If you haven’t read Part 1, I suggest you do so to understand some content, like your skin type and the difference between hydration and moisturization to better understand what products suit you!
2. Toners
Moving on from the last post where we talked about cleansing, toners are an essential step in your routine. It can be counted as part of your cleansing routine because they remove the remaining impurities and debris the cleanser may miss out on.
Toners also bring the pH level of your skin back to normal – prepping the skin for the next step of the routine.
There are many different forms of toners with varying consistencies.
Drier skin types tend to prefer thicker and creamier toners while oily skin types love a refreshing toner. You can actually use toners with different functions for various parts of your skin if you have combination skin.
Remember, if you are going to use an active product, such as a vitamin C serum, you should use a plain toner with no other actives in order to not cause any irritation on your skin and for the actives to work well.
Plain Toners
Etude House Soon Jung pH 5.5 Relief Toner
The Etude House Soon Jung line was formulated and targeted at sensitive skins, therefore, its products contain soothing ingredients panthenol and madecassoside to calm the skin down from external stress as well as repair the skin barrier.
I have to admit I did not like this toner at first because I thought it was causing my skin to have those tiny bumps I get whenever my skin’s irritated. However, I eventually found out it was another product causing it and ironically this toner saved my skin from redness and dehydration!
This toner is watery and clear to the point it feels like it’s just plain water, but this is what made it get absorbed super fast. You can use it with a cotton pad or just pat it into your skin. By the way, it is scentless.
It’s also available in 3 sizes – 80ml, 180ml, and 350ml, hence, you can get the 80ml one to test it out if you’re interested!
I’M FROM Mugwort Essence
The word “essence” or “first essence” may be confusing to you but they both refer to a toner too.
Mugwort has been a trending ingredient in the skincare industry recently because it offers a ton of benefits; some of which are soothing and healing any irritation and atopic dermatitis with its antibacterial and antioxidants properties!
Not to mention, this toner contains only one ingredient, 100% Mugwort from Ganghwa, Korea. Apparently, it’s the best place to grow Mugwort due to its moist and salty air from the sea breeze.
I seriously love this toner because after using it for the first time, my skin redness has decreased noticeably. My acne hasn’t visited me when I’m using this toner.
It is a watery toner as well, with a faint herbal scent. I like to use this with a cotton pad first and then pat in a few more layers to make sure my skin soaks up all that goodness.
Cosrx Centella Water Alcohol-Free Toner
If you want a toner that can be used as a mist too on the go, this is the perfect toner which comes in a spray bottle. Once again, it is from Cosrx, the brand I have mentioned in the previous post.
It consists of calming and moisturizing ingredients – Allantoin, Panthenol, and most importantly, Centella Asiatica Leaf Water. Centella Asiatica is another popular ingredient in the beauty industry. It contains Madecassoside to enhance the recovering process of wounds and scars, strengthening the skin with antioxidants.
To add on, it is fragrance free and is similar in consistency to the Etude House Soon Jung Toner.
Toners with a more specific function
I’M FROM Rice Toner
Have you heard of the brightening effects from rice water? It has been a tradition Asian women have used since centuries ago on their faces, bodies and hair.
This is a slightly milky toner that leaves a thin film of moisture on your skin to create a glow, thus being more suitable for drier skin types. It can also be layered to replace serums because it is very hydrating. This toner actually separates into two layers; one emulsion layer and one watery layer when it is left alone so you have to shake well before use.
It has 77.78% rice extract which contains amino acids to kill free radicals and Vitamin E to nourish your skin. The Niacinamide included improves enlarged pores and whitening. This is scentless too.
The Lab Oligo Hyaluronic Acid 5000 Toner
Want a toner that just focuses on hydration? This is it. It consists of hyaluronic acid molecules in various sizes to penetrate to different levels of the skin.
Molecules with lower molecular weight are smaller, therefore being able to reach the deeper layers of our skin while larger ones act as a protective barrier to prevent moisture loss.
Fun fact, Hyaluronic acid is naturally produced by our bodies! It is mostly found in our skin to ensure it stays well hydrated and plumped. As we grow older, the amount of hyaluronic acid our bodies produce decreases.
The texture is very watery too so you can pat on as many layers as you want! And yes, it is scentless too.
Pyunkang Yul Acne Toner
Another no fuss gentle toner which has acne fighting properties is also included in this list just in case you want a toner with more exfoliating properties.
The amount of great ingredients in this toner is amazing, and it’s even better that this toner can still retain its watery consistency despite having so many awesome ingredients.
Some of the included ingredients are: Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, a natural BHA that exfoliates the skin to regenerate new cells and clear pores, antioxidants such as Glycyrrhiza Uralensis (Licorice) Root Extract and Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Forsythia Suspensa Fruit Extract to reduce irritation, and Niacinamide.
It is also fragrance free!
I haven’t seen specific results with my acne when I use this but it does soothe my skin and redness hence I have used up a few bottles.
~Tip: You can soak cotton pads or capsule sheet mask with these toners to make a mask with it.~
