We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
The 11 Best Milky Toners - The Korean Skincare Secret For Transforming Dry Skin
This K-beauty hybrid is a must-have for glowing summer skin.
If you're familiar with Korean skincare, you may already know some of its coveted hero products. From K-beauty SPFs to innovative gel moisturisers, the market's unique approach to formulation has brought Korean skincare into the spotlight in recent years. The most underrated product of all? The utterly unique milky toner. A hybrid between an essence and a lotion, the milky toner is slightly thicker than a traditional toner but maintains its weightless feel and traceless finish. The main benefit? It really packs a punch when it comes to nourishing ingredients.
Meet The Expert
- Dr Christine Hall, aesthetics doctor and Korean skincare expert
What Is A Milky Toner?
A milky toner has a slightly thicker consistency, and an entirely different purpose, to a traditional toner, as Korean skincare expert Dr Christine Hall explains below.
'Milky toners are water-based formulations that contain oils or lipids, giving them a characteristic opaque milky appearance,' she explains. 'This texture sets them apart from traditional toners, which are often more liquid and sometimes contain alcohol or astringents Traditional toners are primarily designed to remove excess oil and prepare the skin for subsequent products, but they can leave the skin feeling tight or stripped.'
'Milky toners, on the other hand, offer a more nourishing approach, providing hydration and soothing benefits without overwhelming or clogging the skin. They act as a bridge between toners and serums, offering the best of both worlds, a light but effective formulation that preps and nourishes the skin.'
The Benefits Of A Milky Toner
The question is, is a milky toner really worth having in your routine? If you're prone to dryness or irritation, the answer is probably yes.
'The purpose of a milky toner is dual: to hydrate the skin and support the skin’s natural barrier. Unlike traditional toners, which can sometimes be drying or harsh, milky toners contain ingredients that moisturise, calm, and strengthen the skin. Key ingredients like ceramides, lipids, and humectants (such as glycerin or hyaluronic acid) work together to lock in moisture and protect the skin from environmental stressors. Many milky toners also include soothing agents like panthenol or centella asiatica, which are particularly effective for calming sensitive or irritated skin.'
According to Hall, this makes them an excellent choice for anyone looking to hydrate, reduce redness, or restore balance to the skin. \These toners improve the absorption of other skincare products, ensuring that the benefits of your entire skincare routine are enhanced.'
How To Use A Milky Toner
When it comes to using a milky toner, you have a few options depending on your desired effect.
For instance, the Beauty of Joseon Glow Replenishing Rice Milk Toner can be soaked into cotton pads and placed over the skin like a mask to deliver hydration and reduce excess sebum. Alternatively, you can sweep cotton pads over the skin for a light, refreshing veil of moisture.
Another method is to apply the milky toner directly with your hands. This reduces product waste, and the thicker consistency ensures the formula won't slip through your fingertips.
11 Of The Best Milk Toners For Glowy, Balanced Skin
Beauty of Joseon Glow Replenishing Rice Milk Toner
Rich in antioxidants and moisturising properties, this blend of rice extract and rice amino acids provides deep hydration while protecting the skin from dryness. Additionally, the formula includes a 'sebum control powder', ideal for preventing excess shine and congestion in oily or acne-prone complexions.
Product Specifications
| Key Ingredients | Rice extract, Rice amino acids, Sebum control powders |
|---|---|
| Size | 150ml |
Arguably the most viral toner of 2024, this lightweight blend has become a cult favourite for its soothing ceramide formula and weightless, dewy finish. Reducing the appearance of redness and creating a bouncy base for make-up, this is the perfect entry-level milky toner for those seeking an extra boost of hydration in their routine.
Product Specifications
| Key Ingredients | Ceramide, Beta-glucan, Magnesium, Zinc, Copper |
|---|---|
| Size | 124ml |
This milky ceramide toner is ideal for both oily and dry complexions prone to dehydration, delivering intense hydration without adding any extra weight or greasiness. Use alone for a sheer dose of nourishment or sandwich between your cleansing and moisturising steps for an extra hydrating boost.
