Look, real talk? I’m not gonna sit here and tell you toners are some magical product because honestly, they’re not. Most people can totally skip this step and their skin will be completely fine. BUT, if your skin is dry and you genuinely need that extra layer of hydration, then yeah, the best korean toners are gonna be your friends. In this article, you’re gonna find my totally honest reviews of the Korean toners that are actually worth considering if you fall into that dry skin camp. (FYI, if you have oily skin or combination skin, you could use them too – they’re juts not necessary for you).
What to Actually Look For In The Best Korean Toners (If You’re Gonna Get One Anyway)
Okay so if you’ve decided your dry skin really does need a toner, let’s talk about what separates the best face toners from the overpriced water in a fancy bottle. Here’s what you actually need to pay attention to:
- Hydrating ingredients that actually work: Look for hyaluronic acid, glycerin, or beta-glucan. This is the stuff that pulls moisture into your skin and keeps it there instead of just evaporating into thin air five minutes later.
- Skin barrier support: Ceramides, panthenol, centella asiatica extract – basically anything that’s gonna baby your skin barrier and make it stronger. If a toner’s taking up space in your routine, it better be doing something useful.
- Watch out for alcohol: I mean the drying kind, not fatty alcohols which are totally fine. If alcohol denat is like second or third in the ingredients list, that’s a red flag for dry skin. Unless the formula is also loaded with a plethora of hydrators to counteracts its drying effects.
- Texture matters more than you think: For dry skin, you want something a bit thicker than water but not so goopy it just sits there. It should feel like your skin is actually drinking it up, not like you’ve smeared another layer of stuff on your face.
Dr Jart + Ceramidin Serum Toner ($32.70)
Dude, okay, so this Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin thing is what I grab when my skin is being absolutely insufferable and dry and mad at the world. The whole point of this toner, and the star ingredient is here, is ceramides and listen, your skin barrier is literally made of ceramides, so putting them back when you’re crispy just makes sense. It’s also got panthenol, sodium hyaluronate, and glycerin, so basically it’s a hydration party and your dry skin is invited. The texture is chef’s kiss – more than water but not serum-thick, so it actually absorbs instead of sitting on your face like a weird film.
What I love about this one is it genuinely feels repairing, like your skin feels bouncier and less angry after using it for a few days. It’s slightly milky, goes on smooth, and if your skin barrier is throwing a tantrum or you’ve got that tight uncomfortable feeling, this will chill it out.
Available at: Asos, Boots, Look Fantastic, Sephora, SpaceNK and Yes Style
Active ingredients: Ceramide NP and glycerin.
Benefits: Very hydrating and supports skin barrier repair.
Cons: Contains fragrant essential oils that may irritate skin.
Fragrance-free: Technically, yes. But it contains fragrant essential oils that make it smell good – and could potentially irritate sensitive skin.
Skin type: All skin types can use it, but it’s best for dry and normal.
Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Toner ($16.99)
Alright so this Round Lab Dokdo toner is like… the chill friend of the toner world. It’s not trying to do too much, it’s just here to hydrate and be gentle and not cause drama. The whole concept is based on deep sea water from Ulleungdo Island (the Dokdo area), which sounds very extra and marketing-y, but actually the mineral content in sea water can be really good for your skin. This toner is super lightweight and watery – like actually watery, not that fake “essence-y” watery – so if you hate anything remotely sticky or thick, you’ll vibe with this. The ingredients are pretty straightforward and gentle: you’ve got glycerin and butylene glycol for hydration, panthenol to soothe, allantoin to calm things down, and sea water doing its mineral thing.
This is the best hydrating toner I recommend to people who are new to K-beauty toners or have sensitive skin that freaks out at everything, because it’s just… nice. Non-offensive. Does its job without making a fuss. It’s not gonna transform your skin overnight or anything dramatic, but if you need a basic hydrating toner that won’t irritate you and feels refreshing, this is it. Plus the bottle is huge so it lasts forever, which is great because buying skincare constantly is expensive and annoying.
Available at: Beauty Bay, Boots, Sephora, Superdrug, Ulta and Yes Style
Active ingredients: Glycerin and allantoin.
Benefits: Hydrates and soothes skin.
Cons: Very basic.
