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If you have dry skin, or you just don’t have the glow you might like, you’d probably benefit from a hydrating toner.
And if you have oily skin that you struggle to keep in check…you still might need a hydrating toner.
(Believe it or not, oily skin is often dehydrated — where it’s overproducing oil to try to compensate for not having enough water.)
Hydrating toners have been an absolute game-changer for me in my skincare journey, and I can’t wait to tell you about them.
Not All Toners Are Hydrating Toners
Like in every other skincare post ever, I gotta start with my Proactiv trauma.
Not every toner is hydrating! For example, acid toners will give you a gentle exfoliation, suitable for daily or regular use.
Some other toners are a type called “astringent” — meaning their job is to decrease oil in the skin. For some people, this is beneficial! It can shrink the appearance of pores, and if the oil is too much, it can pull you back in balance.
But astringent toners can also be quite drying. In the 2000s, when the skincare philosophy was ‘remove oil at all costs’, I used the Proactiv toner like every other teenage girl. And that toner was so drying that you could hear your pores making a sucking noise as you applied it.
This seemed like a great thing at the time! But I realize in retrospect that it was harshly drying with no hydration to balance it out.
Astringent toners totally have their benefits for very oily skin. The popular Thayer’s Witch Hazel is an astringent toner, for example.
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And a lot of astringent toners are much better balanced than the rubbing alcohol Proactiv stuff of my youth. The Thayer stuff above adds glycerin and aloe to balance the witch hazel, for example. So there’s some hydration happening there!
But in my modest opinion — nobody does a hydrating toner like the Korean skincare companies do.
Why I Love Korean Skincare
Korean skincare is all about healthy, glowing, and smooth skin. It focuses on nourishing the skin instead of stripping it.
The American/Western skincare philosophy can be very focused around beating our skin into submission. We reach for harsh actives to get the outcomes we’re looking for. And sometimes these actives backfire on us.
I write often about my brush with significant acne in my teens, and my brother’s struggle with Accutane. But when I think about the harsh stuff we used, it’s pretty easy to see that the products were causing dehydration. The dehydration was causing overcompensation with oil, and the oil-stripping products were also leading to near-constant skin peeling and flaking.
(I also think a lot of the sun damage I’m battling now in my late thirties is the result of such harsh, stripping, scrubbing products. When you’re scrubbing your top layer of skin off every day and only wearing sunscreen at the beach? That’s gonna catch up with you.)
The Korean philosophy is simple—hydration and care over harsh solutions. This approach has made K-beauty products a holy grail for skincare enthusiasts worldwide, including me. It’s a total breath of fresh air to turn your attention to nourishing your skin instead of beating it down.
I got interested in K-Beauty in my early thirties, during my last pregnancy. I was starting to see the first signs of early aging, and my sun damage had gotten a lot worse. Korean products were pregnancy-safe, so I gave them a try. I had never been someone who had beautiful glowing skin in pregnancy, but all of a sudden my skin looked beautiful.
Not perfect, not poreless. My sun damage wasn’t gone. But it just looked so bright and bouncy. I think, really, that I had properly hydrated skin for the first time in my adult life!
That’s what a Korean hydrating toner will do for you!
Hydrating Toners vs Sheet Masks
Mostly, a hydrating toner is the substance that goes into a sheet mask. Like, they soak the mask in a hydrating toner.
And sheet masks are a great way to get the deepest possibly hydration! I love a sheet mask. But from an expense perspective and a time perspective, it isn’t usually possible to do a sheet mask daily.
So a hydrating toner is like a mini-sheet mask pick-me-up that fits into your daily skincare routine. Sheet masks are for your self-care Sunday….hydrating toners are for your simple nightly routine.
Best Korean Hydrating Toner Options for Dry Skin
Dry skin needs toners that provide deep hydration without causing irritation.
Here are the best Korean hydrating toners for dry skin:
Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner:
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This award-winning toner contains naturally-derived ingredients to soothe and moisturize dry skin. It’s perfect for maintaining a strong skin barrier.
Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner:
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Made with rice bran water and types of hyaluronic acid, this toner offers long-lasting moisture and smooth skin. This is one of my favorites, but it’s a little pricier than my other standards.
Round Lab Dokdo Toner:
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Known for its gentle formulation, this toner delivers hydration and helps with gentle exfoliation by removing dead skin cells.
Cosrx Hydrium Watery Toner:
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A lightweight toner that provides deep hydration and relief from skin irritation without clogging pores. Cosrx was one of the first Korean brands I tried and their products never miss.
Best Korean Hydrating Toner Options for Aging Skin
Aging skin often faces issues like fine lines, dark spots, and water loss.
Here are some top picks:
Blanc Doux Hyaluronic Acid Facial Toner:
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With its high concentration of hyaluronic acid, this toner brightens skin and plumps up for a youthful appearance.
Anua Heartleaf 77% Relief Toner:
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This gentle toner provides hydration and helps with skin issues related to irritation and sensitivity.
Cosrx Propolis Synergy Toner:
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Enriched with propolis extract, it delivers intense hydration and smooths fine lines for a youthful glow.
Benton Aloe BHA Skin Toner:
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Great for gentle exfoliation, this toner combines aloe and BHA to soothe skin while promoting smoother texture.
Best Korean Hydrating Toner Options for Combination Skin
Combination skin requires balancing hydration without making the oily parts greasy.
Here are some excellent choices:
Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner:
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Suitable for all skin types, including combination skin, thanks to its lightweight yet hydrating formula.
Tony Moly Wonder Ceramide Mocchi Toner:
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Another brand that has gotten super popular in the West! This toner provides hydration without overwhelming oily areas, making it ideal for combination skin types.
Blanc Doux Hyaluronic Acid Facial Toner:
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Cruelty-free and vegan options make this toner a gentle yet effective choice for combination skin.
Where to Buy Korean Hydrating Toners
Okay, I linked these items on Amazon above because whenever I don’t link Amazon, someone asks if they can get it on Amazon.
But! Even though these products are generally pretty affordable, they’re frequently counterfeited, and Amazon does have struggles with counterfeit products. So if you want to be sure that you have a 100% authentic product, you’re better off with a site that sells directly from suppliers. Soko Glam is my favorite and one of the most popular Western-facing sites.
From their website: they ship to
Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao, Malaysia, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, and the UK.
You can find these toners on sites offering free international shipping and free standard shipping for U.S. orders. Some retailers even provide free travel-size beauty water or other products. Sales are frequent if you sign up for their emails or follow their social media accounts. Popular stores like Soko Glam often have skin consultations and skin quizzes to help you find the perfect toner.
Layering Korean Hydrating Toners
A while back there was a social media trend called the seven layer method, where users would apply seven layers of hydrating toner. (You can use one toner several times, or several different toners combined.)
It got popular because it works!
To me personally, seven is overkill. But if I’m feeling dry, especially in winter, I do often add on the three layers of toner. The effects definitely build on each other to plump up the skin.
Just apply a layer of toner, pat it into your skin, and let it feel like it’s all soaked in. Then, repeat as many times as you want to. If there’s some special magic for you in seven layers, go for it!
Final Thoughts
Korean hydrating toners are a must-have for achieving smooth skin and tackling skin concerns like dryness, fine lines, and irritation. With award-winning toner options, cruelty-free choices, and effective ingredients, you’re sure to find a toner that fits your daily routine and skincare goals. Whether it’s your first time exploring K-beauty or you’re a seasoned fan, these toners can elevate your skincare game.
