A whitening toner does not only prepare your skin to absorb your other skincare products, but it can also help brighten up dull skin, even out your complexion, and fade dark spots. However, these are just some of the benefits which you can get from using whitening toners!
With the wide variety of whitening toners on the market, you might have difficulties finding the right one for you. In this article, we will be enumerating 10 of the best whitening toners you can buy in e-commerce stores nationwide. Furthermore, we’ve also provided a detailed buying guide with comments from Dr. Katrina to help you decide on what whitening toner would be wise to purchase.
Dr. Katrina Habaluyas Luz is the face behind Ask Your Derma. She is a board-certified dermatologist in Metro Manila. She is also an educator and digital creator on all things skin, hair, and nails. She is a Diplomate of the Philippine Dermatological Society and offers online video consultations. You can also catch her on her Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube channel.
Our recommendation articles are carefully researched and crafted by the mybest Philippines team of writers and editors. To stay true to our company’s mission and vision to help users’ selection process easier, we also collaborate with experts from various fields to ensure that our content stays factual and useful.
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Here are some key points to consider:
For more detailed information, read through our buying guide below.
A “one size fits all” concept in terms of skincare may work for some people, but if you do not have normal skin, it is best to choose a toner that would cater specifically to your skin type. This will not only help brighten up your skin, but also help address concerns related to your skin type.
Excess sebum or oil on your skin can cause problems when not addressed. Aside from that greasy feeling, oily skin can also cause acne breakouts. To solve these dilemmas, consider looking for a whitening toner that is pH-balanced.
This kind of toner will help balance your skin’s water-to-oil levels, which will strip away unnecessary sebum without removing much-needed moisture. Niacinamide, aside from brightening the skin, can also remove excess oil, which is beneficial for people with oily skin.
If you’re prone to rashes and skin irritation, you should consider picking whitening toners that are hypoallergenic. This means that they are free from ingredients that could potentially trigger allergic reactions.
Examples of allergens are fragrances, parabens, preservatives, and essential oils, so be careful not to pick toners with these ingredients. Meanwhile, ingredients like green tea, witch hazel, and tea tree extracts help soothe sensitive and irritated skin.
If your skin is characterized by scaling, itching, and feels tight, you may have dry skin, which is in need of proper moisture and hydration. That said, it is recommended for you to choose ingredients that give those benefits, such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and pentavitin.
Hyaluronic acid acts as a humectant that gives the skin the right amount of moisture while also reducing fine lines and wrinkles. Similarly, glycerin attracts moisture to the skin and allows it to absorb and retain water. Pentavitin, on the other hand, helps create a barrier that helps your skin retain moisture.
Skin whitening doesn’t have to be harsh. When choosing a whitening toner, make sure you’re picking one with gentle whitening agents. The following are some ingredients that will brighten up your skin minus the harsh side effects.
Acne scars, sun damage, and hormonal issues are some of the reasons your skin develops dark spots. To alleviate these, you may choose toners that contain niacinamide, arbutin, kojic acid, or licorice extracts.
Niacinamide, a form of vitamin B3, has a variety of skin benefits, including helping fade dark spots and evening out skin tone. Arbutin, on the other hand, also targets scars by removing unwanted pigments on the skin that causes it to darken.
Meanwhile, kojic acid lightens visible spots and also has antimicrobial properties. Lastly, licorice extracts work on improving hyperpigmentation while reducing redness and soothing the skin.
Glutathione is another safe lightening agent that has numerous skin benefits. It is also an antioxidant, which protects your skin from external stressors such as sun exposure. When used with other whitening substances like kojic acid, glutathione works better in whitening and evening out skin tone.
If you want to achieve lighter skin, ingredients like rucinol, white sea daffodil, and vitamin C will help you achieve that! They inhibit melanin produced by your skin’s pigment cells, resulting in whiter skin and reducing the appearance of dark spots. Additionally, vitamin C also has multiple benefits like protection from sun damage and free radicals, hydration, and improved skin texture, among others.
Hydroquinone is an anti-hyperpigmentation chemical that lightens the skin. It can help decrease dark spots and freckles, but it can also pose harm to your skin, as it could cause redness, stinging, irritation, and sometimes even burning sensations. To avoid these negative side effects, opt for more gentle whitening agents and consult with a dermatologist if you wish to use hydroquinone.
Aside from whitening your skin, you may have other skin concerns or areas you want to improve. If so, you may look for whitening toners with additional benefits such as anti-aging, exfoliating, or soothing.
Usually, you can get these advantages with centella asiatica, St. John’s Wort, bamboo extract, and witch hazel extracts, among others. Not only do you reap more benefits, but you’re also sure you’re getting your money’s worth.
Infused with gentle whitening ingredients like niacinamide and white sea daffodil extract, the Brightness Refresh toner visibly corrects dark spots and instantly gives you radiant skin without irritation. It also has a hypoallergenic and fragrance-free formula, making it a great option regardless of your skin type!
