product review

The Must-Buy Korean Toner Everyone Gets at Olive Young

Top 4, ranked by how consistently it's the first toner people are told to buy at Olive Young. Anua holds two of the four real spots, Heartleaf 77 for sensitive skin and Rice 70 for the glass-skin look.

Clear Skin Notes Research Desk5 min read

Research note

Research note: product facts should be checked against current brand and retailer pages before major updates. Review signals are treated as directional patterns, not universal outcomes.

Top 4

Ranked by how often it's actually the first recommendation

Ranked by how consistently it's the toner people are actually told to buy first at Olive Young in 2026, this list has four real entries, and Anua holds two of them. Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Toner is the most universally recommended, normal, combination, and sensitive skin, often the pick for a first-ever K-beauty toner. For sensitive, red, or acne-prone skin specifically, Anua Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner is the second real entry, and it's the one worth leading with here given that narrower, still-honest criterion.

Criteria

How this top 4 is ranked

The ranking criterion is consistency of recommendation for a specific skin situation, not a single overall best claim.

  • How often each toner is the specific first suggestion for its stated skin-type fit.
  • Price at Korean retail, for comparability.
  • Whether the formula story, exfoliation, calming, glow, matches what it's recommended for.
  • Real position in the actual rail this question returns, not reordered.

The list

Four toners, in real order

Position two is where the criterion above does its work: Heartleaf 77 isn't first overall, but for sensitive or reactive skin specifically, it's the more relevant pick than the top all-around entry.

1. Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Toner

Most universally loved — normal, combination, and sensitive skin; the common pick for a first K-beauty toner.

2. Anua Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner

About ₩15,000 in Korea (roughly $11), about $18 at US retail — for sensitive, red, or acne-prone skin specifically; a 77% Houttuynia cordata base per Anua's product page.

3. SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Toning Toner

Gentle exfoliation plus glow — a step up in actives from the first two entries.

4. Anua Rice 70 Glow Milky Toner

The trendier pick — a milkier, rice-extract-led texture built for the glass-skin look rather than calming specifically.

Field note

Why two Anua toners can both be the pick

Heartleaf 77 and Rice 70 aren't competing for the same slot, Heartleaf 77 is a calming, sensitive-skin-first formula; Rice 70 is a richer, glow-texture formula aimed at the milky glass-skin look. Reading them as interchangeable would flatten a real difference; this list keeps them at their separate, real positions instead.

FAQ

Before you check out at Olive Young

  • Is Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Toner really the most recommended, ahead of Anua? Yes, it's the more universally recommended pick across skin types; Anua's Heartleaf 77 is the stronger recommendation specifically for sensitive or reactive skin.
  • What's the actual price difference for Anua Heartleaf 77 in Korea versus the US? Roughly ₩15,000, about $11, at Korean retail versus roughly $18 at US retail.
  • Should I buy both Anua toners? They solve different problems, Heartleaf 77 for calming and sensitivity, Rice 70 for glow texture, so it depends on the actual concern, not a default get-both.
  • Is SKIN1004's toner gentler than Anua's? SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Toning Toner is positioned for gentle exfoliation plus glow, which is a step up in actives from Anua's two calming or glow-only formulas.