As a Korean who grits through the windy Seoul and NYC winters, I’m here to share these 10 best Korean hydrating toner skincare products.
I used to shy away from using daily toners because I found them irritating for the drier parts of my combination skin.
But after finding these best Korean toners with soothing ingredients, using a toner is now an essential step in my Korean skin care routine.
Look no further for the best K-Beauty toners from South Korea.
With that, let’s dive into the 10 best Korean hydrating toner!
Why should I use a toner?
Toners remove remaining impurities on your face, including makeup and cleansing products.
In addition, if you live in an area with hard water, applying an acidic (low pH) toner will help balance the skin’s pH.
Toning your skin is an important step especially if you have oily skin, since it can remove excess sebum and dead skin cells that remain after washing your skin.
Where does toner fit into my Korean skincare routine?
The first step is to 1) wash your face, 2) apply a toner, 3) then follow up with a facial moisturizer.
If you’re going to wear a face mask, then apply the toner before the mask to remove any impurities.
You can apply toner using a cotton pad or by patting it in gently with your fingers.
Even if you feel a surge of moisture after applying a moisturizing toner, it will remove moisture from your face as it evaporates.
Therefore – especially if you have dry skin – it’s important to follow up with a face cream.
Best Korean Hydrating Toner
1. Best Hydrating Toner: LANEIGE Cream Skin Refiner with Ceramides and Peptides ($16.00)
Pros: Looking for soft and supple skin? This Korean milky toner is extra hydrating and packs a punch given the relatively lightweight formula.
In the thickness of NYC summer, it’s enough for me to get by as a light moisturizer if I know I’ll be outdoors most of the day (I apply sunscreen on top).
Glycerin, squalane, and hyaluronic acid moisturize.
Cons: If you get easily annoyed by stickiness post-application, a watery toner like the Dokdo one will be a better fit. This Korean facial toner includes meadowfoam seed oil, which helps protect against sun damage, but can feel heavier with multiple layers.
I don’t mind it because it makes me “feel” like the product’s working. But what makes you comfy is right for you!
PS: If you have a butylene glycol allergy, this product might break you out. (It’s a solvent that makes the toner easier to apply.) Don’t skimp out on spot testing if you have sensitive skin!
Amazon Rating: 4.5 / 5 stars (3,322 ratings)
2. Deep Hydration for Dry Skin: Dr. Ceuracle Vegan Kombucha Tea Essence ($23.32)
Pros: If you’re a dry skin girlie (or person!), this thick, milky toner packed with incredible ingredients is for you.
Galactomyces ferment filtrate hydrates and soothes the skin, combined with the moisturizing effects of sunflower seed oil, centella asiatica extract, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid.
The toner’s full of natural antioxidants, like green tea water (59%), kombucha extract (20%) and cocoa seed extract.
Cons: Avoid fermented skincare products (like this one!) if you are prone to fungal acne. If you’re allergic to butylene glycol, this toner can cause breakouts.
Amazon Rating: 4.6 / 5 stars (1,360 ratings)
3. Best for Sensitive Skin: ETUDE Soonjung pH 5.5 Relief Toner ($15.99)
Pros: This Korean hydrating toner actively soothes and calms down irritated skin.
The watery vegan formula is so gentle that it doesn’t sting when you apply it on picked zits (rip I’m here with you 🙋🏻♀️) and red, irritated skin.
Panthenol moisturizes, madecassoside from centella asiatica soothes and vitamin E protects against sun damage.
Cons: If you have a butylene glycol allergy, this product might break you out.
Amazon Rating: 4.6 / 5 stars (776 ratings)
4. Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Anua Heartleaf 77 Soothing Toner pH 5.5, Gentle Exfoliation with Deep Sea Water ($15.60)
Pros: Give this TikTok-viral toner a try if you have acne-prone skin. It’s 77% heartleaf extract, which fights acne, and also includes other natural extracts like centella asatica extract which help wounds heal. Glycerin, panthenol and sugarcane extract moisturize the skin. It also has a pH of 5.5, which is within the range of normal skin.
Cons: If you have a butylene glycol allergy, this product might break you out.
5. Great for Combination Skin: ROUND LAB Birch Juice Moisturizing Toner Pads with Hyaluronic Acid ($19.60)
Pros: Toner pads are all the craze in Korea (they’re so convenient!). These cooling toner pads are highly moisturizing and great for dry and combination skin.
Japanese white birch juice, aquaxyl and three weights of hyaluronic acid moisturize.
Dipotassium glycyrrhizate derived from licorice root and panthenol (vitamin B5) soothe inflamed skin.
Cons: ROUND LAB’s toner pads won’t make a big difference if you’re concerned about redness or acne.
