The Best Korean Toners for Glass Skin
Korean toners are all the rage, and for good reason. They're not just for cleansing and exfoliating; they're formulated to balance your skin's pH and provide a bevy of other benefits. From deep hydration to gentle exfoliation, Korean toners are designed to prime your skin for the rest of your skincare routine.
"Traditional Korean toners were once solely focused on restoring your skin's pH," explains Charlotte Cho, the founder of Soko Glam. "However, toners from the best Korean skincare brands have since evolved to provide a bevy of other benefits."
These multi-taskers are often categorised as "skin toners," "cleansing toners," and "essence toners," each crafted to meet specific skincare needs.
Why You Need a Korean Toner
Julie Monti, the director of education at Amore Pacific US, recommends Korean toners for everyone.
"No matter how great your cleanser is, water attracts water," she says. "Skin tends to be dehydrated after cleansing. And dehydrated skin could lead to other skin concerns, such as excess sebum production, breakouts, dryness, and even future signs of aging."
The Best Korean Toners for Every Skin Type
We've compiled a list of the 11 best Korean toners, based on expert recommendations, customer feedback, and our own testing. Here, you'll find exfoliating toners, hydrating toners, calming toners, and more.
1. Editorâs Pick: Innisfree Green Tea Enzyme 7% PHA Gentle Exfoliating Toner
This leave-on toner gently exfoliates with PHA and green tea-derived enzymes to leave skin smooth and hydrated. Suitable for all skin types, even sensitive skin.
Pros:
Suitable for all skin types
Gentle on sensitive skin
Cons:
May take time to see results
Key ingredients: Green tea-derived enzyme, PHA, hyaluronic acid
Size: 5.07 fl. oz.
Sephora rating: 4.7/5 stars
2. Best Gentle Exfoliator: Then I Met You Birch Milk Refining Toner
This lightweight toner contains birch juice, squalane, and a gentle blend of glycolic and lactic acids to refine skin texture while keeping skin hydrated and soothed.
Pros:
Suitable for daily use
Cons:
May not be suitable for very sensitive skin
Key ingredients: Birch juice, squalane, glycolic, lactic acid
Size: 3.38 fl. oz.
Soko Glam rating: 4.4/5 stars
3. Best Soothing: Hanyul Pure Artemisia Calming pH Balancing Toner
This toner infuses hydrating and soothing artemisia to instantly calm irritated skin and provide deep moisturization.
Pros:
Absorbs quickly
Cons:
Some may dislike the scent
Key ingredients: Artemisia-cica, glycerin
Size: 5.07 fl. oz.
Soko Glam rating: 5/5 stars
4. Best for Cleansing: Son & Park Beauty Water
This cult-favourite toner, loved by Korean pop artists and actors, combines hydrating and cleansing abilities to remove the last traces of makeup.
Pros:
Multi-purpose
Cons:
May not be suitable for acne-prone skin
Key ingredients: Lavender extract, rosa damascena flower water, orange fruit extract
Size: 11.49 fl. oz.
Soko Glam rating: 4.6/5 stars
5. Best Calming: Anua Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner
This viral toner is perfect for sensitive or irritated skin. Its high concentration of heartleaf extract soothes breakouts, irritation, and rosacea.
Pros:
Fragrance-free
Cons:
May not provide drastic results for everyone
Key ingredients: Heartleaf, panthenol
Size: 8.45 fl. oz.
Soko Glam rating: 4.9/5 stars
6. Best Exfoliator for Sensitive Skin: Round Lab Dokdo Toner
This toner, formulated with deep ocean water from Ulleungdo Island, offers gentle exfoliation and nourishing minerals. It's fragrance-free and essential oil-free.
Pros:
Fragrance-free
Essential oil-free
Cons:
May not be suitable for very dry skin
Key ingredients: Deep sea water, minerals
Size: 3.4 fl. oz.
Amazon rating: 4.2/5 stars
7. Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Toning Toner
This toner soothes irritated skin with centella extract and gently lifts away dead skin cells. Niacinamide brightens the skin over time.
Pros:
Brightens the skin
Cons:
May take time to see results
Key ingredients: PHAs, centella, niacinamide, adenosine
Size: 7.1 fl. oz.
Amazon rating: 4.5/5 stars
8. Best for All Skin Types: Numbuzin No. 3 Super Glowing Essence Toner
This toner features galactomyces, a type of yeast sourced from fermented sake, to fortify the skin with vitamins and antioxidants, and gently exfoliate dead skin cells.
Pros:
Deeply hydrating
Cons:
Some may dislike the scent
Key ingredients: Niacinamide, galactomyces, adenosine
Size: 6.76 fl. oz.
Amazon rating: 4.4/5 stars
9. Best for Mature Skin: Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Water
This gel-like toner, enriched with ginseng, softens the skin and adds a subtle glow by replenishing moisture.
Pros:
No sticky residue
Cons:
May take time to notice results
Key ingredient: Ginseng
Size: 5.07 fl. oz.
Amazon rating: 3.9/5 stars
10. Best Hydrating: Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner
This toner, formulated with astragalus root extract, deeply hydrates and nourishes the skin.
Pros:
A little goes a long way
Cons:
May not be suitable for very sensitive skin
Key ingredients: Astragalus root extract
Size: 6.8 fl. oz.
Amazon rating: 4.6/5 stars
11. Best Toner Pads: Mediheal Madecassoside Blemish Pad
These pads, infused with madecassoside, soothe and moisturize the skin, making an ideal base for makeup application.
Pros:
Hypoallergenic
Cons:
Scent may be too strong for some
Key ingredient: Madecassoside
Size: 100 pads
Amazon rating: 4.5/5 stars
Where to Apply Toner in Your Skincare Routine
Most toners are applied after cleansing to prep and hydrate the skin. However, some cleansing toners can be used as the first step of your cleansing routine to remove eye makeup.
Tips for Applying Toner
Use a cotton round to swipe away impurities with cleansing and exfoliating toners.
Apply hydrating and brightening toners to the palm of your hand and tap into the skin.
With so many options available, there's a perfect Korean toner out there for everyone. Find your match and enjoy the benefits of this multi-tasking skincare hero.
