I’m continuing my Korean skincare series (it’s been a popular one!) by sharing the best of the best Korean toners. I know toners aren’t an absolute skincare essential, but as you age your skincare needs change—you may realize you need to incorporate toner now.
You may be wondering what exactly do toners do? Toners work to rebalance your skin after you’ve cleansed.
They help make sure you get all the gunk and dirt off your face that your cleanser may have missed. It also helps prep your skin to better absorb ingredients from any serums or moisturizers you’ll incorporate later.
I love Korean toners especially because they’re made to hydrate and balance your skin. I’m so glad I made the switch from American-style toners because they’re usually more drying or made with ingredients that don’t make our skin happy.
It’s important to know what your skin likes so you know what Korean toner to get. But don’t worry I’ve got you covered in this guide to the best Korean toners.
To make things easy for you, you can shop these products by clicking directly on the images, the shopping buttons, and of course, the text links. These are my affiliate links, which means that I receive a small commission when you purchase using my links (at no additional cost to you!). I greatly appreciate you shopping with my links!
Shop my fav Korean Toners below:
10 Best Korean Toners
1. Klairs Supple Preparation Facial Toner
I had to start out with the cult favorite Klairs Supple Preparation unscented toner that works amazingly on all skin types. This toner works well at prepping the skin to better absorb serums while removing any excess dirt and sebum.
You’ll find amino acids and ingredients like licorice root extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, and aloe leaf extract to calm any skin irritations.
They even improved their formula to absorb faster, have a lighter texture, and be free of any fragrance—this new formula would work amazing on sensitive skin. If you’re looking for a very hydrating skin toner THIS is it.
2. Missha Time Revolution The First Treatment Essence 5x
This product is a little on the more expensive side but soo worth the price. I know it’s technically an essence but it works a lot like a toner.
This First Treatment essence is lightweight and fragrance-free. With a few drops, this formula provides 8 key skincare benefits like moisture, texture, clarity, smoothing, soothing, hyperpigmentation, protection, and skin tone.
I love the ingredients and that it’s formulated with 97% Desert Cica Yeast Ferment that works to firm and brighten while maintaining the skin’s pH balance. The formula is also extremely hydrating which helps strengthen the skin’s natural barrier.
Trust me when I tell you this essence will easily become a product you’re constantly reaching for.
3. COSRX AHA BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner
If you’re looking for an AHA/BHA concentrated toner, the COSRX one is perfect (COSRX is one of my fav Korean skincare brands!). It’s a daily exfoliating toner that eliminates dead skin cells and any flakes while keeping your pores clear.
After cleansing, soak your skin with this toner to smooth and soften your overall skin texture. You’ll notice after a few uses how hydrated and smaller your pores are—this toner would work amazing for dry skin or acne-prone skin.
It also controls any excess oils on the skin while preparing your skin for better product absorption. One thing to keep in mind is that it may not be suitable for sensitive skin types due to the AHA and BHA.
Click below to shop the best Korean toners:
4. Innisfree Intensive Hydrating Toner with Green Tea Seed
The Innisfree Intensive Hydrating Toner with Green Tea Seed works really well on people with dry or combination skin. The blend of Jeju green tea and green tea seed oil delivers intense hydration—it’s like your water drank a ton of water.
There’s also Panthenol that helps strengthen the skin’s moisture barrier. I love that this toner doesn’t make your skin feel tight or dry like traditional toners.
Say goodbye to redness and hello to a repaired skin barrier. Not only is this toner affordable, but it also works so well it will like the missing ingredient to your skincare routine.
5. COSRX Full Fit Propolis Synergy Toner
If you’re looking to achieve glowy and radiant skin, the COSRX Full Fit Propolis Synergy Toner works really well. It’s made with a blend of honey and 72.6% black bee Propolis.
Black Bee Propolis extract is packed with vitamin B to nourish a healthy glow and re-balances any loss of moisture. This toner works extremely well at reducing any redness and promoting your skin’s elasticity.
I also love that it has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties to protect your skin from any environmental pollutants. Your skin will be feeling glowy, plump, and nourished.
6. ISNTREE Hyaluronic Acid Toner Plus
I’m a sucker for anything Hyaluronic Acid so when I saw this Hyaluronic Acid Toner by ISNTREE, I knew I had to try it. This toner is designed to intensely hydrate and replenish dry skin.
