
BYOMA vs. rhode vs. Thayers Milky Toners: Which is the Best?
- In case you haven't noticed, the beauty industry is pretty obsessed with milk right now. Apparently, we all want to smell like milk, drink raw milk, and pour milky substances on our skin to look like glazed donuts. Yes, Hailey Bieber was undoubtedly the catalyst for the craze. When Rhode came out with its Glazing Milk back in 2023, the product went viral overnight. A skin milk is a creamy, thin and lightweight moisturiser made up of water, humectants and oils. More hydrating than a serum and less greasy than a facial oil or cream, skin milks are often used as a ‘prep’ step to hydrate the skin, leaving minimal residue. Here, three cult favorites of skin milk in the market are BYOMA Hydrating Milky Toner, Rhode Glazing Milk, and Thayers Hydrating Milky Toner. Which one is best for you? Below, we will make a comparison to help you choose.
The Difference & Reviews
| BYOMA Hydrating Milky Toner
Cult Beauty: $16.55/150ml (up to 8% cashback)
Space NK: £12.00/150ml (up to 7% cashback)
What Is It?
This ultra-soothing, gentle toner works to quench dry skin while repairing and restoring the skin barrier. The milky formula hydrates, calms and soothes skin from first use, helping strengthen daily skin barrier function.
Formulated with the Barrier Lipid Complex and a barrier-supporting duo of Polyglutamic Acid and Cica to lock in moisture across multiple layers of the skin and minimize TEWL, skin is instantly transformed, delivering soft, supple, and radiant results.
Key Ingredients:
- Barrier Lipid Complex: BYOMA's carefully researched Barrier Lipid Complex utilises a concentration of ceramide and skin identical lipids that deliver barrier supporting actives to your skin in an oil-based formula.
- Polyglutamic Acid: Works to lock in moisture on the skin's surface, helping to deliver the comfort your skin needs. Its high molecular weight (2,000kDa) forms a protective film on the skin to help prevent water from evaporating. Polyglutamic acid is known to be able to hold up to 4x more moisture than hyaluronic acid.
- Centella Asiatica (or cica): Centella asiatica is a sensitive-skin-friendly ingredient, which helps to calm inflammation, redness&irritated skin, and also helps to heal scars like acne.
Best for: A great option for dry, dehydrated, and sensitive skin
Texture & Fragrance: It's on the right side of viscous for a milky toner – it doesn't have the more substantial feel of a serum, but it's not water-like like many other toners. It has a milky consistency and feels so smooth going onto the face. HOWEVER, the smell is iffy.
Review: The silky texture genuinely feels hydrating and gentle on the skin, leaving it much softer post-application. There's no irritation or tightness, and it absorbs fast, so you can carry on with the rest of your routine without having to wait around. This toner promises to lock in moisture, soften and smooth skin, and reduce redness to leave your complexion refreshed and clear, and for those with sensitive skin too.
Dermatologist tested and approved, alcohol and fragrance-free, vegan and cruelty free.
Pros | Cons |
A hydrating toner to soothe dry, dehydrated, and sensitive skin | A bit too thick for oily skin |
Skin is instantly transformed, delivering soft, supple, and radiant results | |
Reduce hyperpigmentation after one use | |
Protect and maintain skin barrier | |
Dermatologist tested and approved | |
Alcohol and fragrance-free, vegan and cruelty free |
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| Rhode Glazing Milk
What Is It?
Rather than relying on peptides and oils, Glazing Milk—a watery, essence-like formula—uses a blend of ceramides (to protect and moisturize your skin barrier), polysaccharides (to pull water into your skin), and zinc and copper (to help defend the skin from pollution). The idea is to apply the essence post-cleanse, pre-serums, as a skin-boosting prep before using the rest of the line or the rest of your skincare routine.
The formula is vegan, cruelty-free, and gluten-free, as well as Leaping Bunny certified.
