The difference between micellar water and toner comes down to the purpose of these products. Both have the ability to remove debris from the skin, but micellar waters do so in a gentler manner, while also lightly hydrating the skin. Many toners have traditionally contained alcohol, which can be very harsh on the skin, but modern toners don't typically contain alcohol. This means they are generally gentler on the skin, which makes differentiating between micellar water and toner even more difficult. In short, the best micellar waters will effectively cleanse while hydrating the skin, while toners treat the skin (while still possibly removing some debris, depending on the formula and use).