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Are you in search of the best Korean toners? But first, do you need one?
As the skincare landscape has changed with the rise of K beauty, it has been said that toners could be one of the best products to incorporate into your skincare routine.
In fact, skin care authorities, claim that toners deliver quick hydration, resulting in plump, glowy skin.
But what about toners having alcohol? You’d be happy to know that not all toners rely on alcohol as their main ingredient, especially Korean toners.
The best K beauty toners take pride in alcohol-free ingredients that hydrate the skin without stripping its moisture. With these toners, all you get is hydrated and healthy skin!
Interested to know more? Let’s pop each one open and find out which are the best!
- Works well on all skin types
- Effective in improving skin texture
- Value for money
- Easy-on-the-pocket hydrating toner
- Soothing and moisturizing
- Works amazing on dry skin
- Hydrates and calms the skin
- Moisturizing and brightening
- Perfect for oily skin
How to Choose a Toner for You
Step 1: Identify Your Skin Type
The ultimate first step in choosing a toner is identifying your skin type. The major skin types are:
Normal
Well-balanced skin, has soft and smooth texture, skin looks healthy
Dry
Small pores, dull complexion, flaky skin in the winter, more prone to redness, irritation, dry patches, cracking, and peeling
Combination
Oily T-zone, larger pores on the forehead, chin, and nose; other areas of the face can either have dry or normal skin
Oily
Large pores, excess sebum/oil production
Sensitive
Skin is easily irritated, prone to burning, itchiness, redness, and inflammation
Acne-prone
Oily skin with a high chance of developing pimples and comedones that can cause redness, irritation, inflammation
Step 2: Match Skin with Toner
Knowing your skin type makes it easier to find the right toner. Here’s a quick guide to help you:
Hydrating Toner
This is best for people with dry skin. Hydrating toners are formulated with moisturizing and hydrating ingredients.
Refreshing Toner
A refreshing toner is great for people with oily skin. These are usually formulated without alcohol as it can make the skin produce more oil
Hydrating + Refreshing Toner
If you have combination skin, you might want to have two toners on your vanity – one for summer and one for winter. In the summer, go for a hydrating toner and a hydrating toner in the winter.
Gentle Toner
A gentle toner is best for those with sensitive skin. These are formulated with mild ingredients, free of harsh acids and alcohol.
Acne-Prone Skin Toner
These toners are specially formulated to help calm the skin from redness and irritation while helping the skin absorb other treatments better.
Step 3: Look at the Ingredients
Make it a habit to check the label before making a purchase. Toners are marketed with popular ingredients, but you might see a couple on the list that can harm your skin. Keep a lookout for these:
- Sensitive skin should avoid ingredients with alcohol, synthetic dyes, sodium, fragrances, and ammonium lauryl sulfate.
- Oily skin and dry skin don’t work well with alcohol, mineral oil, petrolatum, and ammonium/sodium lauryl sulfate.
- Avoid toners with menthol as this can remove the skin’s natural oils.
- Witch hazel is a good ingredient for toners for the acne-prone skin type. However, people with dry skin should avoid it.
Check Out The 9 Best Korean Toners
Are you ready to take your pick? Since there’s a plethora of options out there, we’ve narrowed down the top 7 best Korean toners for you!
It’s an overall great toner for its effectiveness and price!
Clarifies the skin and prevents recurring blemishes
Features:
- Skin-friendly ingredients,
- a powerful combo of AHA Glycolic acid and BHA Betaine Salicylate
- Also comes with Willow Bark and Pyrus Malus Fruit Water.
It is mild yet effective in improving skin texture, especially blemishes!
Pros: Easy-to-use spray mist bottle; gentle and refreshing; works amazing on oily, acne-prone, and sensitive skin
Cons: Some experience breakouts
Some might find AHA/BHA intimidating, but this COSRX toner is made with a mild formulation of AHA Glycolic Acid and BHA Betaine Salicylate, making it friendly on any skin type.
The COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner is a gentle exfoliating product that helps remove dead skin cells and dull texture, without hurting your skin.
Packed with natural ingredients, such as Salix Alba (Willow Bark) Water and Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Water, this Korean toner helps improve skin texture, control pores, and add vitality to your skin.
Related: 11 Best COSRX Products to Add to Your Skincare Lineup
It’s made my skincare routine much simpler! The moisturizing effect is immediate.
Deeply moisturizes the skin and resolves skin dullness
Features:
- Cruelty-free,
- alcohol-free
- safe for sensitive skin
This might just be the best Korean toner for sensitive skin!
