MOST WANTED

We Try the Viral Glycolic Acid Toner from The Ordinary

By Grace Herman and Nabilah Khan

The Ordinary has and will always be a great skincare brand for those who are dipping their toes into skincare and wanting to try ingredient-focused formulas. We love that to this day, some of the brand's products are absolute staple in everyday skincare routines.

One product that has not gone unnoticed is The Ordinary Glycolic Acid Toner, a product that people love because it's gentle, it can be used in different ways and it comes at a great price point, and lasts for a long time. If you're on the skincare side of TikTok, there's no doubt that you've seen this one pop up on your feed. Our social media team tests this viral product and gives their honest opinion, on whether or not it's worth the hype...

Grace's’s Review

• Skin type: Combination

I like to keep my everyday skincare simple, sticking to a makeup remover, toner and a moisturiser. I don’t often use new products as I have fairly sensitive skin and am wary of getting any reaction. Another product I really like from The Ordinary is the Hyaluronic Acid serum, which I like to apply at night sometimes. I’ve seen The Ordinary Glycolic Acid Toner on social a lot, and my sister loves so I definitely wanted to try it for myself! My first impression is that the texture is very pleasant, it’s very thin and I like how it helps remove any makeup residue.

The day after using the toner, I could feel my skin felt a lot smoother and plump, it really made a difference when I applied my skincare in the morning and the products would go on smoother than usual.

I’ll definitely keep using this product, I think it’s quite important to use a toner in your routine, whether it’s hydrating or exfoliating. It gives a glow to the skin and makes the rest of your routine work harder.

Nabilah'’s Review

• Skin type: Normal to dry

I normally have a quite simple skincare routine and wouldn't usually use a toner in my skincare routine as I don't like to have many steps. I have however used toners in the past to exfoliate dead skin if my skin feels particularly dry before moisturising. I've actually never used a The Ordinary product before, but I've heard a lot about the products, and that they are great for a simplified skincare routine.

I've seen so much on Tiktok about The Ordinary Glycolic Toner, so I've been excited to give this toner a try, and see how my skin feels. The texture of the toner is really thin and watery, which I liked because I don't like the feeling of heavy, thick product on my face, especially if I'm layering products. I would definitely say my skin felt smoother after applying the product with a cotton pad on my face, and I feel like It's really help when I've followed up with moisturiser, as the product seems to glide on to my skin much easier.

Overall, I've really enjoyed including this into my routine, and have found that this is a simple add in to my existing skincare routine that does give some instant results. I'm excited to see how it exfoliates my skin over time.

How to use The Ordinary Glycolic Acid Toner

On your face, you can use this toner every evening or every other day depending on your skin type. It's a great way to remove any excess makeup or buildup before applying the rest of your skin, and creates a smooth base for the day after.

On social, your favourite skinfluencers have been showcasing different ways of using this toner. Some like to use ion their armpits to help regulate odour and help brighten the area. "I tested this on my armpit after the shower and actually found it made the skin there smoother, and my under-arm area did appear lighter. I'm going to continue using the toner on my face and under my armpits to see if I can get the brightening effect more" says Nabilah.

If you tend to deal with an itchy scalp, some have also been using The Ordinary toner to help as a pre-wash treatment. This is a great once-a-week treatment for those who want to hit reset.

The Verdict on The Ordinary Glycolic Acid Toner

Both Grace and Nabilah enjoyed using the toner and will keep on using it. If you're new to exfoliating toners, this is a good place to start as it's quite gentle and neither of them had a reaction, even Grace who tends to have sensitive skin.

More from The Ordinary

If you want have used the Glycolic Acid Toner before and want to use something strong, you can opt for The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution, £6.10, which will penetrate and exfoliate the skin more. If you've not used any products from the brand, some of the classics are the Hyaluronic Acid serum or the Caffeine Solution.

The brand also released some newness like The Ordinary Multi Active Delivery Essence, £10.60, made to hydrate the skin and prep it for your other serums, it's a great first step to your skincare routine. They also recently came out with the The Ordinary GF 15% Solution, £13.50, a great product for those who deal with skin damage like hyperpigmentation and sun spots.