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CeraVe

Hydrating Toner.

CeraVe Hydrating Toner
Toners

About this product

A lightweight, water-based hydrating toner designed to prep skin for better absorption of subsequent skincare products while supporting the skin barrier with ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide.

Type

TonersLiquid

Key actives

NiacinamideHyaluronic acidVitamin ECeramides

Formula notes

Fragrance-freeNo drying alcohol

Full ingredients

Guru Score

85%

Approved

5 experts · Moderate agreement
5Gurus
5Approved
0Mixed
0Skip
#3 in TonersSee the ranking →

What the gurus are saying

This watery-thin toner earns consistent praise for delivering deep hydration without heaviness, thanks to its blend of three ceramide types, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide that work together to replenish and strengthen the skin barrier. Gurus note it absorbs quickly, layers effortlessly under serums and moisturisers, and works across all skin types, from oily to dehydrated. The standout for those with thirsty or sensitised skin is how it soothes and preps skin to absorb actives like retinoids, making it a convenient, affordable drugstore staple worth layering right after cleansing.
Synthesized from 5 expert reviews · most recent take March 2026
Every take, in full

What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Approved takes Critical takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored
Approved
"The CeraVe Hydrating Toner is designed to hydrate and support the skin barrier rather than strip the skin. It's really lightweight, water-based texture. It layers really easy under the serum and moisturizers, calms, soothes the skin, especially when using retinoids or acne treatments. It really also helps prep the skin for better absorption for your subsequent skincare steps. The key ingredients are the ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide."
Approved
"I love this one from CeraVe. A Hydrating Toner can be helpful if you wear heavy makeup or if you want to even just skip your morning cleanse and just use a toner instead to freshen your skin and prep it to absorb your skincare actives."
Approved
"I have loved this and used multiple bottles of this in the past. This is like a no bells and whistles kind of toner. A big reason why I do like it is just that convenience of being able to buy it locally, you know, just go to the store and get it. So convenient, pretty affordable. It's a really good American drugstore Hydrating Toner. And that is not something that you come across that often."
All 4 takes from Kelly Driscoll
Hydrating Toners From the Drugstore! | e.l.f., Thayers, Peach Slices, Cerave
"I was really impressed with it. Ingredients-wise, we have three different types of ceramides, we have cholesterol, phytosphingosine, we also have niacinamide, and then they've also added in some sodium hyaluronic to really help boost up the hydration benefit. The texture is really watery and thin, it's really that perfect toner texture because it really replenishes the skin. Don't think because it's watery and thin that it isn't powerful with hydration. Once I get it onto my skin, I can feel it diving really deep into my skin and getting down to the source. Because I do suffer with dehydration, I feel like this gets down to the source of my thirst, my dehydration. When my skin is really ailing and really thirsty, something like this has almost a soothing effect to the skin. All those ceramides and cholesterol definitely helps too, but the hydration level here is so, so good. If you really suffer from dehydration, I think this is everything."
My Top 5 Hydrating Toners | 2025 Edition
"I think it's a solidly Hydrating Toner that's particularly good for supporting your skin barrier in my personal opinion. If your skin is thirsty and you need to hydrate your skin, watery skincare with lots of humectants are great, but you also need to work on strengthening your skin barrier to hold all that replenishing hydration deep within your skin so that it lasts and doesn't escape and create that dehydrated feeling on our skin. There's some barrier supportive ingredients in here: ceramide NP and niacinamide which helps to support your skin barrier along with a whole host of humectants that rehydrate and replenish the skin. It's got a really beautiful, very watery, quickly absorbed type of texture with just a tiny bit of slip and a tiny bit of plumpness, but I think it's going to be very suitable for pretty much every skin type. I don't find this to be sticky or tacky even when I layer it up a couple of times. I think this would be great for oily skin, I think you'll like this for combination skin especially, and I think dry skin will like this too."
My 2025 Skincare Wins and Lessons | Chatty Skincare Routine
"So, this is the CeraVe Hydrating Toner, and it feels so good right after washing my face."
That Was a Mixed Bag of Skincare Empties!
"I have loved this and used multiple bottles of this in the past. This is like a no bells and whistles kind of toner. A big reason why I do like it is just that convenience of being able to buy it locally, you know, just go to the store and get it. So convenient, pretty affordable. It's a really good American drugstore Hydrating Toner. And that is not something that you come across that often."
Approved
"One of my absolute favorite finds last year was the CeraVe Hydrating Toner. This is definitely an absolute fave. It has niacinamide, it has ceramides, it has hyaluronic acid. Super for right after cleansing to kind of pack in some hydration. Tap on a couple layers of this before you move on with your skincare. If you have super hydrated skin, super dehydrated skin, it really helps pack in a punch of moisturizer. I like this a little bit better than the Sukiyaki suada Ura moisturizing lotion for winter months. Love them both but this is my favorite for the winter and definitely is going to be a repurchase."
Top Pick: toner
All 5 takes from Beyond50Skin
FIX MATURE THIN LIPS IN TWO MINUTES | Mature Skin Facial and Minimalist Makeup
"I'm going to do another little bit of toner, just the CeraVe toner that I put in a little travel bottle and I'm going to let that dry down for a moment."
BEST PRODUCTS FOR YOUR PM SKINCARE ROUTINE OVER 50 | This Routine Takes Your Skin To The Next Level!
"I'm going to start with the CeraVe Hydrating Toner and a light layer of moisturizer. I just love to layer up hydration. It just gives my skin that drink that it really needs. It's amazing how in mature skin if you just give it hydration, it can look so much better. Like those fine lines and wrinkles just sort of start to fade away just with some nice hydrating steps."
Empties, Fails and Favorites In Every Beauty Category (Beauty Over 50)
"One of my absolute favorite finds last year was the CeraVe Hydrating Toner. This is definitely an absolute fave. It has niacinamide, it has ceramides, it has hyaluronic acid. Super for right after cleansing to kind of pack in some hydration. Tap on a couple layers of this before you move on with your skincare. If you have super hydrated skin, super dehydrated skin, it really helps pack in a punch of moisturizer. I like this a little bit better than the Sukiyaki suada Ura moisturizing lotion for winter months. Love them both but this is my favorite for the winter and definitely is going to be a repurchase."
Best Body Products For Soft, Smooth, Younger-looking Skin Over 50 - Mostly Drugstore
"I've also recently used the Hydrating Toner by CeraVe. These are both drugstore products they're very cost effective even for the body and they give a nice layer of hydration after I jump out of the shower."
Best Beauty of 2023! Every Category SUBSCRIBERS I HAVE EXCITING NEWS🎉
"Number one for a toner is the CeraVe Hydrating Toner. I found this in Target by accident, on sale for about $7. It is my favorite toner, a new find for me in 2023, and I've been loving it. It doesn't necessarily replace the toner I've been using for years, but I have been reaching for the CeraVe more in the fall and winter months."
Approved
"I like CeraVe once very good, it's got glycerin plus ceramides in it. You want to look for ceramides and you want to look for humectants."
Common questions

Frequently asked.

What is CeraVe Hydrating Toner?

A lightweight, water-based hydrating toner designed to prep skin for better absorption of subsequent skincare products while supporting the skin barrier with ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide.

Is CeraVe Hydrating Toner worth it?

Yes. All 5 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 85%.

What is CeraVe Hydrating Toner's Guru Score?

CeraVe Hydrating Toner holds a Guru Score of 85%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 5 independent expert reviewers we have collected. At least one expert has named it a Top Pick in its category.

Who is CeraVe Hydrating Toner best for?

CeraVe Hydrating Toner is generally suited to dry skin and sensitive skin.

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