Best Exfoliating Toners, Pads, Mists & Peels: Brighten, Smooth & Renew Your Skin
One of the quickest (and often gentlest) ways to exfoliate is with exfoliating toners, daily peels, or pre-soaked pads. These formulas are designed to be gentle, quick, and slot seamlessly into your routine, delivering smoother, brighter, clearer skin with minimal effort. Pre-soaked exfoliating pads, in particular, are travel-friendly and perfect when time is short, instantly boosting radiance and creating the ideal base for makeup.
Don’t underestimate these products: even though the application may seem simple, a quick swipe, they play a crucial role in your exfoliation routine. With consistent use, they refine skin texture, boost luminosity, and enhance the effectiveness of the rest of your skincare regimen.
In this blog, you will find the answers to the most common questions about exfoliating toners: Do you actually need one? What can they (and can’t they) do for your skin? How should you be using them to get the best results? Which you can combine with skincare actives and the top recommendations for all skin types.
Frequently Asked Questions About Exfoliating Toners
What is an exfoliating toner? And how is this different from a regular toner?
Exfoliating toners are a hybrid between a daily toner designed to soothe and hydrate like a traditional toner, with an additional step to help loosen or buff away dead skin cells. Often, a mild exfoliation combining chemical or botanical exfoliating ingredients to perfect the skin before makeup to achieve a smooth, radiant canvas, and not forgetting to make way for your skin serums.
What won’t exfoliating toners do?
Despite marketing claims, exfoliating toners won’t shrink your pores in one swipe. What they can do is clear away the dead skin and debris inside pores, helping them look less visible and improving overall skin clarity.
Why should I use an exfoliating toner?
Help restore skin’s natural pH after cleansing.
Prep and prime skin to better absorb serums and moisturisers.
Deliver added skincare benefits like hydration, vitamins, prebiotics, and antioxidants, as well as enhancing skin turnover.
Encouraging cell renewal whilst leaving skin radiant, smoother, and more even in tone.
How often should I use an exfoliating toner?
This depends on both your skin type and the strength of the exfoliating acids and the pH. While many brands suggest once or even twice daily, most skin types won’t tolerate that level of exfoliation without irritation. For many, a few times per week is enough, and that's definitely where I would start. You can build up while listening to your skin, and scale back if you notice sensitivity, dryness, or redness.
Can I use an exfoliating toner if I already use retinol or other strong actives?
Caution is key. Many exfoliating toners contain AHAs or BHAs, which can increase sensitivity if layered with other strong actives like retinoids. A general rule is to avoid doubling up on too many activities in the same routine. In this blog, I highlight which exfoliating products can be safely combined with actives like retinol and vitamin C, and which are best used on alternate nights.
When should I apply an exfoliating toner in my routine?
Use exfoliating toners after cleansing and before serums or moisturisers. My preference is evening use, as this takes advantage of the skin’s natural overnight repair process, while avoiding additional sun sensitivity during the day. Always follow with sunscreen if you’re exfoliating in the morning. I love using an exfoliating toner at night, then switching to a hydrating milky toner in the morning to boost moisture levels and leave skin comfortable for the day ahead. Below, I’ve rounded up the best milky toners to try. Best Milky Toners — Fiona Brackenbury
My favourite Exfoliating Toners, Peels, Pads, and Mists:
Best £30 and under
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel Pads Review
I’ve been a fan of the Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Peel Pads for years. Previously, I had to stock up in the US before they were available in the UK. Now that they’re more widely accessible, I love them thanks to tackling multiple skin concerns with a clever two-step system and leaving the skin with a brighter, smoother, more refined complexion.
Step 1 combines a blend of AHAs (lactic, malic, glycolic) and BHAs (salicylic acid) to exfoliate, unclog pores, brighten, and uneven tone. Step 2, the Anti-Ageing Neutraliser, is far more than its name suggests. It infuses the skin with antioxidants (green tea, resveratrol), skin soothers (chamomile), and cell-renewing actives (retinol and adenosine) to help improve fine lines, texture, and overall radiance.
My pro tip: I always recommend exfoliating at night, when the skin is naturally in repair mode, and these pads also contain retinol. Nighttime allows the skin to maximise all these benefits without causing any photosensitivity. Although designed for daily use, I prefer them every other day, with the Extra Strength version reserved for a weekly boost. I would tread very carefully when applying actives after using the Dr Dennis Gross Peels, especially as they contain retinol, so a barrier-strengthening routine with a good hydrating serum and ceramide moisturiser would be perfect.
