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Ria Bhatia profile imageRia Bhatia

Instead of focusing solely on pore care, milky toners work on fortifying the skin barrier as a whole, leaving you with plumper, softer, even skin

A woman pouring out milky toner from a green bottle on her hand

Milky toners in India are having a moment. Once unheard of, they’ve become the latest skincare essential for anyone chasing that soft, glazed finish. A product of the barrier-care boom, milky toners combine the comfort of a lotion with the lightness of a toner. Think hydration boosters in a bottle, packed with ceramides, hyaluronic acid, squalane, niacinamide, and glycerin. Additionally, targeted problem-solving ingredients like peptides, fermented extracts and exfoliative agents are used to reveal plumper, calmer, healthier skin. 

In early 2025, market projections predicted a 58.9 per cent growth for milky toners. From The Ordinary to Innisfree and homegrown labels like d’you, nearly every beauty brand now has its version of the best milky toner. 

Toner versus milky toner: What’s the difference? 

Traditionally toners were astringent-based, focused on pore care but often leaving the skin taut, dry, and dehydrated. 

Milky toners, on the other hand, are humectant-rich, creamy, hydrating and deeply replenishing. Instead of stripping, they strengthen the skin barrier, working for all skin types and concerns. 

Below is an edit of the best milky toners in India, spanning Korean skincare essentials to high-end innovations. 

A few bottles of Laneige milky toners placed on a powder blue backdrop
Photograph: (Instagram.com/laneige_in)

Laneige Cream Skin Cerapeptide™: The best milky toner with peptides

For skin left sunburnt or sensitised after a chemical peel, this milky toner supports barrier function, reduces inflammation, and soothes redness. Infused with ceramides and peptides, it restores balance, strengthens resilience, and leaves the complexion soft, plump, and hydrated. 

Priced at ₹2,450

Available at Amazon.in

A bottle of milky toner splashed into a bowl of milk
Photograph: (Instagram.com/faebeautyofficial)

Fae Skin Hydra-Milk: The best soothing milky toner for all skin types

Thicker than most in its category, this hydrating milky toner combines rainbow algae extract, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, ceramides, allantoin, and squalane to refine texture and boost luminosity. The formula gently resurfaces the skin, supports barrier repair, and leaves it even-toned and supple. 

Priced at ₹599

Available at Faebeauty.in

A woman by the pool picking d'you milky toner from cocktail glasses
Photograph: (Instagram.com/dyou.co)

D’you Inbalance Soothing Milky Tonic: The best spray milky toner for sensitive skin

A fine-mist milky toner designed for reactive skin, this formulation features hinoki water, apple juice, fermented extracts, and Madecassic and Asiatic acids. The blend delivers antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and hydrating benefits, helping the skin recover balance and clarity. Available in an easy spray-on format, this milky toner combines convenience with care. The mist delivers a fine veil of hydration, making it ideal for reactive or post-treatment skin.  

Priced at ₹2,100

Available at Dyou.co

A bottle of TirTir milky toner on a woman's hand
Photograph: (https_tirtir.global_)

TIRTIR Milk Skin Toner: The best milky toner for dewy skin 

A Korean cult favourite, this milky toner delivers a dewy, glossy, glass-skin finish. Enriched with chamomile, witch hazel, ceramide, niacinamide, and sodium hyaluronate, it smooths uneven texture, locks in moisture, and reveals a healthy luminous sheen.

Priced at ₹2,050

Available at Tirabeauty.com

A woman holding a rack containing four milky toners from The Ordinary
Photograph: (Instagram.com/theordinary)

The Ordinary Saccharomyces Ferment 30% Milky Toner: The best exfoliating milky toner 

This milky toner bridges hydration and exfoliation, powered by 30 per cent fermented yeast extracts. It supports barrier repair, refines texture, and restores luminosity, offering a visibly smoother, more hydrated complexion over time.  

Priced at ₹1,500

Available at Sephora.in

Milky toner flowing out of the beauty of joseon bottle
Photograph: (Instagram.com/beautyofjoseon_official)

Beauty Of Joseon Glow Replenishing Rice Milk: The best Korean milky toner

This K-beauty staple pairs rice and amino acids with kaolin to balance sebum while brightening the skin. The result is a soft, glazed finish that stays hydrated yet matte. It offers a seamless introduction to milky toners for oily and combination skin. 

Priced at ₹1,500

Available at Tirabeauty.com

A bottle of Chanel's milky toner placed next to a primer tube from the brand
Photograph: (Instagram.com/renata711)

Chanel Beauty Éclat Premier Bright Milky Essence: The best luxury milky toner 

Decades in development, this luxury milky essence blends ylang-ylang, niacinamide, jojoba oil, shea butter, fermented extracts, and sodium hyaluronate to soften and even out the complexion. The formula’s strength lies in its dual action: hydrating deeply while reducing pigmentation and refining tone. 

Priced at ₹13,000

Available at Chanel.com/in

A green colour bottle of milky toner placed in a glass of white milky liquid
Photograph: (Instagram.com/innisfreeofficial)

Innisfree Green Tea Ceramide Milk: The best milky toner for a damaged skin barrier

This newest addition to the Innisfree Green Tea line, this lightweight milky toner comprises ceramides, green tea, and hyaluronic acid to reinforce moisture while unveiling smoother, supple skin. Each layer absorbs quickly, delivering visibly hydrated skin. 

Priced at ₹1,450

Available at Nykaa.com

Frequently asked questions on the best milky toners in India

What is a milky toner?
Unlike a regular toner, a milky toner is creamy, hydrating, and ultra-nourishing. With ingredients such as ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and glycerin, a milky toner effectively softens, hydrates, and plumps every skin type by strengthening the barrier.  
Can I use a milky toner every day?
Yes, a milky toner is gentle and soothing enough to be used every day. In fact, for optimum benefits, it’s recommended to use a milky toner twice a day, right after cleansing the skin, before applying serum and moisturiser. 
Which is the best milky toner for dry skin in India?
Innisfree Green Tea Ceramide Milk, TIRTIR Milk Skin Toner, and D’you Inbalance Soothing Milky Tonic are some of the best milky toners for dry skin in India. 
Are milky toners good for oily skin?
Milky toners can be good for oily skin, depending on the formulation picked. For someone with oily skin, a lightweight, watery, and exfoliative milky toner is preferable over a rich, creamy formulation. This way, oily skin can enjoy the barrier-repairing and hydration-boosting benefits of a milky toner without becoming greasy or sticky. 

Ria Bhatia profile imageRia Bhatia
Ria Bhatia is the associate beauty editor at The Established. She explores beauty and wellness through industrial, cultural, and social lenses, with bylines in Femina, ELLE India, Harper’s Bazaar India, Masala UAE, and VOGUE India.

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