a pregnancy-safe skin toner after you wash your face with soap and water. This can be done in the morning or at night before bed.

If you have oily skin, then it's best to use toner every day. If not, then only use it once or twice a week.

Tips for using a toner during pregnancy

Using a toner during pregnancy is a great way to keep your skin feeling fresh, clean, and healthy.

But before you start spritsing away, make sure you're using a pregnancy-safe skin toner. Here are some tips for using a toner during pregnancy:

• Choose a toner that's alcohol-free. Alcohol can be drying for your skin and cause irritation during pregnancy.
• Look for something gentle on sensitive skin that won't cause redness or irritation.
• Choose something with hydrating ingredients like aloe vera or vitamin E to keep your skin moisturised and smooth.

Tips for applying pregnancy-safe skin toner 

Applying pregnancy-safe skin toner the right way will be very helpful in maximising its effectiveness! Toner should be applied directly after cleansing and before moisturising the skin. 

Here’s how: 

1. Before applying facial toner, use cleansing milk to remove all makeup and dirt from the face. 
2. Choose the right toner for your skin: 

• For dry skin, choose a more moisturising oil or cream-based toner. 
• For oily skin, choose a water-based or alcohol-based toner. 

We hope this article helps you choose an effective and pregnancy-safe skin toner that lasts throughout your pregnancy. 

To further help you with pregnancy-safe cosmetic products, check out: Pregnancy-safe Lipstick: Best Brands to Use When Expecting