Product Specifications
| Key Ingredients | Ceramides, Fatty acid complex |
|---|---|
| Size | 200ml |
This two-in-one hybrid combines the hydrating properties of a moisturising lotion with the lightweight finish of a toner. Best for dry, compromised skin types, it uses ceramides and peptides to support and repair your skin barrier, while white tea leaf works to soothe redness and irritation.
Product Specifications
| Key Ingredients | Ceramides, Peptides, White tea leaf, Amino acids |
|---|---|
| Size | 170ml |
Whether you're seeking a high-street alternative to the coveted Korean toner or your skin is particularly prone to redness and sensitivity, this viral launch from Byoma ticks all the boxes. Formulated with the brand's famous lipid complex, it helps to smooth the appearance of fine lines, creating the appearance of a strong and healthy skin barrier.
Product Specifications
| Key Ingredients | Polyglutamic acid, Cica |
|---|---|
| Size | 150ml |
Thank You Farmer Rice Pure Milky Hydrating Essential Toner
Whether you're dry or oily, when dehydration strikes it can be detrimental to your skin's brightness, texture and the integrity of its barrier. To counteract this, you can add a moisturising milky toner; this gentle toner is perfect as it uses rice, quinoa and yulmu seed extract to comfort tightness and lock in nourishment.
Product Specifications
| Key Ingredients | Rice extract, Quinoa extract, Yulmu seed extract, Centella asiatica |
|---|---|
| Size | 200ml |
The addition of niacinamide to this milky Korean toner means that it not only nourishes parched or textured skin, but also brightens dullness and dark spots. The best part? Made up of 70% rice water, it also gives the skin a luminous, dewy finish. Glass skin, here we come.
Product Specifications
| Key Ingredients | Rice water, Niacinamide, Ceramides, Hyaluronic acid, Panthenol, Vitamin E |
|---|---|
| Size | 250ml |
Fenty Skin Fat Water Hydrating Milky Toner Essence
As well as providing a juicy glow that only Rihanna's skin could rival, this rich toning essence uses vitamin E to protect the skin from environmental aggressors and free radical damage. Consider yourself a certified city girl? This is the milky formula for you.
Product Specifications
| Key Ingredients | Hyaluronic acid, Tamarind fruit, Mineral PCAs, Niacinamide, Acerola, Vitamin E |
|---|---|
| Size | 150ml |
There's nothing that disrupts a good skin day quite like an unexpected flush or sensitive skin flare up. Fortunately, this milky toner uses rice bran extract and chamomile flower to give a soothing boost to irritation, while niacinamide lends a tone balancing effect to dark spots and unwanted redness.
Product Specifications
| Key Ingredients | Niacinamide, Panthenol, Ceramides, Rice bran extract, Chamomile flower |
|---|---|
| Size | 150ml |
This nourishing milky essence differs from traditional Korean toners in that it uses Haiwaiian white honey to replenish dry and depleted skin types. Another perk? It provides a plump, glossy base for foundation and make-up.
Product Specifications
| Key Ingredients | Haiwaiian white honey, Chamomile, Ceramides |
|---|---|
| Size | 120ml |
If fine lines and loss of volume are among your biggest skincare woes, this plumping elixir is the perfect addition to your evening and morning routine. It visibly boosts skin elasticity, smooths rough texture and gently exfoliates, while using ceramides to strengthen your barrier and panthenol to retain that all-important moisture.
Product Specifications
| Key Ingredients | Black rice, Probiotics, Ceramides, Panthenol |
|---|---|
| Size | 120ml |
Katie Withington (she/her) is the Beauty Writer, at ELLE UK and Harper’s Bazaar. Working alongside the ELLE UK Beauty Team, she covers all things beauty for both print and digital, from finding backstage make-up trends at London Fashion Week and investigating buzzy skincare ingredients, to unzipping the beauty bags of Hailey Bieber and Margot Robbie. Prior to joining ELLE UK in 2022, Katie studied (BA) Fashion Journalism at London College of Fashion and has previously contributed to Red, Good Housekeeping and Prima.
How Korean Tweakments Are Delivering Glass Skin
Best Korean Face Masks For Extra Dewy Skin
The 11 K-Beauty Skincare Serums To Try
ELLE Edits: Best LED Face Masks For 2025
