If you've used a Western toner before and expect Korean toner to sting a little and feel drying, you're in for a surprise: Korean toner is built to hydrate, not to strip.
The core difference
Western toners historically doubled as a second cleansing step, often alcohol-based, meant to remove leftover residue and tighten pores after cleansing. Korean toners are formulated as the first hydrating step of a routine, prepping skin to absorb everything that follows rather than cleaning it further.
What that means for texture
Most Korean toners are watery, sometimes closer to a light essence, and are designed to be layered more than once if skin needs extra hydration. There's no astringent sting to expect, and if a toner does sting, that's usually a sign it's not suited to your skin rather than a sign it's working.
Do you still need a separate essence?
Not necessarily. Many Korean toners already do essence-like hydrating work, which is part of why the line between "toner" and "essence" is blurrier in K-beauty than in Western skincare naming.
How to use one
Pat it into clean skin with your hands rather than swiping with a cotton pad, unless the toner is specifically an exfoliating type meant to be wiped across the skin. Follow with a serum or moisturizer while skin is still slightly damp for the best absorption.
Browse Korean toners to find a hydrating first step for your routine.