Toners

A Korean toner is not the stripping, alcohol-heavy thing the word suggests in the West. No tightening, no squeak. It is a thin layer of water-based hydration that goes on straight after cleansing, while skin is still damp, so everything after it absorbs better.

That is the whole job — and it is why skipping it makes the rest of your routine work harder than it needs to. Some also exfoliate gently or carry actives: heartleaf for redness, rice water for brightness, PDRN for repair.

Two or three light layers beat one heavy one. Pat it in with your hands rather than a cotton pad — you lose less product and tug the skin less. Follow with a serum while still damp.