From personal experience, I have always used toners in a mix of both uses: hydrating and balancing. I suffer from severe dryness due to eczema, and oftentimes, even an intense moisturizer and hydrating serum are not enough to keep my skin from flaking, especially in the cold Winter months. I typically add in some kind of hydrating water-based toner or essence that has a thin, watered-down, mucus-like consistency, like the Leegeehaam Grow Hyal B5 Toner ($30), Tatcha The Essence ($95), or Peach & Lily Wild Dew Treatment Essence ($39). I also often use toners or micellar waters to remove any lasting dirt and grime from my face, like Garnier's SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water ($9) or Skyn Iceland's Micellar Cleansing Water ($25).
I received a wide range of recommendations from the experts I consulted. For chemically exfoliating and cleansing formulas that can also help with acne and oiliness, the experts vouched support for Mario Bedescu's Glycolic Acid Toner ($18), Pixi's Glow Tonic ($15), and Olehenriksen's Balancing Force Oil Control Toner ($26), among others. For more hydrating formulas, try out the Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Facial Toner ($44), Belif Witch Hazel Herbal Extract Toner ($28), Clarins Toning Lotion With Camomile ($26), or any of my recommendations above.
