9 Top Korean Toners For Different Skin Types
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Are you in search of the top Korean toners? We get it.
After all, Korean skincare has gained a reputation for innovative, skin-loving formulas. And Korean toners are particularly known to replenish the skin, tighten pores, remove dirt and grime, and deliver quick hydration.
But it can be difficult to sift through the many toners available online and the recommendations from skincare enthusiasts.
To help you make the right choice, we’ve listed the top Korean toners on the market that will give you a plump, healthy, and hydrated complexion!
- Clarifies and hydrates
- Has a powerful combination of AHA and BHA for gentle cleansing and exfoliation
- Comes in an easy-to-use spray mist bottle
- Hydrating and soothing
- Made with 91.3% astragalus root extract
- Free of harsh, irritating ingredients
- Brightens, hydrates, and controls oil
- Contains Korean rice extract to give the skin extra nourishment
- Dermatologist-tested
Table of Contents
The 9 Top Korean Toners: Amazing Finds for Your Skin’s Needs
An overall great toner for its effectiveness and price!
Benefits: Clarifies the skin; prevents recurring blemishes; improves the skin’s texture
Features:
- Powerful combination of AHA and BHA for gentle cleansing and exfoliation
- Formulated with willow bark water for hydration
- Easy-to-use spray mist bottle
Revitalize dull, tired skin with this Korean toner.
Don’t be intimidated by the AHA and BHA in this COSRX toner’s formula.
It’s made with a mild formulation of glycolic acid (AHA) and betaine salicylate (a mixture of the moisturizer betaine and the BHA salicylic acid), making it gentle enough for any skin type.
Its exfoliating properties allow it to remove dead skin cells effectively, which can help improve dullness and reveal smoother, brighter skin.
Packed with natural ingredients, such as willow bark water, this Korean toner also improves skin texture, controls pores, and adds vitality to your skin.
For an instant moisturizing effect, you can’t go wrong with the Dear, Klairs Supple Preparation Facial Toner.
Benefits: Deeply moisturizes; brightens dull skin; absorbs quickly into the skin; balances the skin’s pH levels
Features:
- Created with soothing and hydrating natural ingredients like hyaluronic acid
- Safe, gentle, and non-irritating formula
- Alcohol-free
This might just be the best Korean toner for sensitive skin!
Want instant hydration but have sensitive skin? This is your holy grail!
The Dear, Klairs Supple Preparation Toner has a natural, vegan-friendly formula with quality ingredients like beta-glucan, hyaluronic acid, and Centella asiatica.
These soothe skin irritation and redness while staying mild even on sensitive skin. And they offer unparalleled hydration, drawing moisture to the skin and helping maintain proper moisture levels.
No wonder it’s hailed as the top hydrating Korean toner!
With only seven ingredients, this blue bottle promises amazing skin transformation without the unnecessary ingredients.
Benefits: Delivers deep hydration; restores the skin’s barrier; has a soothing effect
Features:
- Made with 91.3% astragalus root extract
- Free of harsh, irritating ingredients
- Essence-like texture
Known for the superior moisturization it delivers— not to mention its friendly price — no wonder the Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner is among the best Korean toners on the market.
Made with 91.3% astragalus root or milk vetch root extract, the Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner offers potent antioxidant properties.
So it can offer a wide range of benefits for your skin, including improving its elasticity, providing deeper moisturization, and protecting the skin against damage.
The result? A firmer and more radiant complexion!
And because there are only seven well-curated ingredients in its dermatologist-tested formula, you can be sure it won’t irritate your skin. In fact, it can even calm irritation!
Take note that the texture is serum- or essence-like (unlike most toners with a water consistency), but it quickly absorbs into the skin without feeling sticky.
Reviewers say this toner leaves their skin feeling unbelievably soft and smooth!
Benefits: Rejuvenates dull skin; soothes and refreshes; doesn’t strip the skin of essential moisture
Features:
- Created with Centella asiatica leaf water for intense hydration
- Designed to be compatible with all skin types
- Alcohol- and artificial fragrance-free
With soothing and hydrating benefits, it's perfect for anyone experiencing dryness or redness!