Amazon Rating: 4.6 / 5 stars (113 ratings)
6. Simple, Watery Toner: Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Toner, Gentle Exfoliation with Deep Sea Water ($15.30)
Pros: This is a wonderful starter toner with simple ingredients for sensitive yet acne-prone skin that craves hydration. Deep sea water, glycerin, red algae extract and sugarcane extract hydrate. Protease gently exfoliates. The texture’s basically like water so use it with a cotton pad!
Cons: You might not notice a big difference in hydration if you have less sensitive skin with a stronger skin barrier. For the best hydration, apply 2-3 layers onto damp skin and follow up with a moisturizer. If you’ve got super dry skin, this formula might not be enough during the winter.
Amazon Rating: 4.6 / 5 stars (694 ratings)
7. Gentle Exfoliation Fit for Daily Use: BENTON Aloe BHA Skin Toner ($17.00)
Pros: If you’re searching for gently exfoliating cleanser fit for daily use, then this toner is the perfect fit.
It contains less than 0.5% salicylic acid, balanced with the hydrating and soothing effects of 80% aloe water, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid.
Searching for a toner for your man? This SA toner’s worked great for thicker male facial skin.
Cons: Please note that salicylic acid can cause a temporary increase in breakouts, because it causes skin to turn over faster and reveals underlying clogs (yes, “skin purging” is real!).
In addition, if you have a butylene glycol allergy, this product can cause you to break out.
iHerb Rating: 4.6 / 5 stars (2,691 ratings)
8. For Refreshing Cooling: S.NATURE Aqua Oasis Panthe-Allan Calming Pads ($23.10)
Pros: These hydrating toner pads instantly cool down your skin while calming it down.
There’s 8 different weights of hyaluronic acid in these pads. The small HA derivatives are responsible for the cooling effect (S.NATURE says by 3.6°C!).
Plus, 3% panthenol (vitamin B5) further moisturizes by strengthening the skin barrier and the 0.15% allantoin soothes and heals skin.
It’s easy layering makeup on because the serum isn’t sticky.
Cons: If you’re searching for a more exfoliating toner, these pads might not be the right fit. In addition, the cotton pads are on the thicker side.
Olive Young Rating: 4.9 / 5 stars (1,655 reviews)
9. For that Honey Glow: COSRX Propolis Synergy Toner ($16.50)
Pros: This honey-based toner adds a healthy, low-key glow to your Korean skincare routine. It’s packed with 73% propolis extract and 11% honey extract, anti-bacterial ingredients that help soothe inflammation. There’s medium viscosity but the stuff layers on and absorbs easily.
Cons: Don’t use this if you have a honey or pollen allergy! Some people aren’t as impressed by the effects of this toner, but you’ll probably notice a difference once you stop using it.
Amazon Rating: 4.6 / 5 stars (2,251 ratings)
10. Fermented Toner: Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner for Sensitive Skin ($14.90)
Pros: Ever enjoy the suppleness of your hands after washing rice? This moisturizing hyaluronic acid toner includes fermented black rice to deliver plump softness to your face.
We love that Haruharu has fragrance-free formulas – like this toner – which smells ever so much like rice.
The toner has a slightly thicker consistency, but absorbs and layers easily under makeup.
Cons: Avoid fermented skincare products (like this one!) if you are prone to fungal acne. If you’re allergic to butylene glycol, this toner can cause breakouts.
Amazon Rating: 4.7 / 5 stars (581 ratings)
Best Korean Hydrating Toner (Conclusion)
In this guide, we went over the 10 best Korean hydrating toner.
These modern Korean toners are wonderful in creating a well-rounded skincare routine for the ultimate hydration.
- Best Hydrating Toner: LANEIGE Cream Skin Refiner with Ceramides and Peptides ($16.00)
- Deep Hydration for Dry Skin: Dr. Ceuracle Vegan Kombucha Tea Essence ($23.32)
- Best for Sensitive Skin: ETUDE Soonjung pH 5.5 Relief Toner ($15.99)
- Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Anua Heartleaf 77 Soothing Toner pH 5.5, Gentle Exfoliation with Deep Sea Water ($15.60)
- Great for Combination Skin: ROUND LAB Birch Juice Moisturizing Toner Pads with Hyaluronic Acid ($19.60)
- Simple, Watery Toner: Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Toner, Gentle Exfoliation with Deep Sea Water ($15.30)
- Gentle Exfoliation Fit for Daily Use: BENTON Aloe BHA Skin Toner ($17.00)
- For Refreshing Cooling: S.NATURE Aqua Oasis Panthe-Allan Calming Pads ($23.10)
- For that Honey Glow: COSRX Propolis Synergy Toner ($16.50)
- Fermented Toner: Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner for Sensitive Skin ($14.90)
I hope these best facial toners help you achieve glass-like skin.
Thanks for checking out my article about the best Korean hydrating toner!
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