Key Ingredients:
- CERAMIDE TRIO: boosts skin's barrier function for healthy-looking skin
- BETA-GLUCAN: polysaccharides that help lock in moisture + calm skin
- MAGNESIUM, ZINC + COPPER BLEND: defends against free radicals for plump, healthy-looking skin
Best for: All skin types, especially those seeking extra hydration and a luminous finish.
Texture & Fragrance: Unlike most toners or essences, Glazing Milk isn't super runny or water-like. Instead, it is thick enough to smooth directly onto the face sans cotton round (hurray for less waste) without splashing all over the place. It doesn't leave any heaviness behind, though you would note a lovely slightly luminous finish all over. It doesn't smell of anything, not even the slightest bit, which is good news for those who dislike their products being heavily fragranced, or fragranced at all for that matter.
Review: If you're always afraid something labelled "moisturizing" is going to break you out, Glazing Milk is an easy way to incorporate more hydration in a light, refreshing way. And if, on the contrary, your skin needs all the nourishment it can get, daubing this on under coddling serums and creams will amplify their effect. It's really a win-win.
Pros | Cons |
Provides all-day hydration | Some users with very oily skin or a tendency to get congested pores may find it less suitable |
Preps skin for better product absorption | |
Helps reduce the appearance of redness over time | |
Helps calm + soothe irritated skin | |
Cruelty-Free, Vegan, Gluten-Free & Fragrance-Free |
| Thayers Hydrating Milky Toner
CVS: $15.79/355ml (up to 7% cashback)
iHerb: $14.40 (up to 5% cashback)
Walgreens: $11.99 (up to 4% cashback)
What Is It?
An alcohol-free and pH-balanced hydrating toner that strengthens the moisture barrier, removes impurities, and preps the skin. With 98% naturally derived ingredients, including a proprietary fusion of Snow Mushroom and Hyaluronic Acid, this toner hydrates skin for up to 48hrs, instantly boosting moisture levels by 35%. Each swipe gently removes impurities and cushions for smooth, dewy, prepped skin. The essential step for better looking bare skin.
Key Ingredients:
- Snow Mushroom: Ultra-hydrating antioxidant which enhances elasticity; improves skin barrier function.
- Hyaluronic Acid: Optimal molecular weight to penetrate skin to visibly plump and firm the skin.
- Elderflower Water: It's known for being mildly astringent, a gentle stimulant, and effective for softening skin, balancing skin tones, and healing skin irritations.
Best for: Those with dry or sensitive skin
Texture & Fragrance: True to its name, the toner has a "milky" look and feel to it, too; it's a little creamier than your average liquid toner. When applied to a cotton pad, you would find that it is super easy to distribute across the skin and absorb quickly. It's unscented, so if you're very sensitive to scents and fragrances then this one is for you.
Review: The Thayers Hydrating Milky Toner generally receives positive reviews, praised for its hydrating and gentle nature, especially for those with dry or sensitive skin. It's described as having a "milky" texture that is easy to apply and absorbs quickly. While many users report increased hydration and smoother skin, some have experienced irritation or breakouts, highlighting the importance of patch testing.
Pros | Cons |
Helps to tone skin without disrupting its moisture barrier. | A bit too thick for oily skin |
Helps skin feel cushioned while removing impurities | May not suitable for acne-prone skin |
Delivers 48 hours of hydration, even without a moisturizer | |
Alcohol-free and fragrance-free milky face toner | |
100% Cruelty Free and free of any animal ingredients |
Conclusion
They differ in ingredients and price point, with BYOMA being a budget-friendly option, Rhode being a luxurious choice, and Thayers offering a more natural and affordable alternative.
BYOMA focuses on a more balanced blend of hydrating and soothing ingredients, Rhode leans towards a more luxurious formulation with niacinamide, and Thayers emphasizes natural ingredients for dry and sensitive skin.
BYOMA is suitable for a wider range of skin types, including sensitive and acne-prone skin. Rhode is generally suitable for most skin types, and Thayers is particularly beneficial for dry or sensitive skin.
BYOMA and Thayers can be used as standalone products or as part of a skincare routine. Rhode is often used as a primer for makeup or to create a "glass skin" look.
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