If you’re looking for a toner that will remove impurities without being harsh on your skin, look no further.
This COSRX toner has Centella water that purifies and repairs the skin without stripping off its moisture. Its formula also reduces redness, targets dryness, and enhances the appearance of blemishes.
It’s also lightweight, and it doesn’t come with alcohol or a strong fragrance that can sting or potentially cause irritation.
Plus, it comes in an easy-to-use spray bottle!
Achieve a radiant glow like never before with the Thank You Farmer Rice Pure Essential Toner!
Benefits: Soothes; brightens; hydrates; controls oil
Features:
- Contains Korean rice extract to give the skin extra nourishment
- Free of parabens, alcohol, synthetic dyes, and artificial fragrances
- Dermatologist-tested
A must-have for those who want brighter, softer skin!
Attention, skincare enthusiasts with oily skin: you need to get your hands on this!
Let’s all say thank you to Thank You Farmer Rice for doing exactly its job — hydrating the skin and keeping excess oil at bay — and more.
This highly concentrated toner is formulated with Korean rice extract that clarifies the skin and makes it softer and smoother.
It’s also known to deliver skin-brightening and anti-aging benefits.
Even better, it contains niacinamide, which can improve the tone and texture of dull, wrinkled, or pigmented skin.
The toner also uses Centella asiatica extract to provide a soothing and hydrating effect that gives your complexion a dewy look!
Anything with green tea is guaranteed to be refreshing — and this hydrating Korean toner is no exception!
Benefits: Balances the skin’s oil production; provides all-day and all-night hydration; refreshes and revitalizes stressed-out skin; doesn’t clog the pores
Features:
- Lightweight texture
- Hypoallergenic
- Dermatologist-tested
Give your skin the relief it craves with this toner.
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.
Keep your skin plump by making this toner a part of your daily skincare routine!
Benefits: Offers deep hydration; tightens the skin; leaves the skin dewy
Features:
- Contains hydrolyzed collagen for anti-aging benefits
- Free of silicone and mineral oil
- Clinically tested
The Etude Moistfull Collagen Toner gives you all the ingredients you need to achieve toned and moisture-recharged skin.
We can’t turn back time, but we can slow down aging — skin aging, that is — with the Etude Moistfull Collagen Toner!
Created with hydrolyzed collagen, it leaves the skin moisturized, firm, and bouncy after each use.
Aside from collagen, this toner also has white lupin, which is known for its anti-aging and firming properties. Yes, you can start wiping your wrinkles away with this toner!
It’s also formulated with beta-glucan for healing damaged skin and increasing collagen production as well as glycerin for moisture and hydration.
With clean, effective, and carefully selected ingredients, this Korean toner is worth trying!
Benefits: Moisturizes; tightens pores; controls shine; prevents breakouts
Features:
- Has a blend of AHA, BHA, PHA, and papaya and witch hazel extracts
- Contains patented ingredients for effective hydration and oil control
- Dermatologist-tested
If you’re on the hunt for the best Korean toners for oily skin, this product should be at the top of your list.
How can this miracle toner help your skin?
The secret lies in the mix of ingredients. The AHA, BHA, and PHA help 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!
Here’s a refreshing toner that controls oil and minimizes pores!
Benefits: Balances the skin’s sebum production; plumps up the skin; tightens pores
Features:
- Formulated with nutrient-rich ingredients like peach fruit and Japanese sake
- Lightweight texture
- Comes in a cute bottle designed for convenient use
With this toner, the firm, smooth, and poreless complexion of your dreams is finally within your reach.
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 pores and firming the skin along with controlling the production of sebum on the skin to prevent breakouts.
Meanwhile, the peach extract helps nourish the skin and keeps it supple and plump. This is because it’s rich in vitamins A and C.
Other notable ingredients are licorice root extract, which has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties, and Centella asiatica extract, which soothes the skin.
Safe for dry, oily, combination, and sensitive skin, it makes your complexion look poreless and always refreshed!
What Can Korean Toners Do for Your Complexion?
