Korean toners are having a major moment. If your FYP hasn’t been flooded with them yet, it’s only a matter of time before this Korean skincare staple pops up. The not-so-secret weapon in every beauty enthusiast’s Korean skincare routine, a toner is an absolute must for achieving glass skin.
With the best Korean skincare brands creating innovative formulas, there’s no shortage of options—but how do you know which toner is right for you? We’ve broken down the benefits of Korean toners, the ingredients to look out for, how to use them, and our favourites for different skin types.
What Are the Benefits of Korean Toners?
Korean toners are popular for a reason—they deliver incredible results. Known for incorporating traditional, natural ingredients like heartleaf, snail mucin, ginseng, rice, milk, and centella asiatica, Korean skincare brands craft gentle yet effective products that skip the harsh chemicals.
Here’s what a Korean toner can do for your skin:
Gently exfoliate: Remove dead skin cells without irritation.
Unclog pores: Remove impurities for clearer skin.
Brighten and even out skin tone: Achieve that fresh, radiant glow.
Smooth texture: Refine and improve your skin’s overall clarity.
Hydrate and soothe: Leave your skin refreshed, without the tight, dry feeling associated with some toners.
It’s easy to confuse Korean toners with essences – but they serve different purposes. Essences are concentrated formulas designed to penetrate deeply with active ingredients, whereas toners cleanse, refine, and soothe the skin’s surface. You can find out more about this equally wonderful essential K-Beauty product in our guide to Korean essences.
The Best Korean Toners
From well-known skincare giants like Laneige and COSRX to rising stars like NACIFIC and good light cosmetics, we’ve rounded up the best Korean toners for every skin concern.
I’m From Rice Toner
Best For: All Skin Types
Toner Type: Rice Toner
Perfect for all skin types, the I’m From Rice Toner gently removes impurities and excess oil while rebalancing and rejuvenating the skin. Made with organic rice extract, it brightens dark spots, evens out skin tone, and leaves your complexion hydrated and smooth. Pair it with the I’m From Rice Cream for maximum skin barrier support.
Beauty of Joseon Green Plum Refreshing Toner: AHA+BHA
Best For: Acne-Prone Skin
Toner Type: Green Plum Toner
The Beauty of Joseon Green Plum Refreshing Toner: AHA+BHA is an excellent everyday exfoliant, designed to refresh, brighten, and clear the skin with a gentle concentration of AHAs and BHAs. Its low-level formula makes it perfect for achieving radiant results without irritating sensitive skin. Enriched with green plum water and 3% glycolic acid, it removes dead skin cells, helping to smooth and brighten while also stimulating cell turnover – which fades pigmentation and acne scars. Meanwhile, 0.5% salicylic acid goes deep into the skin to unclog pores and control sebum production, preventing future breakouts.
Laneige Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Revitalising Toner
Best For: Dry Dehydrated Skin
Toner Type: Hydrating Toner
Reinvigorate your skin with the Laneige Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Revitalising Toner. Enriched with hyaluronic acid and Beta Pro-nol Complex™, this toner hydrates, soothes, and strengthens your skin barrier. Providing an essential boost of hydration during your skincare routine, a toner infused with hyaluronic acid helps prep your skin to better absorb the hydrating Korean serums and moisturisers you apply afterward. By improving your skin’s ability to retain moisture, it leaves your complexion looking plump, radiant, and glowing.
Laneige Cream Skin Cerapeptide Toner & Moisturiser
Best For: Dry Dehydrated Skin, Damaged Skin Barriers
Toner Type: Hydrating Toner
For an even more hydrating experience, try the Laneige Cream Skin Cerapeptide Toner & Moisturiser, which combines the benefits of a toner and moisturiser into one lightweight, milky formula. Formulated with Cerapeptide™, this Korean toner hybrid supports the skin’s elasticity while deeply hydrating and noticeably firming the skin. Its milky, lightweight texture works wonders to strengthen the skin barrier, making it a saviour for winter months or whenever your skin’s barrier needs some extra TLC.
COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner
Best For: Acne-Prone Skin
Toner Type: Exfoliating Toner
The COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner is ideal for managing and preventing breakouts. This gentle toner refreshes and clears impurities without irritation. Infused with willow bark water and apple fruit water, it targets clogged pores and dead skin cells for a smoother, more refined texture, using a gentle yet effective formula to keep your skin clean and clear.
NACIFIC Phyto Niacin Brightening Toner
Best For: Dull Skin
Toner Type: Brightening Toner
Tackle dull, uneven skin with the NACIFIC Phyto Niacin Brightening Toner. Packed with 5% niacinamide and bamboo extract, it lightens dark spots, hydrates, and soothes the skin. For even better results, pair it with the NACIFIC Phyto Niacin Brightening Essence.
Thank You Farmer Rice Pure Essential Toner
Best For: Dry Skin
Toner Type: Rice Toner
Dry skin? This toner is your new best friend. The Thank You Farmer Rice Pure Essential Toner works to clarify skin and maintain optimal hydration levels throughout the day. Enriched with barrier-strengthening Korean gyodong rice extract, brightening niacinamide, and soothing centella asiatica (AKA cica), this gentle toner is your one stop shop to radiant, hydrated, and healthy-looking skin.
ANUA Heartleaf 77 Clear Pad
Best For: Acne-Prone Skin
Toner Type: Toner Pads
If you’re battling breakouts, try the ANUA Heartleaf 77 Clear Pad, these double-sided toner pads are a must. One side exfoliates and clears blackheads and whiteheads with PHA, while the other soothes redness and irritation with heartleaf and madecassoside. Your skin will be clear and soothed, your pores will thank you.
good light cosmetics Moon Glow Milky Toning Lotion
Best For: Dull Skin
Toner Type: Milk Toner
Say goodbye to dull skin for good with the good light cosmetics Moon Glow Milky Toning Lotion. Combining fatty acid-rich meadowfoam seed oil with hydrating snow mushroom, this pH-balanced toner deeply moisturises, exfoliates, and promotes healing. Niacinamide and ceramides shrink pores, control oil, and protect against dryness. Pair it with good light’s New Moon Balm for the ultimate soothing glow-bringing duo.
How to Use a Korean Toner in Your Skincare Routine
To get the most out of your Korean toner, follow this skincare order: cleanser, toner, essence, serum, moisturiser, and SPF (for daytime routines).
Apply a generous amount of toner to a cotton pad or reusable cleansing pad, and sweep it over your skin. Let it fully absorb before moving on to the next step in your routine. Some Korean toners can be applied with your hands, so check your favourite toner’s recommended directions before use.
Korean toners are a staple in every K-Beauty routine for good reason. Add one to your skincare lineup to achieve brighter, clearer, and healthier skin.