Pros: Non-irritating; hydrating; absorbs well on skin; no fragrance; works well on sensitive skin
Cons: Not everyone will like the serum-like texture
If you want instant hydration but have sensitive skin, this is your holy grail!
Klairs Supple Preparation Toner became an instant hit because of its serum-like texture, unlike most toners that are more liquid in texture.
This Klairs toner can replace your serum by applying it in layers. Talk about a cost- and time-saving product!
With Beta-Glucan, Hyaluronic Acid, and Centella Asiatica as its main ingredients, the Klairs Supple Preparation Toner not only hydrates the skin but soothes skin irritation and redness while staying mild even on sensitive skin. No wonder it’s hailed as the best hydrating Korean toner!
Budget-friendly; value for your money
Deep hydration and restores skin’s barrier
Features:
- No harmful substances;
- has soothing and moisturizing properties
- with 91.3% milk vetch root extract
It is more affordable and delivers on its promise!
Pros: Hydrating and calming; works amazing on dry skin
Cons: Not all enjoy the serum-like texture
With only seven ingredients, this blue bottle promises amazing skin transformation without the unnecessary ingredients. Known for its moisturizing and calming properties — not to mention its friendly price — no wonder Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner is among the best.
The Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner easily holds the spot as the best Korean toner for dry skin and those with dehydrated and/or irritated skin.
Made with 91.3% milk vetch root extract, this toner will bathe your skin in antioxidants, anti-inflammatory benefits, and minerals. This means it doesn’t only hydrate your skin but repairs it as well.
The texture is serum- or essence-like, but it quickly absorbs into the skin, leaving you with hydrated and supple skin. You can also use this as a serum if applied in layers.
It’s a truly refreshing toner! Light yet hydrating.
Rejuvenates dull skin
Features:
- Alcohol-free,
- has Centella Asiatica Leaf Water
- can soothe any skin type
Its soothing and calming properties work amazingly on acne-prone and oily skin!
Pros: Great price point; hydrating and calming; easy-to-use
Cons: Not as hydrating for those with dry skin
Who says cleansing equals drying out the skin?
If you’re looking for a toner that will remove impurities and calm your irritated skin, look no further. This COSRX toner has Centella Water that soothes and calms the skin.
The mist spray bottle comes packed with Centella Asiatica Extract Water, which is a great ingredient for calming and repairing the skin without stripping off its moisture. It’s also lightweight, refreshing, and doesn’t come with a strong fragrance.
The COSRX Centella Water Toner works on any skin type, but those with irritated and blemished skin will get the most benefits.
This toner mist can be your instant anytime, anywhere toner — use it in the morning, at night, before makeup, or in between your day for instant refreshment!
It’s a concentrated toner that gives me more than just hydration.
Moisturizing and brightening properties.
Features:
- Uses Gyodong Rice extract,
- Has Centella Asiatica extract
- Has rich nutrients to moisturize deep layers of the skin.
Many say this is their holy grail for oily skin!
Pros: Hydrating, soothing, and adds glow
Cons: Some do not enjoy the serum-like texture; pricey
If you have oily skin, you need to get your hands on this! Let’s all say thank you to THANKYOU Farmer Rice for doing exactly its job — hydrating the skin and keeping oil at bay — and more.
This highly concentrated toner is formulated with Gyodong Rice Extract helps improve skin and Centella Asiatica Extract which soothes and calms irritated skin as well as controls oil production. So, if you’re on the scout for the best Korean toners for oily skin, this should be on top of your list.
Plus, you get 100,000ppm of Rice Extract that moisturizes and brightens your skin! How can you say no to that?
It keeps my skin fresh and hydrated instantly!
Soothes skin and regulates sebum production.
Features:
- Green tree extract provides anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial benefits
- Hyaluronic Acid
- Centella Asiatica Extract
Green tea is always refreshing on the skin and this one from ISNTREE doesn’t disappoint!
Pros: Lightweight, refreshing; non-irritating, and non-comedogenic
Cons: Color can stain clothes
Anything with green tea always sounds refreshing to me — including toners.
The ISNTREE Green Tea Fresh Hydrating Toner stays true to its name — it effectively hydrates and freshens your skin.
Formulated mainly with 80% Green Tea Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Centella Asiatica Extract, and Allantoin, among other natural ingredients, this toner provides moisture and balances oil production on your skin.
Fans of this toner claim that they’ve experienced less visible pores, improved skin texture, and controlled oil production. The texture is somewhere between watery and viscous but sinks in nicely onto the skin without clogging the pores.
Keeps my skin plump!
A toner packed with collagen, perfect for wrinkles and fine lines.