Fragrance-free: Yes.
Skin type: All skin types can use it, but it’s best for sensitive skin.
Beauty of Joseon Green Plum Refreshing Toner ($19.25)
Let’s talk about this Beauty of Joseon Green Plum situation. This toner has both AHA and BHA (glycolic and salicylic acid if we’re being fancy), which basically means it’s doing the lord’s work exfoliating all that dead skin and gunk sitting on your face. The base is plum water instead of regular water, which sounds extra but honestly? Your skin will feel smoother and brighter after using this. It’s got that perfect slightly viscous texture that doesn’t feel sticky or heavy, just… refreshing, exactly like the name says. Now here’s the thing – and this is important so listen up – you absolutely cannot use this every single day. Like, I know when something works you want to go ham with it, but this is an exfoliating toner, so if you use it daily you’re gonna wreck your skin barrier and then you’ll be sad and your face will be angry. Start with like 2-3 times a week, maybe at night, and see how your skin handles it.
Available at: Beauty Bay, Superdrug, and Yes Style
Active ingredients: Glycolic acid and salicylic acid.
Benefits: Removes dead skin cells and makes skin brighter.
Cons: Too harsh for daily use (but that’s true of all exfoliants).
Fragrance-free: Yes.
Skin type: All skin types can use it, but it’s best for dry and normal.
TonyMoly Wonder Ceramide Mochi Toner ($23.00)
Okay so can we talk about the name “mochi toner” for a second? Because that’s exactly what this feels like – you know that soft, bouncy, squishy texture of mochi? That’s your skin after using this, I’m not even exaggerating. This TonyMoly toner is all about ceramides (Ceramide NP specifically) which is clutch for dry skin because it’s literally repairing and strengthening your skin barrier. It’s got macadamia seed oil in there too, so it’s more nourishing than your average toner, plus panthenol and centella to calm everything down. The texture is where this really shines though. It’s thicker than water but not goopy, kind of gel-like but still absorbs fast? It’s weird to describe but your skin just feels so soft and bouncy after, like you could poke your cheek all day. There’s also sodium hyaluronate for hydration and allantoin to soothe, so it’s basically designed to make dry, irritated skin feel like a million bucks. The only thing is it does have some fragrance (rosewood oil and lemon peel oil), so if your skin is super sensitive to scents, maybe patch test first.
Available at: Face The Future, Look Fantastic, Stylevana, Ulta, and Yes Style
Active ingredients: Glycerin, centella asiatica, and ceramides.
Benefits: Moisturizing toner that makes skin softer and smoother.
Cons: Contains fragrant essential oils that may irritate sensitive skin.
Fragrance-free: Technically yes, but it contains essential oils that may irritate sensitive skin.
Skin type: All skin types can use it, but it’s best for dry and normal.
Etude House SoonJung pH 5.5 Relief Toner ($20.00)
Dude, if your skin freaks out over everything and you’re constantly dealing with redness or irritation, this SoonJung toner is your new best friend. The whole SoonJung line is made for sensitive drama queen skin that can’t handle anything remotely exciting, and this toner is like the most chill, no-drama thing ever. It’s pH 5.5 which is what your skin naturally is, so it’s not gonna mess with your barrier when your face is already having a moment.
The ingredients are almost boring but that’s the whole point. Panthenol for soothing, madecassoside (centella stuff) for calming down redness, green tea extract for antioxidants. That’s basically it. No fragrance, no essential oils, no random extracts that might piss your skin off – just the good stuff. The texture is super watery, sinks in immediately, zero stickiness or film. It’s not gonna make your skin feel bouncy or glowy or whatever, but when your skin is mad at the world, this just calms everything down without making it worse.
Available at: Soko Glam, Superdrug, and Yes Style
Active ingredients: Glycerin and centella asiatica.
Benefits: Provides deep hydration.
Cons: Very basic formula.
Fragrance-free: Yes.
Skin type: All skin types can use it, but it’s best for sensitive skin.
