e.l.f. Pure Skin Toner: a Guru Score of 75% from 5 experts

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.

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No BS Beauty

89k subs

✓Yay

"The other alternatives are the E.L.F. Cosmetics Pure Skin Toner... [...] Also nice alternatives"

Kelly Driscoll

90k subs

✓Yay

"I have very sensitive skin, AHAs in particular can be difficult for my skin to tolerate. I'm also a tretinoin user so my skin's pretty sensitive, and all that being said I did not notice any type of irritation with this whatsoever. I've been using this so much, so it's nice to have that kiss of glycolic acid in there just to kind of keep the skin cells shedding off the skin at a regular pace, but I really wouldn't consider this even to be an exfoliating toner. It's squarely a hydrating toner."

All 2 takes from Kelly Driscoll

Hydrating Toners From the Drugstore! | e.l.f., Thayers, Peach Slices, Cerave

"I have very sensitive skin, AHAs in particular can be difficult for my skin to tolerate. I'm also a tretinoin user so my skin's pretty sensitive, and all that being said I did not notice any type of irritation with this whatsoever. I've been using this so much, so it's nice to have that kiss of glycolic acid in there just to kind of keep the skin cells shedding off the skin at a regular pace, but I really wouldn't consider this even to be an exfoliating toner. It's squarely a hydrating toner."

July Faves | e.l.f., Avene, Tsubaki, YSL

"It's [...] such a basic toner and that's really what I'm craving in my routines right now. [...] This has really slotted in as a really nice solid basic toner that doesn't feel stressful. It just really gets the job done. It's really nice and light, it's perfect for summertime. I'm not suffering with deep deep dehydration right now, and this is providing all the hydration that I need."

Dr Dray

2.69M subs

✓Nay

"Most products with alpha hydroxy acid come with a sunscreen disclaimer but this one doesn't, and I would like more transparency about the intended purpose. While I didn't develop any irritation, I didn't notice benefits and I didn't feel like this was adding much to my skincare routine. The consistency is lightweight but the overall consistency I just didn't really feel like this was adding much. [...] For me this one would be a pass and I wouldn't buy it myself."

James Welsh

1.58M subs

✓Yay

"This is for me a really hydrating, nourishing, calming, soothing toner. It has oat milk, aloe juice, and niacinamide. Aloe juice is one of my favorite ingredients for soothing and hydrating the skin. [...] Oat milk is nourishing, soothing, and very calming for my skin. Niacinamide evens out skin tone, balances sebum production, and has skin soothing properties. [...] It also has hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and ceramides to help your skin barrier heal and recover."

Sponsored

All 3 takes from James Welsh

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"I turned them down for a sponsorship twice and then I started using their products. [...] Their holy hydration stuff and their breakout stuff is actually really really nice and really affordable. This toner is just really soothing, healing, and it's a nice thick texture but not too thick as well."

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"The Pure Skin Toner with oat milk, aloe juice, and niacinamide is one of my favorite products. Aloe juice is one of my favorite moisturizing, hydrating, soothing ingredients. To look at it looks really milky but it's not, it's like a clear water that's slightly thicker than water so you can put it in your hands easily and pat around the skin. You get this instant soothing sensation and instant deep hydration in your skin."

Game Changing Holy Grail Skincare Products - Moisturiser, Toner, Cleanser & More

"This is for me a really hydrating, nourishing, calming, soothing toner. It has oat milk, aloe juice, and niacinamide. Aloe juice is one of my favorite ingredients for soothing and hydrating the skin. [...] Oat milk is nourishing, soothing, and very calming for my skin. Niacinamide evens out skin tone, balances sebum production, and has skin soothing properties. [...] It also has hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and ceramides to help your skin barrier heal and recover."

The Budget Dermatologist

724k subs

✓Yay

"The ELF Pure Skin Toner has ceramides in it, so all of these products are so hydrating and not irritating. This is really easy, it's just a clear liquid that's easy to put on the hands and then apply to the face and neck, or you can put it on a cotton swab and apply it that way. It feels really nice and hydrating. This does not feel like it's drying to the skin like some toners can. I am absolutely loving this product."

What the evidence says.

Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

Niacinamide

Niacinamide has evidence behind it for redness, uneven tone and supporting the skin barrier, and it is usually well tolerated even by skin that reacts to most things.

Source: DermNet

Alpha hydroxy acids

Alpha hydroxy acids loosen the bonds holding dead cells at the surface. The evidence supports smoother texture and more even tone over time, and they can leave skin more sensitive to sun.

Source: NIH, National Library of Medicine

Ceramides

Ceramides are part of the skin's own barrier, and moisturisers built around them have evidence for holding water in and settling the tightness and flaking that come with a damaged barrier.

Source: DermNet

Frequently asked.

What is e.l.f. Pure Skin Toner?

A lightweight hydrating toner with ceramides, niacinamide, glycolic acid, aloe juice, and oat milk designed to hydrate, soothe, and gently exfoliate the skin.

Is e.l.f. Pure Skin Toner worth it?

Mostly yes. 4 of the 5 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 75%.

What is e.l.f. Pure Skin Toner's Guru Score?

e.l.f. Pure Skin Toner holds a Guru Score of 75%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 5 expert reviewers we have collected.