# Toner for combination skin

Source: HiveTried, https://hivetried.com/beauty/toner/for-combination-skin/
Category: Beauty > Toner. Updated 2026-10-10. Based on 181 counted first-hand reports from Ulta and Sephora shopper reviews, Apr 2015 to Jun 2026.

**Question:** Which toner is good for combination skin?

**Short answer:** Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Toner has the best record for combination skin, with 19 of 20 shoppers saying it kept their oily areas in check without drying their dry areas. Farmacy Deep Sweep 2% BHA Toner follows at 11 of 12, then Clinique Clarifying Lotion at 16 of 19 and Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Toner at 16 of 19, tied with each other, while The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toner has the weakest record here at 14 of 20. Each record counts just shoppers who said they have combination skin.

**What stands out:** Stinging or irritation comes up in 17% of The Ordinary reviews, and in 13% or less of the reviews for each of the other toners here.

## Ranking (buyers who said whether it worked)

| Rank | Product | Balanced both areas | Share | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Toner | 19 of 20 | 95% | yes |
| 2 | Farmacy Deep Sweep 2% BHA Toner | 11 of 12 | 92% | yes |
| 3 | Clinique Clarifying Lotion | 16 of 19 | 84% | yes |
| 4 | Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Toner | 16 of 19 | 84% | yes |
| 5 | The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toner | 14 of 20 | 70% | yes |

Ranked by the lower bound of a 90% Wilson confidence interval, so a product needs a high share and enough reports to rank high. An Amazon link is shown only when at least 60% say it works.

## Product notes

### 1. Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Toner

Smoother skin comes up in 10% of its 30 reviews and a gentle feel in 10%, while 7% say it costs too much.

- Praised for: Smoother texture (10%), Gentle on skin (10%)
- Complaints: Stings or irritates (13%), Too expensive (7%)
- Reports counted: 30

### 2. Farmacy Deep Sweep 2% BHA Toner

Shoppers call it gentle in 33% of its 30 reviews, while 17% mention smoother skin and 7% call it good value.

- Praised for: Gentle on skin (33%), Smoother texture (17%), Preps skin well (10%)
- Complaints: Stings or irritates (7%)
- Reports counted: 30

### 3. Clinique Clarifying Lotion

The counts cover all four formulas, and shoppers pick the formula number for their skin on the listing. A gentle feel comes up in 33% of its 30 reviews, though 7% mention a strong smell.

- Praised for: Gentle on skin (33%), Smoother texture (10%), Preps skin well (7%)
- Complaints: Strong smell (7%)
- Reports counted: 30

### 4. Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Toner

Some shoppers find it pricey, with 12% of its 32 reviews saying it costs too much, though 22% call it gentle and 19% mention smoother skin.

- Praised for: Gentle on skin (22%), Smoother texture (19%)
- Complaints: Too expensive (12%), Stings or irritates (9%)
- Reports counted: 32

### 5. The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toner

Its 6 misses mostly said it broke them out. Of its 59 reviews, 15% mention smoother skin and 10% call it gentle.

- Praised for: Smoother texture (15%), Gentle on skin (10%), Good value (3%)
- Complaints: Stings or irritates (17%)
- Reports counted: 59

## Questions

**Which toner works for combination skin?**

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Toner has the best record (19 of 20), followed by Farmacy Deep Sweep 2% BHA Toner (11 of 12). Then come Clinique Clarifying Lotion (16 of 19) and Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Toner (16 of 19), tied with each other, and The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toner (14 of 20).

**How many shoppers are behind each record?**

The second number in each record is the group size. It runs from 12 shoppers for Farmacy Deep Sweep 2% BHA Toner to 20 each for Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Toner and The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toner. Group size is built into the order, so a record from a bigger group counts for more than the same share from a smaller one.

**Do these records test what is in each toner?**

No. The counts are what shoppers with combination skin said after using each toner, not a test of ingredients. Skin varies from person to person, so follow the label directions on whichever one you pick.

**Which of these toners are sold on Amazon?**

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Toner, Farmacy Deep Sweep 2% BHA Toner, Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Toner and The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toner are sold on Amazon by the brand or Amazon itself, and Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Toner is both the leader and the best pick sold on Amazon. For Clinique Clarifying Lotion, we could not confirm the exact Amazon listing, so its button searches Amazon for it.

## Method

HiveTried counts first-hand reports only, drops reviews written for free products, shows brand-site reviews without counting them, and never accepts payment for placement. Full method: https://hivetried.com/how-we-count/