Mediheal Madecassoside Blemish Pad ($24.00)
Okay so these aren’t technically a toner but they’re toner pads which is basically the same thing but lazier, and honestly I’m here for it. These Mediheal pads are soaked in toner and you just swipe them on your face, so it’s perfect for when you can’t be bothered. The whole point is madecassoside, which is like the premium version of centella: it’s insanely good at calming down irritation, redness, and general skin freakouts. There’s also niacinamide for brightening and helping with blemishes, so it’s doing double duty. The pads are pretty big and really soaked, so you get a ton of product. Some people rip them in half to make them last longer which is honestly genius. It does have some essential oils in there so if you’re super sensitive to fragrance, heads up. But if you want toner in convenient pad form, these are absolutely one of the best korean toners you can get. Plus they’re great for travel because no spills.
Available at: Boots, Soko Glam, Stylevana, and Ulta
Active ingredients: Niacinamide and madecassoside.
Benefits: Provides deep hydration and soothes skin.
Cons: Contains essential oils that may irritate skin.
Fragrance-free: Technically yes, but it contains essential oils that may irritate sensitive skin.
Skin type: All skin types.
FAQs About Modern Korean Toners (Because I Know You’re Gonna Ask)
Do I actually need a toner?
Lmao no. Like seriously, most of you can skip this whole step (it’s so NOT an essential step!) and your skin will be completely fine. I’m not gonna sit here and lie to you – toners are kind of extra. But if your skin is dry as hell and needs that bonus hydration, then sure, grab one. Just don’t let the beauty industry guilt you into thinking your routine is “incomplete” without it.
Related: Why I Recommend You DON’T Use A Toner
What’s the difference between Korean toners and Western toners?
Okay so remember those old Western toners that basically felt like rubbing alcohol on your face? Yeah, those were designed to destroy all moisture and make your skin hate you. Korean toners are the complete opposite. They’re all about hydration and being nice to your face. Way more gentle, way less stripping, actually pleasant to use instead of lowkey painful.
How do I use a toner?
So after you wash your face, you pat this on while your skin is still a little damp. You can use your hands and just press it into your skin (that’s what I do because who wants to waste product on a cotton pad?), or you can use a cotton pad if that’s your thing. Some people do this whole “7-skin method” where they layer it like seven times, which honestly sounds like a lot of work but apparently makes your skin super plump. I’d personally just get a hydrating product that does the job in one go. Just do whatever feels good and doesn’t make you want to skip your routine entirely.
Can I use toner every day?
Depends! Hydrating toners? Yeah sure, use them morning and night, go wild. Exfoliating toners with acids? Hell no, you’ll wreck your face and then you’ll be mad at me. Those are like 2-3 times a week MAX, and I’m serious about that.
Is a toner an important step in a Korean skincare routine?
Okay so in traditional Korean skincare, toners are supposed to be like this huge deal that you can’t skip. K-beauty experts and people like Charlotte Cho are always going on about how essential it is and blah blah blah. And yeah, Korean brands and everyone on TikTok acts like your whole skin-care routine is gonna fall apart without one. But dude, if your skin is fine without a toner, don’t buy one just because you think you’re supposed to or because some Korean skincare products influencer said so.
Your routine should be about what YOUR face needs, not about hitting every important step in some perfect Korean skincare routine you saw online. If a bit of toner genuinely makes your skin feel better and helps your skin texture, awesome, use it. But if you’re only doing it cause TikTok told you to or you think you need to buy every single thing Korean skin care brands are pushing, you’re literally just throwing money away. Stick with what actually works for your face, not what looks good in your shopping cart or gets you likes.
The Bottom Line
Alright so if your skin is dry and you’ve decided you actually need a toner, at least now you know which ones aren’t gonna be a waste of your money. The best korean toners are the ones that fix YOUR specific problem – not the ones with the cutest bottle or whatever everyone’s buying on TikTok right now. Need hydration and barrier repair? Grab something with ceramides. Got sensitive skin that loses its mind constantly? Go for the boring minimal ingredient lists. Want exfoliation? Cool but don’t use it every day or you’re gonna cry about your destroyed skin barrier later.
About Gio
Hi, I’m Gio. I’m a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is skin coach and writer on a mission to help you achieve your best skin day ever – every day. I bust skincare myths and debunk marketing jargon to help you figure out what’s worth the splurge and what’s best left on the shelf – using science, not hype. I also offer skincare consultations to help you create the best skincare routine for your unique needs.
