Anua Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner

What is it and what's it for?

It's a facial toner — a watery liquid (not a cream) applied by hand or with a cotton pad right after washing your face, to 'rehydrate' the skin before the next steps, like giving a dry sponge its first pass of water before using it. 'Heartleaf' is a plant known for calming irritated skin, similar in role to centella asiatica.

Real-world use cases

• In your daily routine: You apply it with your hands, gently patting, right after washing your face and before serum or cream — it replaces the 'splash of water' step with something that also calms the skin.
• Professional use: An esthetician uses it as the first hydration step in a multi-step Korean facial, before essence and serum, to calm freshly cleansed skin (especially after extractions or exfoliation).

How to avoid buying the wrong one

• It's not an exfoliant and has no active acids — if you're looking for an exfoliating toner, this doesn't replace that, it's purely calming and hydrating.
• Always apply it on freshly washed skin and before any serum or cream, never as a last step.
• It's fine to alternate with this ranking's BHA or snail mucin without conflict — in fact it's a good calming base on the nights you use the exfoliant.