Furthermore, it contains glycerin, which promotes a healthier complexion by providing your skin with up to 8 hours of hydration. This will leave your skin feeling softer and smoother. What's even more exciting is that it doesn't feel sticky at all, so your skin feels fresh all day.
Lastly, Cetaphil is clinically tested by dermatologists and known to be gentle even to the most sensitive skin. Therefore, if you're looking for a whitening toner that feels lightweight, is gentle, and effective, this might be what you're looking for!
In terms of versatility, Good Molecules' toner is the right product! It does almost everything you'd want in a toner, from whitening your complexion to evening out your skin tone and minimizing the appearance of pores!
Its whitening ingredients include 3% niacinamide and naturally-derived arbutin to get rid of hyperpigmentation and improve the appearance of dark spots and acne marks. Moreover, it has licorice root extract to prevent the production of melanin that will leave your skin looking brighter and soothed at the same time.
It is also infused with a stable form of vitamin C that works well with niacinamide in whitening skin while also boosting its protection from free radicals and stimulating collagen production. Lastly, its vegan, alcohol, fragrance, and paraben-free formula will surely put your mind at ease.
If you're suffering from dry and flaky skin, the Phyto Niacin White toner has got you covered! It is formulated with hyaluronic acid, bamboo, and centella asiatica extracts, which will effectively hydrate and rejuvenate your skin while giving it protection from UV rays.
It's also worthy to mention that this product doesn't fall behind when it comes to skin whitening. It contains 5% niacinamide and NACIFIC's patented Made White Technology to give results in just 4 weeks! Moreover, its watery formulation will get you hooked because it doesn't feel sticky and can be quickly absorbed by your skin!
Not only that, it balances the skin’s pH level for quicker and better absorption of your other skincare products. You can also flaunt a healthier complexion because it has natural extracts like witch hazel that relieve skin inflammation.
It is also dermatologically tested and is effective in reducing acne breakouts and dark spots, and wrinkles. However, it does contain parabens which may potentially irritate those with extremely sensitive skin.
Looking for a toner with multiple uses? This one might be for you! The Bright Perfect Potion can be used not only as toner but also as a mask and serum! That's three important K-Beauty steps, all in just one bottle, great for those who want to achieve glass skin.
Formulated with Pond's unique Gluta-Boost Essence and Vitamin B3+, this product reduces dullness while whitening, removing dark spots, and reducing the appearance of pores. Not only that, but it also has four different types of hyaluronic acid, which deeply hydrates the skin on the surface and its deeper layers.
Another trustworthy ingredient this toner carries is licorice extract, which calms skin irritation while working with niacinamide to brighten skin, fade acne spots, and even out skin tone. Furthermore, it has a dermatologically-tested formula that is paraben and alcohol-free.
Formulated for people with sensitive skin, Céleteque's whitening toner is free from potential irritants and allergens like alcohol and fragrances. Plus, it has green tea leaf and St. John's wort extracts, which soothe the skin while providing it with antioxidants that will protect your complexion from UVB damage.
Its key whitening agent, rucinol, works on blocking the production of melanin. This will leave your skin tone looking relatively whiter without that drying feeling. It is also non-comedogenic, so it will not leave residue that can block your skin's pores.
Meanwhile, its combination of glutathione, kojic acid, and gigawhite provides maximum whitening power, so you can see visible results in just 7 days of use. Aside from brightening your complexion, these ingredients can also fade dark spots. Furthermore, this product is hypoallergenic and clinically proven to be safe to use, even for people with sensitive skin.
Nivea’s toner can deliver up to 10x more whitening effect versus vitamin C. Plus, it contains licorice extracts and Pearl White Complex that repairs dull and damaged skin. These ingredients also work on evening out skin tone, minimizing pores and reducing the appearance of dark spots.
In addition, it has a non-comedogenic formula that prevents the skin from breaking out. Not only that, but it also deeply cleanses the skin from impurities and excess oil. However, it contains alcohol and methylparaben, which may irritate sensitive skin.
Packed with whitening ingredients such as glutathione, alpha arbutin, and kojic, acid, this toner claims to give you up to 4x fairer skin. These ingredients are further assisted by vitamins C and B3 to remove dark spots and even out your skin tone.
Moreover, it helps refine pores and clean deep-seated dirt and excess oil. One downside is that it contains alcohol and fragrances, which may dry out the skin and cause redness or irritation. To avoid adverse reactions, Organic Skin Japan recommends discontinuing the use of other products from other brands one week prior to using this toner.
Below are some of the most asked questions on the web answered by Dr. Katrina!
Achieving a whiter, more radiant, and fairer skin is the dream for many Filipinas. If you share the same goal, take a look at some of these these skin whitening products for your face and body!
Author: Kate Basa
Editor: J. Cuizon
Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors, in collaboration with the expert featured in this article. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
When you purchase products mentioned in the article, part of the sales may be returned to mybest.
The descriptions of each product is referenced from the content available from the manufacturer, e-commerce sites etc.
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