It’s also made with a combination of 5 types of hyaluronic acids that allows faster absorption of the product. Their patented ingredient, MultiEx BSASM Plus, is made with 7 plant extracts that work together to prevent moisture loss and encourage faster skin regeneration.
I love how silky and smooth the texture is when applying a layer to the skin. It easily blends out and absorbs quickly leaving your skin bouncy.
Discover the best Korean toners by clicking below:
7. Etude Moistfull Collagen Facial Toner
The Etude Moistfull Collagen Facial Toner works so well at being gentle on the skin. It has a gel-like consistency that works really well on oily skin types and absorbs quickly into the skin.
This toner is made with Etude House’s super collagen and Baobab water that brings extra moisture while rebalancing your skin’s pH.
I love that it leaves a natural glow on your skin after. I will say that this toner is on the more fragranced side so it may not be suitable for sensitive skin types.
I also find it super convenient that I can always repurchase Etude products on Amazon since it tends to sell out on sites like Soko Glam.
8. Mizon Snail Repair Intensive Toner
It wouldn’t be Korean skincare if I didn’t include a snail product and this Mizon Snail Repair Intensive Toner is sooo good. This toner works to restore and balance your skin.
I love that formula doesn’t dry the skin and leaves it feeling ultra-hydrated. The snail ingredient works to lock in moisture and regenerate the skin.
It also helps prevent any wrinkles and creates a protective layer to restore damaged skin. You’ll also find Centella Asiatica and peptides in this formula that work together as powerhouse ingredients.
9. Missha Time Revolution Clear Toner
I had to include another Missha product and this time it is (officially) a toner. This Time Revolution clear toner is amazing everyday toner that cleanses and hydrates after washing your face.
It has BHA ingredients that help create softer and smoother skin. It’s made for all skin types with fermented yeast ingredients as well that promote clear and healthy skin.
The BHA and AHA remove any dead skin cells and shrinks your pores. If you struggle with blackheads this toner will really eliminate them.
10. Skin Food Peach Sake Toner
The Skin Food Peach Sake Toner is so fun and smells so good. It’s so lightweight and refreshing on the skin.
It’s made with rice sake and peach extract that are both rich in vitamins A and C that work to reduce the appearance of pores.
The toner also helps balance your skin controlling any oil and preventing breakouts. I love that it’s made with sake that has peptides to prevent discoloration and Licorice Root Extract for its anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Those were all my favorite Korean toners! I hope this guide converted you to start incorporating Korean toners—it’s never a bad thing to take extra care of your skin.
I know my skin has really thanked me since doing the full 10 steps Korean beauty routine. If you decide to try any of these out let me know by tagging me on Insta (@wtfab) or shooting me a dm 😉.
Shop my picks for the best Korean toners by clicking the images below:
Looking for more Skincare content? Get inspired here.
Top 10 Best Korean Cleansing Oils
Niacinamide and Retinol: 10 Best Products to Try
Top 10 Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin C Skincare Products
Best Korean Eye Cream: Top 10 Eye Creams to Add to Your Skincare
The 10 Best Korean Moisturizers You Need to Try
Drunk Elephant Reviews: Top 10 Drunk Elephant Products to Try
FAQs
The best Korean toners are:
– Klairs Supple Preparation Unscented Toner
– COSRX AHA BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner
– ISNTREE Hyaluronic Acid Toner Plus
The best Korean toner brands are:
– CORSRX
– Klairs
– Missha
Korean toners help rebalance the skin, remove dirt and grime, and prep the skin to better absorb products.
Elise Armitage is an entrepreneur and founder of What The Fab, a travel + lifestyle blog based in California. At the beginning of 2019, Elise left her corporate job at Google to chase her dreams: being an entrepreneur and helping women find fabulous in the everyday. Since then, she’s launched her SEO course Six-Figure SEO, where she teaches bloggers how to create a passive revenue stream from their website using SEO. Featured in publications like Forbes, Elle, HerMoney, and Real Simple, Elise is a firm believer that you can be of both substance and style.
Ellen
Thursday 28th of April 2022
Hi Elise, have you tried Laneige cream skin refiner? care to share your opinion? because it is an all in one product. What additional skincare should I use after use this product?