This one is Pinterest’s number one skincare obsession for a reason. The COSRX essence is packed with 96% snail mucin to repair and hydrate your skin. If your barrier is stressed or your glow is MIA, this will be your low-effort, high-reward beauty buy. Everyone who tries it ends up on the snail train.

Any search for a truly hydrating essence will eventually lead you to COSRX, and it’s easy to see why this one has a cult following. The star ingredient here is 96% snail secretion filtrate—a powerhouse known for helping the skin bounce back from dryness and dullness. It works on multiple fronts, improving elasticity, calming irritation and leaving your complexion feeling soft and comfortably plump. The texture is silky and slightly viscous, gliding over the skin and absorbing without stickiness. With consistent use, it helps your skin look smoother, more even-toned and deeply nourished.

A staple in any well-thought-out Korean skincare routine, this watery essence from Beauty of Joseon is powered by 80 percent ginseng root water. Known for its antioxidant-rich and circulation-boosting benefits, ginseng has been a treasured part of traditional Korean medicine for centuries. The addition of niacinamide helps brighten skin tone and improve overall texture. Despite its potent ingredients, the formula is lightweight, fast-absorbing and ideal for layering. It hydrates without stickiness and leaves skin looking visibly refreshed—making it a great choice for those with dehydrated or dull skin.

Get ready to step into your main-character era with this ginseng-infused essence from Beauty of Joseon. Inspired by traditional Korean skincare rituals, it’s formulated to deliver long-lasting hydration and help your skin stay balanced throughout the day. The star ingredient, ginseng root water, supports the skin barrier and boosts moisture levels, while niacinamide helps control excess sebum and refine texture. The result is skin that feels hydrated, refreshed and calm, with a natural glow that doesn’t fade by lunchtime. It’s light, layerable and a joy to pat into freshly cleansed skin—like a daily dose of quiet luxury for your face.

If your skin could sip green tea, it would reach for this. Innisfree’s Green Tea Hyaluronic Skin Toner brings together the antioxidant power of green tea and the deep moisture of five types of hyaluronic acid to quench even the thirstiest complexions. The watery formula feels instantly cooling and refreshing as it sinks into the skin, leaving no stickiness behind—just a smooth, hydrated base that feels clean and balanced throughout the day. It’s the perfect reset after cleansing, especially if your skin often feels tight or stripped, and an easy way to keep that healthy, dewy glow all day long.

If you associate toners with that tight, stinging feeling, this one from Haruharu Wonder will make you rethink everything. Made with fermented black rice extract, it’s packed with antioxidants that help protect the skin while improving texture and elasticity. Hyaluronic acid adds a comforting layer of hydration, and a hint of lavender oil soothes both your skin and your senses. The texture feels soft and cushiony—more like a gentle hug than a traditional toner—and it absorbs quickly, leaving your skin plump, calm and prepped for the rest of your routine.

Here’s a skincare secret worth remembering: within seconds of cleansing, your skin starts to lose moisture. That’s where Belif’s Numero10 Essence steps in. This watery, vegan formula locks in hydration right when your skin needs it most, helping it feel smooth, fresh and dewy from the get-go. The texture is incredibly light, gliding on easily and vanishing into the skin without any residue. At its heart is rose of Jericho extract—a desert plant known for its ability to retain moisture—which helps seal hydration in and leave your complexion bright, bouncy and luminous.

Delicate yet powerful, Mixsoon’s Centella Asiatica Essence feels like a sigh of relief for irritated or stressed-out skin. It’s made with pure centella asiatica, sourced from Jeju Island and carefully extracted over 72 hours to preserve its natural healing and calming properties. The texture is light and fluid, absorbing quickly while leaving behind a veil of comfort. It helps reduce redness, soothe inflammation and bring balance back to skin that’s had a rough day. Over time, it strengthens the barrier too, so your skin feels calmer, clearer and naturally more resilient.

Meet the I’m From Rice Toner, a cult K-beauty favourite that gives dull, dehydrated skin a smooth, luminous reset. It’s made with rice extract to deeply hydrate and soften while gently refining texture. Niacinamide adds brightness and helps even out tone, so your complexion looks fresh and more awake with every use. The formula has that classic milky texture that feels instantly nourishing yet sinks in beautifully without heaviness. Used daily, it not only preps your skin for what’s next but also subtly enhances its glow—like your natural skin, but just better.

If you’re always on the go but still want a proper skincare moment, Pyunkang Yul’s Essence Toner Pads are a true multitasker. Each pad is pre-soaked with a soothing essence that tones, hydrates and refreshes the skin in one swipe. The dual-textured design lets you choose between a gentle exfoliating side to sweep away impurities and a smooth side to calm and prep the skin. They’re fuss-free, quick and ideal for mornings, gym bags or travel—perfect for those days when you want glowing, balanced skin without spending extra time at the sink.