Using Korean toners after cleansing your skin — especially if you follow the famous 10-step Korean skincare routine — can offer plenty of benefits.
A Korean toner’s main role is to remove excess dirt, gunk, and other impurities that your cleanser didn’t catch.
Aside from that, Korean toners help prep your skin to effectively absorb the rest of your skincare products. Think of it as a skin booster for your essence, serum, eye cream, and moisturizer!
Most high-quality toners are also designed to do the following:
- Tighten large pores
- Restore hydration to dry and dehydrated skin
- Help improve dark spots or hyperpigmentation
- Control excess oil
- Enhance skin tone and texture
How To Choose the Top Korean Toner for You
Step 1: Identify Your Skin Type and Skin Issues
The ultimate first step in choosing a toner is identifying your skin type. This way, you can select the product that addresses the main issues associated with your skin type and allows you to achieve your skincare goals.
The major skin types are as follows:
| Skin Type | Characteristics | Typical Issues | Skincare Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal | Balanced skin that is neither too dry nor too oily | Few to no issues | Maintaining moisture levels to keep the skin looking and feeling good |
| Dry | Characterized by lack of moisture | Dry patches Dullness Flakiness Cracking and peeling | Soften and restore moisture to the skin |
| Combination | Has an oily T-zone; other areas of the face tend to be dry | Excess oil Large pores in certain areas Breakouts in the T-zone Dry patches in certain areas | Hydrating dry areas of the face while controlling oiliness in oily areas |
| Oily | Characterized by excess sebum production | Excess oil Large pores Clogged pores, which can result in acne | Controlling oiliness to prevent a shiny, greasy appearance |
| Sensitive | Delicate skin that’s prone to reacting to environmental stressors | Burning Itching Redness Irritation | Calming and soothing the skin and preventing irritation |
Besides this, you may also face other skin issues, such as the following:
- Hyperpigmentation — Dark spots and patches
- Signs of aging — Fine lines and wrinkles
- Acne — Blackheads, whiteheads, and pimples
Step 2: Match Your Skin Type to Your 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 dry skin because it’s formulated with moisturizing and hydrating ingredients. It’s also great for those with combination skin who suffer frequently from dry patches.
- Refreshing toner. This is ideal for people with oily or combination skin since it’s usually made without alcohol, which can make the skin produce more oil.
- Gentle toner. A gentle toner is best for those with sensitive skin. These are formulated with mild ingredients, free of harsh ingredients and alcohol.
Step 3: Look at the Ingredients
Make it a habit to check the label before making a purchase. This helps ensure that you get a product that targets your skin problems effectively and doesn’t worsen them.
Here’s a list of ingredients to choose for specific skin problems:
- Signs of aging — Antioxidant-rich ingredients like beta-glucan and wrinkle-fighting ingredients like adenosine
- Hyperpigmentation — Skin-brightening ingredients like vitamin C and niacinamide
- Acne — Exfoliating ingredients like salicylic acid
But you might see a couple on the list that can harm your skin. Keep a lookout for these:
- Alcohol
- Strong fragrances
- Sodium lauryl sulfate
- Mineral oil
- Menthol
These ingredients can irritate sensitive skin and strip off the natural oils from dry skin.
Additionally, ingredients like mineral oil can stay on the skin’s surface and trap impurities like dead skin cells. This can cause acne, especially if you have oily skin.
Quick Tip
Witch hazel is a good ingredient for oily skin, but it’s a no-no for dry skin. It’s extremely effective at removing excess oil from the skin, which means it can be too drying for individuals who already suffer from persistent dryness.
Frequently Asked Questions
When Should I Use Toners?
Generally, toners can be used both in the morning and at night. For most skincare routines, it can be used right after cleansing your face and before your essence or serum.
How Should I Use a Korean Toner?
Using a Korean toner is fairly straightforward. Follow these steps:
- Cleanse your face thoroughly.
- Apply toner to a cotton pad.
- Gently swipe the pad across your face.
- Allow the toner to dry before applying any other skincare products.
Check out this video to see more ways to apply toner!
Enjoy Clean, Firm, and Healthy Skin With the Top Korean Toners!
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 top 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!
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