Low molecular hyaluronic acid and collagen are common ingredients in Korean toners, alongside ceramides and peptides, which most skin types can typically tolerate and benefit from. Those with oily or acne-prone skin should consider toners with calming, anti-inflammatory, or exfoliating ingredients, such as tea tree oil, centella asiatica, heartleaf extract, and ginseng.
Finding formulas that can effectively penetrate skin is key to ensuring skin is nourished and comfortable—a feat made more achievable with the best Korean toners. Consider a few of our favorites, below.
In This Story:
Wellage Real Hyaluronic Toner 100
- Why We Love It: Hyaluronic acid toners are a dime-a-dozen but this one by Wellage is different. Formulated with triple purified 93% low-weight hyaluronic acid, the toner quickly absorbs into the skin for in-depth hydration. According to the European Medical Journal, low-weight hyaluronic acid penetrates deeper layers of the skin than the usual hyaluronic acid. Oh, and the hero ingredient is made by Hugel—a bioesthetic company that makes hyaluronic acid fillers.
- Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid
- Best For: Hydration, firming
- Size: 10.14 oz
Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow BHA + PHA Pore-Tight Toner
- Why We Love It: True to its name, this Glow Recipe toner is powered by a blend of 62% watermelon extract and cactus water—a combination that expertly hydrates and calms skin (and lends this formula a slightly sweet scent). This complex works alongside glycerin to retain moisture and condition skin; whereas, the featured BHA and PHA helps decongest enlarged pores for a smoother, brighter complexion.
- Key Ingredients: 62% watermelon extract + cactus water, 16% glycerin, 3% PHA, 2% BHA
- Best For: Enlarged pores, exfoliating, acne-prone skin
- Size: 150 mL
S.NATURE Aqua Oasis Toner
- Why We Love It: This toner helps achieve radiant skin with light but potent hydration and gentle exfoliation with PHAs and papaya enzymes. Gentle enough for those with sensitive skin, the mildly acidic formula helps to melt sebum away and slowly remove dead skin. The eight types of hyaluronic acid and panthenol aid in calming the skin and providing moisture.
- Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, papaya enzyme, panthenol
- Best For: Hydration, exfoliation, sensitive skin
- Size: 10.14 oz
Mediheal Toner Pad 100 Pads Madecassoside
- Why We Love It: Mediheal’s toner pads are best used after a breakout to help repair the skin and reduce scarring. The key ingredient madecassoside has been studied to reduce hyperpigmentation by inhibiting melanin synthesis. The product has many uses such as to gently wipe away traces of the day or as a mini sheet mask treatment.
- Key Ingredients: Madecassoside
- Best For: Hyperpigmentation, soothing, hydration
- Size: 5.74 oz
Torriden Dive In Low Molecular Hyaluronic Acid Toner
- Why We Love It: The low molecular hyaluronic acid toner disperses hydration deeply into the skin while panthenol and allantoin strengthen the skin barrier. Best applied while the skin is a bit damp to retain more hydration in the skin.
- Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic Acid, panthenol, allantoin
- Best For: Hydration, soothing
- Size: 10.14 oz
Purito Seoul Wonder Releaf Centella Toner
- Why We Love It: Made with sensitive skin types in mind, this centella asiatica toner toner has a watery texture that leaves the skin wonderfully dewy. Known for its soothing properties, the star ingredient, centella asiatica is great for those with rosacea to strengthen the skin barrier.
- Key Ingredients: Centella Asiatica, panthenol
- Best For: Sensitive skin, soothing, hydration
- Size: 6.76 oz
Numbuzin No. 1 Pure-full Calming Herb Toner
- Why We Love It: A potent mix of three herbal extracts helps create this calming elixir of a toner. The antioxidant licorice extract is clinically shown to fade dark spots while the centella asiatica aids in comforting irritation. Finally, the Houttuynia cordata extract reduces sebum and has anti-inflammatory properties that help fight acne.
- Key Ingredients: Houttuynia cordata extract, centella asiatica, licorice extract
- Best For: Sensitive skin, acne, soothing, hydration
- Size: 10.14 oz
d’Alba White Truffle First Spray Serum
- Why We Love It: Technically not a toner, but we’re including this spray for its amazing hydrating properties. The vegan serum of this soft mist is layered with a mixture of four plant-based oils including avocado oil, sunflower seed oil, soybean oil, and bixa orellana seed oil to instantly plump skin. Also, it’s the perfect carry-on size for flights.
