It’s no secret that many of the best skincare products, trends and inspiration come from Korea. It’s the birthplace of so many cool, innovative brands, and it’s little wonder when you consider that, according to figures from 2016, South Korean women spend twice as much on skincare as their American counterparts – no doubt helped by the fact that, as a country, there are more products on sale there than elsewhere.

Think about BB creams, essences and even sheet masks. They’re all things that are staples in so many of our daily routines, and the one thing they all have in common is where they originated from – which is, of course, Korea.

Nowadays, we’re all on the hunt for time-saving products that – somehow, magically – work better and harder than anything else in our routines. That’s why hybrid skincare is a trend that’s consistently rising: as consumers, we all want to use things that are fuss-free yet still incredibly effective. 

And that’s where serum toners come in. According to Google Analytics, searches for the term ‘serum toner’ are up more than 450%, and leading the way is Dr.Jart+ with its Ceramidin Serum Toner, a product that’s already gained a cult following, becoming an instant bestseller in Korea and selling out overnight.

What is a serum toner? 

Dubbed a two-in-one product and ideal for dry skin – but beneficial for everybody to use – it’s a product that sits somewhere between an essence and a traditional serum. Serum toners are rich and milky in texture, but not so watery that they’re hard to apply, and neither do they need rubbing in like a cream. 

Best applied onto hands and patted gently into skin as the first step in your routine post-cleansing, you can layer a serum toner underneath other hydrating skincare products or skip straight to sunscreen in the daytime or to your moisturiser (active or otherwise) in the evening, safe in the knowledge that it’ll be working to help hydrate skin and strengthen the barrier.

Here, we’ve rounded up a few of the best serum toners, but expect to see more popping up over the next few months, especially as we head out of this unexpected heatwave and into the cooler months. 

The best serum toners 2023

Main image: Getty