Best for Oily, combination, and normal skin types
BUY HERE - Universal Daily Peels (5 peels) Look Fantastic
BUY HERE - Universal Daily Peels (60 peels) Look Fantastic
BUY HERE - Extra Strength Peels (30 peels) Look Fantastic
Liz Earle Smooth & Glow Exfoliating Tonic Review
The Liz Earle Smooth & Glow Exfoliating Tonic is a refreshing and gentle option for anyone who wants the benefits of smoother, more radiant skin, without turning to exfoliating acids. I love this formula is acid-free, making it easy to pair with stronger actives like retinol, without risking irritation or over-exfoliation.
On application, it feels cooling and hydrating, leaving skin soft and comfortable rather than tight. With consistent use, it helps to boost hydration, refine texture, and add a healthy luminosity. While it doesn’t deliver quite the same instant radiance as an AHA or BHA toner, it’s still a great alternative for those who are nervous about acids, new to exfoliation, or simply looking for a more balanced, everyday glow-giving tonic.
I found it particularly helpful on nights when I use retinoids, as it supports radiance and hydration without overwhelming the skin barrier. If you want a fuss-free, gentle option that keeps your skin looking fresh and healthy, this is a smart addition to your routine and can be used morning and evening as no exfoliating acids are included.
BUY HERE - Liz Earle
Ren Radiance Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic Review
This tonic is gentle, effective, and well-formulated to deliver brilliant results daily. A complex of exfoliating acids combined to reveal smoother, brighter, clearer skin whilst gently encouraging new cells to be revealed. With lactic acid to increase hydration and smooth the skin texture gently, and salicylic acid from willow bark to cleanse the pores effectively, this is brilliant for your skin, which is still prone to congestion and dehydration. Your complexion glows with radiance, and the azelaic acid precursors from olive leaves calm and nourish the skin.
Great for all skin types, be cautious of active ingredients, so listen to your skin.
BUY HERE - Look Fantastic (whilst stocks last)
Best £40 and under
MEDIK8 Press & Glow Review
This exfoliating toner will be an instant win; it’s gentle and so effective, and makes a great way to bring instant radiance, brightness, and smoothness to the skin. This beautiful exfoliating toner combines skin-smoothing PHAs (polyhydroxy acids) to ensure optimal cell turnover whilst gently helping to remove dull, dead skin cells by breaking down the glue that holds the dead skin cells together.
Gluconolactone, the type of PHA found in Press & Glow, is what makes this formula so good, as it’s hydrating and refining. Having the ability to boost hydration levels and being an effective humectant allows this toner to be a great way to gently exfoliate daily. As this is a PHA-based exfoliating toner, it can be used morning or evening and is suitable for even sensitive skin, thanks to the added ingredients of aloe vera and acai to help calm the skin.
Great for all skin types, and actives can be applied after use for most skin types
BUY HERE - Medik8
Gatineau Exfoliating PHA + BHA Glow Tonique Review
BHA exfoliating toners have a special place in my heart, and when they’re combined with PHAs, I love them even more. Together, these two acids work in harmony to help unclog pores, smooth skin texture, and bring an added boost of hydration.
Exfoliating PHA + BHA Glow Tonique combines gluconolactone, a polyhydroxy acid (PHA), which provides gentle exfoliation while also acting as a humectant to draw in moisture and support barrier health. Alongside salicylic acid, a beta-hydroxy acid (BHA), which penetrates into pores to help unclog and dissolve excess oil. Used together, they offer both surface renewal and deeper pore cleansing, making this toner seamless in its effectiveness.
Beyond exfoliation, the toner is enriched with sodium hyaluronate (a form of hyaluronic acid), hydrolysed jojoba esters, sunflower seed oil, and nasturtium flower extract to provide hydration, moisture, and antioxidant protection. This balance ensures the skin feels refreshed and comforted, not stripped.
It’s an excellent choice for combination, oily, or dull skin types, and a brilliant option if glycolic acid feels too harsh for you. Those with very sensitive or reactive skin may still want to patch test first, but overall, this is a thoughtful and effective daily exfoliating toner that delivers glow without compromise.
Great for all skin types, and actives can be applied after use for most skin types
BUY HERE - Gatineu
BUY HERE - 500ml QVC
BUY HERE - Sephora 200ml
Cosmetic Consultant Review: Miracle Skin Transformation Treatment
The Miracle Skin Transformation Treatment is a smartly formulated once-weekly overnight peel that targets dullness, congestion, uneven texture, and lack of radiance. A step up from an exfoliating daily toner and packed with a brilliant mix of AHAs (lactic, glycolic, mandelic, malic & tartaric), BHAs (Salicylic acid and willow bark extract), and botanical skin renewal enhancers like bakuchiol, it gently resurfaces while also supporting hydration and barrier health. After one use, the skin feels smoother, pores look more refined, and the complexion appears brighter and more refreshed by morning.
