Last Updated on January 17, 2026 by Giorgia Guazzarotti
People are constantly sliding into my DMs asking: “What are the best Korean toners for oily skin?!?” It’s like toners have become the Holy Grail of skincare, as if finding the perfect toner will instantly unlock glass skin and three wishes. And honestly? I have a confession: I don’t actually believe you need a toner at all. Not in the “burn the toner and sleep on a bed of vitamin C” way.
Just in the reality-based, dermatologist-friendly way that most modern cleansers are gentle enough that they don’t wreck your skin’s pH and most people’s routines don’t require an extra step just for the sake of it. But hear me out before you roll your eyes: there are reasons people reach for toners (especially Korean ones), and there are toners worth writing home about. If you keep reading, you’ll find a deep dive into what toners actually do, why they aren’t essential (but might still be fun or helpful), and most importantly: the best Korean toners for oily skin that actually do something your skin can feel.
What Toners Are For (and Why You Might Not Need One)
Let’s start with the basics: in the early 2000s, toners in Western skincare were mostly alcohol bombs designed to strip your skin, remove every last trace of oil and makeup, and leave your face feeling squeaky and tight. That’s … not ideal for a healthy skin barrier and honestly probably caused more problems than it solved. But Korean toners? They’re a whole different vibe. In K-beauty, toners are more like a lightweight, hydrating primer for your skin than a medieval alcohol swab. Instead of “scouring away everything,” they usually:
- Restore and maintain your skin’s pH after cleansing: Harsh cleansers disrupts your skin’s protective barrier, leaving to dryness and dehydration. What no one tells you is that your skin returns to its normal pH balance within a matter of minutes, so why spend extra money on a toner?
- Deliver deep hydration: They use ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, or fermented extracts, which makes skin softer, plumper, and smoother. But these ingredients are in pretty much every moisturiser and serum out there. Do you really need to add a toner to your skincare routine too?
- Soothe irritation and redness: This is thanks to centella asiatica extract or other soothing ingredient. But again, every skincare product with these ingredients can soothe skin. You don’t specifically need a toner to do the job.
- Prime your skin for what comes next so serums and creams can absorb more deeply: Yeah, this is just marketing honestly.
- Exfoliating acids: These can unclog pores, treat acne, and prevent blackheads. Salicylic acid is the acid you want for this… and most Korean toners barely use it. They use derivatives, or they have tiny concentrations that don’t work well… Just saying…
Here’s the twist: you don’t need a toner to have healthy skin. Modern cleansers are designed to be pH-balanced, and if you’re using effective serums and moisturizers, they’ll do the heavy lifting themselves. Many dermatologists and skincare pros will tell you that a toner is optional, not mandatory – kind of like dessert in a good meal (and if you ask me, the dessert is more mandatory than a toner). Nice to have, but not required for a balanced routine. It’s one reason some people skip toners entirely and are just fine. But – and this is a big but – if your skin is dry, sensitive, reactive, or just loves the sensation of extra hydration, a Korean toner can feel like giving your skin a cool drink of water right after a workout.
Related: Do You Really Need Toners?
Top Korean Toners For Oily Skin: Which Are Worth Adding To Your Skincare Routine?
Looking to add a facial toner to your Korean skincare routine? There are many that are marketed to your skin type, but not all are as good as they claim to be. So let’s find out which ones can really get rid of excess oil and which ones are better left on the shelves:
Buy: Anua Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner (£18)
This is basically like if your face could sigh and relax and just… exist without flaring up at every little thing. You put it on and it’s watery, super light, slides over your skin, disappears, but somehow your skin is instantly calmer. Redness? Chill. Irritation? Back off. It’s not sticky, it doesn’t leave a weird film, it just… blends in and does its quiet thing. You can layer your serums, oils, moisturisers on top, no pilling, no weird reactions. It feels like giving your skin permission to stop freaking out. But don’t get it twisted: it’s not a miracle. Your acne isn’t going anywhere. Your pores won’t vanish. Your texture isn’t suddenly going to be perfect. This is comfort, hydration, calm. It’s subtle, it’s quiet, it’s unsexy in the best possible way. But it works. Your skin is calmer, softer, less reactive. And honestly, that’s huge. It layers beautifully under everything.
Available at: Asos, Beauty Bay, Boots, Look Fantastic, Superdrug, and Yes Style
Key Ingredients: Glycerin and panthenol.
Benefits: Calms redness, reduces irritation, hydrates, layers easily.
Cons: Doesn’t fix acne or texture.
Skin Types: Sensitive, reactive, normal and dry skin.
Fragrance-Free: Yes.
Buy: Benton Aloe BHA Skin Toner ($17.10)
Picture this: your skin is screaming for help, but you don’t want anything aggressive. This is aloe in a bottle with a whisper of BHA (salicylic acid, such a rarity in a Korean toner) going, “Hey… chill out, pores.” It’s light, smooth, comforting, like someone gently patting your face and saying, “It’s fine, it’s fine.” There’s zero sting, zero burn, zero drama. The BHA is there, but it’s polite. Doesn’t peel, doesn’t scream at your skin, doesn’t promise overnight miracles. But your pores feel quieter over time. Blackheads? Slowly behaving. Skin? Softer, hydrated, calmer. Layer it under everything (serums, moisturisers, oils), it disappears but still does its quiet magic. Now, if you’re used to hardcore acid toners that make your face tingle and then glow like a filter, this will feel… boring. Like, almost too subtle. Use this only when you need something gentler than a regular salicylic acid exfoliant. You may even get away with daily use (as long as your skin isn’t super sensitive).
