Recently I’ve come across viral Korean skincare products, including a range of toners. Intrigued, I went deep into researching different Korean toner brands, their ingredients, and tried them for myself to find out which are the best on the market.
In this article, I’ll cover how to use Korean toners and introduce you to the top 12 Korean toners for every skin type!
How to use Korean toners
Typically, Korean toners are applied after cleansing the face. They serve as the first step in your skincare routine, preparing the skin to absorb subsequent products more effectively.
To apply a toner, dispense a small amount onto a cotton pad or directly onto your palms. Gently pat the toner across your face and neck. Do not rub, as this can irritate the skin.
How Korean toners work
Toners work by balancing the skin’s pH levels, hydrating, and prepping the skin for the next steps in your skincare regimen. Unlike traditional Western toners, which often contain alcohol and can be drying, Korean toners are formulated with gentle, nourishing ingredients that provide multiple benefits, while focusing on keeping the skin barrier healthy.
In Korea, it’s common for people to layer toners on top of each other to address specific skin concerns. This layering technique, known as the “7 Skin Method,” involves applying multiple layers of toner to deeply hydrate and nourish the skin. It’s a popular practice among K-beauty enthusiasts and can result in a plump, dewy complexion.
Top 12 Korean Toners
Now, let’s dive into the top 12 best Korean toners available! Below, I’ve included which toners are best for each skin type and a link to where you can buy it.
1. Best for sensitive skin: Beauty of Joseon Green Plum AHA BHA Toner Refreshing Facial Essence
Infused with green plum water, this toner gently exfoliates the skin, removes impurities, and tightens pores, revealing a refined, youthful complexion – perfect for sensitive, acne-prone skin.
2. Best for acne: Anua Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner
Formulated with 77% heartleaf extract, this toner calms sensitive skin while providing deep hydration, making it ideal for those with irritated or acne-prone skin.
3. Best for blackheads: COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner
Infused with alpha and beta hydroxy acids, this toner gently exfoliates the skin, unclogs pores, and evens out skin texture, revealing a smoother, brighter complexion over time.
4. Best all-in-one toner: TIRTIR Milk Skin Toner
Packed with tons of incredible ingredients (licorice root extract, niacinamide, centella extract, etc.), this toner does it all! It has a milky consistency which is different than other toners and I find it super moisturizing. And if you have oily skin, this is lightweight enough you can also use it as a moisturizer!
5. Best for achieving “glass skin”: numbuzin No.3 Super Glowing Essence Toner
This toner has 50 different types of fermented ingredients, which helps improve skin texture and elasticity for glowy, radiant skin (aka glass skin). It also contains niacinamide, which has anti-inflammatory properties and helps reduce hyperpigmentation and improve skin barrier function – perfect for dry, dull skin.
6. Best for combination skin: Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Essence Water Hydrating Face Toner
This lightweight toner is formulated with 80% ginseng root extract (packed with antioxidants), which nourishes and hydrates your skin, and 2% niacinamide to help balance your skin’s moisture levels.
7. Best for all skin types: Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner
Featuring fermented black rice extract and hyaluronic acid, this is an amazing toner that deeply hydrates the skin, improves elasticity, and provides antioxidant protection against environmental stressors. It’s one of the few toners that works well for every skin type.
8. Best brightening toner: I’m From Rice Toner
Formulated with 77.78% rice extract, this toner brightens dull skin, evens out skin tone, and provides long-lasting hydration, giving you a luminous complexion.
9. Best for dry skin: Pyunkang Yul Facial Essence Toner
This toner has a deeply hydrating formula, which is free from harsh chemicals and artificial fragrances, and is enriched with essential moisture-binding ingredients to replenish and nourish the skin, leaving it soft, supple, and revitalized.
10. Best for oily skin and breakouts: SOME BY MI AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner
With a blend of AHA, BHA, PHA, and tea tree water, this toner gently removes dead skin cells and targets acne, blackheads, and blemishes, revealing smoother and clearer skin in just 30 days!
Best anti-aging toner: SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Toning Toner
This toner has centella asiatica extract, which has antioxidant properties, stimulates collagen production, and replenishes moisture while fortifying the skin’s barrier. It helps to plump and smooth the skin, reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.
Best for red, irritated skin: COSRX Full Fit Propolis Synergy Toner
This toner has a more viscous texture that absorbs easily into the skin. It contains propolis and honey (anti-inflammatory), which are great for hydrating and smoothing the skin.
FAQs
This is always changing, but currently the Annual Heartleaf 77% toner is super popular.
In my experience, Korean toners absolutely work. A good Korean toner can help with balancing the skin’s pH levels, hydrating, and prepping the skin for better absorption of subsequent skincare products. Of course, their effectiveness may vary depending on individual skin types and specific formulations.
The “7 Skin Method” or “7 Layer Toner” is a Korean skincare technique involving the application of toner in multiple layers to achieve deep hydration. This method typically involves patting on thin layers of toner seven times consecutively, allowing each layer to absorb before applying the next, resulting in plump and moisturized skin.
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