Unlike stronger daily peel pads, this delivers everything in one step without tipping skin into over-exfoliation. It’s an ideal choice for travelling, post-summer roughness, winter dryness, or seasonal dullness, and works well across most skin types looking for a weekly reset.
Great for all skin types, I wouldn't apply actives after using these peels
Read the full review HERE
BUY HERE - Cosmetic Consultant
Best Under £50
Skin Rocks The Gentle Acid Review
The Skin Rocks Gentle Acid is a beautifully formulated treatment that blends some of the best AHAs, PHAs, and hydrators to renew and resurface the skin while keeping the barrier supported. It sits somewhere between a traditional toner and a treatment exfoliator, making it a credible step up if you’re looking for something with more impact than a basic toner but not as harsh as a high-strength acid.
Although designed to be mild, this formula still packs a punch and shouldn’t be used daily. At the heart of the blend are two of my favourite exfoliating acids: mandelic acid and lactic acid. Both are alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) known for being gentler than glycolic acid. Mandelic acid has a larger molecular size, meaning it penetrates more slowly and is better tolerated by sensitive or redness-prone skin. Lactic acid not only smooths and exfoliates but also attracts water into the skin, helping to improve hydration, texture, and glow. To further enhance exfoliation, the Gentle Acid also contains gluconolactone, a polyhydroxy acid (PHA). PHAs work much like AHAs but with added gentleness, offering light exfoliation while drawing in moisture and providing antioxidant protection.
This isn’t just about exfoliation, though. The formula is rounded out with glycerin, a humectant that helps keep the skin hydrated, combined with panthenol, a soothing form of vitamin B5 that strengthens the barrier. There’s also a trio of fruit extracts, mango, banana, and finger lime, which deliver natural AHAs, antioxidants, and an extra boost of radiance.
Great for all skin types, I would tread carefully when applying actives afterwards, this really depends on the skin tolerance levels
BUY HERE - Skin Rocks
BUY HERE - Space NK
Best £50 and under
Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads Review
I am a huge fan of the Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads. They are a quick and effective way to achieve instant radiance and smoother skin. Pre-soaked and easy to use, making them perfect for busy routines.
The formula combines a patented Tri-Enzyme Technology, a blend of three exfoliating acids, with probiotics to help maintain skin health and balance. With lactic acid, one of my personal favourites, as it not only refines texture and softens uneven patches but also adds hydration, making it gentler than some stronger acids. The result is skin that feels smoother, looks brighter, and has a healthy glow after just one use.
While Elemis suggests using them both morning and evening, I recommend nighttime use only, as that’s when the skin is in repair mode and less exposed to external aggressors. For most skin types, once daily is more than enough to see visible improvements in clarity, radiance, and texture without risking over-exfoliation.
Best for all skin types, not suitable for sensitive skin, and compromised skin barrier, and actives can be applied after use for most skin types
BUY HERE - Look Fantastic
BUY HERE - Sephora
Elemis Pro-Collagen Toning Mist Review
Exfoliation couldn't be easier; this is a multitasking toner in a mist format, with exfoliating power that is so effective. At the heart of the formula is gluconolactone, a polyhydroxy acid (PHA) known for being one of the most gentle yet effective exfoliants in skincare. It works by loosening the bonds between dull, dead skin cells, allowing for a smoother texture and improved radiance, all without disrupting the skin barrier. With glycerin to attract and retain moisture, plus Lactobacillus and Radish Root ferments, this mist not only refines but also restores balance to the skin’s microbiome. It’s ideal for anyone who wants gentle, non-irritating exfoliation with a hit of hydration.
True to the Pro-Collagen, it includes Padina Pavonica, a signature marine extract that helps improve moisture retention and elasticity, alongside collagen amino acids to support skin structure. It feels instantly refreshing and prepares the skin perfectly for your serums and moisturisers.
Not designed for all-day spritzing, but ideal post-cleanse and pre-serum. It is fragranced, and while the exfoliation is mild, always be mindful when layering with other active ingredients.
Best for all skin types, not suitable for sensitive skin, and compromised skin barrier
Read the full review HERE
BUY HERE - Elemis
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