Available at: Sokoglam, Stylevana, and Yes Style
Key Ingredients: Aloe vera, salicylic acid, snail secretion filtrate (snail mucin).
Benefits: Soothes, hydrates, and gently exfoliates.
Cons: Too gentle if you want hardcore exfoliation, subtle results on acne or texture.
Skin Types: Sensitive, dry, normal, combination.
Fragrance-Free: Yes.
Skip: COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner ($14.00)
This is more hydrating than exfoliating. The Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA) is a derivative of salicylic acid that barely exfoliates pores. Honestly, don’t rely on this to get rid of acne. The AHA is glycolic acid, but there’s barely any of it in here, so again don’t expect too much. It’s gentle enough to use every day without freaking out sensitive skin which is a good thing for that skin type, but also means that it doesn’t work that well, know what I mean? What this does is hydrate skin. It’s watery, doesn’t stick and makes your skin softer and suppler. It layers under everything, preps your skin, and doesn’t fight with your serums or moisturisers. The only downside is it’s so subtle that impatient people will shrug and think it’s useless. And for most skin types, it is.
Key Ingredients: Glycolic acid and willow bark extract.
Benefits: Gentle chemical exfoliation, smooths texture over time, brightens dullness, layers well, preps skin for other products.
Cons: Barely exfoliates skin.
Skin Types: Normal, combination, sensitive (introduce slowly).
Fragrance-Free: Yes.
Skip: Some By Mi AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner ($18.81)
This toner is the definition of “I want exfoliation but I don’t trust myself with real acids.” It has AHA, BHA, PHA, all exfoliating acids that, in theory, dissolve the glue that holds dead skin cells together and reveal softer, brighter skin and unclog pores too. In practice, there’s so little of this acids in here that the only miracle is if you actually get some exfoliation! It also smells like tea tree immediately. Like, there’s no pretending otherwise. Not ideal. The texture is watery, smooth, and easy to splash on. You can layer your serums, moisturisers, oils, whatever, and nothing fights with it. It’s quite hydrating, but overall, what a letdown! Oh, you can use it with hands or cotton pads, though cotton makes it feel a bit harsher.
Key ingredients: AHA, BHA, PHA, tea tree extract.
Benefits: Hydrates skin and makes it softer.
Cons: Tea tree smell, doesn’t exfoliate much.
Skin types: Oily, combination, acne-prone skin.
Fragrance-free: Yes (no added fragrance, but tea tree is present)
Buy: Beauty of Joseon Green Plum Refreshing Toner ($19.25)
This one feels like it’s pretending to be super gentle while quietly doing a bit of work in the background. Texture-wise, it’s watery but slightly… slick? Not heavy, not thick, just that split second where your skin feels tacky before it sinks in. That tackiness goes away, but yeah, it’s there. If that stuff annoys you, you’ll notice it. When you put it on, it feels refreshing. Not minty, not cooling, just fresh in a “clean skin, we’re awake now” way. There’s a faint fruity smell. Nothing loud, nothing perfumey, but it’s there. It’s pleasant, but sensitive skin people will clock it immediately.
Results-wise, this is not an aggressive exfoliant. It’s not meant to be. This is more like gentle daily maintenance. Over time, skin feels smoother, a bit brighter, a bit more balanced. Oil production chills out slightly. Texture improves quietly. You don’t peel, you don’t tingle, you don’t freak out. It’s the kind of toner you use when you want your skin to behave, not perform.
It works really well as a prep step. Like, everything you put on after just goes on better. Serums spread nicer. Moisturiser sinks in better. Your routine feels smoother overall. If your skin is super congested or acne-heavy, this alone won’t cut it. But for everyday upkeep? It’s solid without being dramatic.
Available at: Beauty Bay, Superdrug, and Yes Style
Active ingredients: Glycolic acid and Salicylic acid.
Benefits: Brightens, hydrates, and helps unclog pores.
Cons: Wish it contained a higher concentration of exfoliating acids.
Skin type: All skin types bar sensitive.
Fragrance-free: Yes.
Skip: Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner ($13.99)
Let’s just get this out of the way: this toner is boring as hell. Like, it does nothing exciting, nothing shocking, nothing that makes you go “wow, my skin!” But – and this is the tiny win – it doesn’t do anything bad either. Pour it on, it’s watery, disappears instantly, layers under your serum or moisturizer without a fight. No sticky gross film. No weird reaction. You can literally forget it’s there after patting it in. That’s… fine, I guess. But here’s the thing: if you’re buying this expecting hydration, glow, or “miracle” barrier repair, stop right there. Your skin is just going to sit there looking back at you like, thanks, I guess? It’s calm, neutral, polite… and that’s it. It won’t soothe redness, it won’t plump your cheeks, it won’t smooth out texture. You might feel like you’re doing something healthy, but honestly, it’s mostly psychological. Texture? Water. Absorbs fast. Can layer as much as you want. So basically, this is a safe, neutral toner that does exactly what it says on the box: nothing dramatic, nothing exciting, and nothing harmful.
Active ingredients: Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract.
Benefits: Layers well, doesn’t irritate, neutral scent.
Cons: Minimal effect on hydration or barrier support, boring, overpriced for what it does.
Skin type: All skin types.
Fragrance-free: Yes.
The Bottom Line
Look, oily skin doesn’t need a toner. It needs salicylic acid – and good lucking riding high concentrations of it in Korean toners. At best, they have gentle doses suitable enough for sensitive skin. They just don’t do much. Said that, if your skin needs the extra burst of hydration or you can’t fathom the idea of not using a toner in your skincare routine, now you know what the best toner of the bunch is.