Features:
- Has collagen water that helps skin stay soft and bouncy,
- achieve glowing skin
- has White Lupin and White Beta-Glucan
The Moistfull Collagen toner will help moisturize the skin to keep wrinkles and fine lines at bay!
Pros: Hydrating and moisturizing; great scent; works great even on sensitive skin
Cons: Not all enjoy the scent
We can’t turn back time, but we can slow down aging — skin aging, that is!
The Etude Moistfull Collagen Toner is packed with Super Collagen Water that makes the skin hydrated, moisturized, and bouncy. Yes, you can start wiping your wrinkles away with this toner!
Aside from collagen, this toner also has White Lupin, which is known for its anti-aging and firming properties. It’s also formulated with White Beta-Glucan for healing and Glycerin for moisture and hydration.
Etude Moistfull Collagen Toner simplifies your routine to achieve toned, plumped, and moisture-recharged skin.
Sensitive enough for sensitive skin!
Contains ingredients and actives that help calm and soothe the skin.
Features:
- Has AHA, BHA, and PHA;
- has witch hazel extract, tea tree water extract, and papaya
- claims to improve skin in 30 days.
Could it really be a miracle? Many swear by the effectiveness of this toner and even I liked the improvements on my skin!
Pros: Moisturizing, calming, prevents breakouts, anti-inflammatory
Cons: Some didn’t see results
If you’ve been shopping around for Korean products, you’ve surely heard of Some By Mi. Their most popular product is the Some By Mi AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Set.
The set comes with a cleansing bar, toner, serum, and cream. But if you don’t want to commit to the whole set, you can always buy each separately.
So how can the miracle toner help your skin?
The secret lies in the mix of ingredients. The AHA, BHA, and PHA also help to exfoliate the skin and get rid of dead skin cells. The papaya extract and witch hazel extracts help with controlling pores.
There is a ridiculously high concentration of tea tree water extract, which improves skin tone and texture. There is also adenosine to help minimize wrinkles and niacinamide to brighten the skin.
What’s more? This toner has a pH of 5.5 making it mild on even the most sensitive skin. It is also free of alcohol, sulfates, fragrances, parabens, silicone, and mineral oil!
This is a Korean toner worth trying!
Effective in balancing and controlling sebum and plumping up the skin!
Refreshing toner that controls oils and minimizes pores.
Features:
- Japanese Sake,
- Peace fruit extract
- lwith Licorice Root Extract and Centella Asiatica.
A great all-around toner for people with oily and sensitive skin!
Pros: Tightens pores and skin, controls oil, maintain overall skin health
Cons: Scent can be strong for some
There are people who swear by the Skin Food Peach Sake Toner, and that’s not surprising at all. It’s one of the uniquely formulated toners out there and it works!
The key ingredients are Japanese Sake and peach extract. The sake helps in tightening and firming the pores and skin, thereby controlling the production of sebum on the skin to prevent breakouts.
Meanwhile, the peach extract is rich in vitamin A, C, organic acid, and pectin. It helps nourish the skin and keeps it supple and plump.
Other notable ingredients are licorice root extract, which has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties, and Centella Asiatica extracts for soothing the skin and improving texture, too.
Related: Micellar Water Vs Toner: How To Tell The Difference
Frequently Asked Questions:
What Is Korean Toner, and What Can It Do for Your Complexion?
Korean toners are an essential part of their famous 10-step skincare routine. It comes after cleansing and right before tapping on your essence.
Toners help remove excess dirt, gunk, and other impurities that your cleanser didn’t catch.
Aside from that, Korean toners help prep your skin to effectively receive the rest of your skin products. Think of it as a skin booster for your vitamin C, retinol, moisturizer, and anti-aging products!
When to Use Toners?
Generally, toners can be used both in the morning and at night. For simple skincare routines, it can come right after cleansing your face and before your moisturizer.
However, for those who practice a more rigorous routine, toner comes after cleansing and before other products, such as essence, serum, eye care, etc.
How to Use Toners?
What Are the Benefits of Toners?
The benefits will greatly depend on the ingredients used in the toner’s formulation. In general, toners help with:
- Dry and dehydrated skin
- Large pores
- Dark spots/hyperpigmentation
- Excessive oily or dry skin
- Skin texture
- Better absorption of skincare products
Which Korean Toner Is for You?
The right Korean toner will ultimately depend on your skin type and what you aim to achieve. Thankfully, this list narrows down your options and helps you focus on the best Korean toners only!
Here’s to hoping we’ve helped you find the right Korean skin toners. Whether you have dry, oily, acne-prone, or sensitive skin, trust that there’s a bottle or two that will work for you!
And if you do find the one, please don’t hesitate to let us know about it!
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