- Key Ingredients: White Truffle, ginseng
- Best For: Hydration, firming
- Size: 3.38 oz
Abib Heartleaf Calming Toner Skin Booster
- Why We Love It: The heartleaf in this toner is sourced from the Korean Jiri Mountains and helps calm down the skin. Centella asiatica works alongside to cool skin inflammation while the soybean extract helps prevent fine lines, making this toner a versatile option for all skin types.
- Key Ingredients: Heartleaf, centella asiatica
- Best For: Soothing, hydration
- Size: 7.1 oz
Sulwhasoo Essential Comfort Balancing Water
- Why We Love It: The watery texture of this luxurious toner leaves the skin glowing due to the combination of ginseng and narcissus bulb extract. Formulated with a mix of five herbal ingredients, the toner is quickly absorbed without any stickiness.
- Key Ingredients: Ginseng, narcissus bulb extract
- Best For: Hydration
- Size: 5.07 oz.
Some By Mi AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner
- Why We Love It: Combining AHAs, BHAs, and PHAs without burning the skin is a difficult task, but Some by Mi has accomplished it through this toner. The combination of acids gently aids cell turnover and removes excess sebum to prevent acne. Meanwhile, tea tree leaf water works to hydrate and soothe the skin.
- Key Ingredients: Tea tree leaf water, niacinamide
- Best For: Acne, oily skin, hyperpigmentation
- Size: 5.07 oz
Bring Green Tea Tree Cica Soothing Toner
- Why We Love It: A complex of five types of tea tree extract work in tandem here to soothe the skin with anti-inflammatory properties. The toner refreshes and cools down irritation quickly while effectively moisturizing.
- Key Ingredients: Tea tree extract, centella asiatica
- Best For: Soothing,
- Size: 8.5 oz
Biodance Bio Collagen Gel Toner Pad
- Why We Love It: These unique gel toner pads filled with low molecular collagen penetrate the skin to flood it with moisture. The gel coating around the pads provides a nonabrasive experience that helps lift up tired skin. Pop them in the fridge and place them on your face for a delightful and cooling experience.
- Key Ingredients: Collagen
- Best For: Hydration, firming
- Size: 4.93 oz
Laneige Cream Skin Cerapeptide Toner Moisturizer
- Why We Love It: Filled with ceramides and peptides, this creamy toner is excellent for those with dry and sensitive skin. White leaf tea water, which is rich in amino acids, helps strengthen the skin barrier as well.
- Key Ingredients: White leaf tea water, ceremide, peptides
- Best For: Hydration
- Size:
Everything You Need to Know
What makes Korean toners special?
Korean toners focus on maintaining a healthy skin barrier by flooding the skin with hydration compared to American toners which primarily aim to cleanse through astringent ingredients according to Dr. Christine Hall, who works at Taktouk Clinic.
Another goal is to soothe the skin. Common ingredients such as heartleaf, tea tree, and Centella Asiatica are used to stop irritation caused by pollutants, stress, and more. While there are also exfoliating toners, the levels of BHAs and AHAs are low and balanced by calming ingredients according to K-beauty TikTok creator Liu Yuhan.
What ingredients are common in Korean toners?
Low molecular hyaluronic acid and collagen are common ingredients alongside ceramides, peptides, heartleaf, ginseng, tea tree, panthenol, and centella asiatica.
What should people look for in a Korean toner?
A good Korean toner should instantly hydrate, moisturize without being sticky, and prep the skin. When looking at ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and collagen, look for toners that have them in low and varied weights for deeper penetration into the skin.
There are multiple ways to apply toner, but regardless of methodology, it should be your first step after cleansing. “Your toner or essence provides the first step in hydration and hydration is key to glass skin,” says Dr. Hall.
The simplest way is to place the recommended amount of product into your hand and press it into the skin using your palm. Continue patting until the toner has been fully absorbed. To remove excess sebum or residue, soak cotton pads with toner and then gently swipe across the face. Pat in any leftover serum. For a mini face mask treatment, take the soaked cotton pads and place them on irritated or dry areas of the face for ten minutes.
