No. 44
in skincare
Buy on Amazon
See price
● Affiliate link.
We earn a commission on Amazon purchases — rankings are based on Reddit consensus, not commission rates.
How it works.
75% would recommend
Why we ranked it No. 44 in skincare
Sample
59 redditors with explicit opinion · 25 positive · 7 negative · 1 neutral
Score0.763 — formula: 0.75 × % positive + 0.25 × pos/neg ratio
Confidence95% CI: 59–87% · the true approval rate falls in this range with 95% statistical confidence
Verdict
Recommended — ≥50% positive. Mixed but more good than bad.
Sources
r/AsianBeauty, r/KoreanBeauty, r/koreanskincare, r/SkincareAddictionUK, r/AsianBeautyAdvice + 3 more
Pyunkang Yul · skincare
Recommended
Essence Toner
r/AsianBeautyr/KoreanBeautyr/koreanskincarer/SkincareAddictionUKr/AsianBeautyAdvicer/tretinoin
TL;DR — Reddit consensus
A lightweight, hydrating essence toner that works across skin types. Some users find it too watery to deliver real results.
What redditors love
+
Hydrating enough for oily skin without heaviness
“it's hydrating enough for my oily skin”
u/natashastri · r/AsianBeauty →
+
Lightweight texture that doesn't feel sticky
“very lightweight, non sticky”
u/flurryskies · r/KoreanBeauty →
+
Deeply moisturizing for dry skin types
“I have dry skin and idk I could swim in this essence”
u/Silent-Bid519 · r/AsianBeauty →
+
Soothes irritation and calms flare-ups
“I also love using this together with the Pyunkang yul Essence Toner to soothe down flare-ups”
u/Niatfq · r/AsianBeauty →
+
Repurchased over 100 times by devoted users
“not 4+ maybe 100+ repurchase 😅”
u/natashastri · r/AsianBeauty →
What they don’t
−
Feels like thick water without delivering results
“Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner is just thick water. Least effective essence toner I've ever used.”
u/karasu_zoku · r/KoreanBeauty →
−
Made some users' skin condition worse
“Bonus - made my skin WORSE (aka Swamp water?): Pyunkang Yul essence toner”
u/bibblefrombarbiee · r/AsianBeauty →
Direct quotes
What 48 redditors actually said.
Top 6 by confidence shown — expand below for the rest. Click any to open the original on Reddit.
H
u/hauntedlilies
·
r/KoreanBeauty
and actually prefer it over the kose one since i do find that it removes make-up even better. 3/5 MRP 2020: pyunkang yul essence toner: i got a really bad allergic reaction from it and i had to stop using it. 1/5 WNRP heimish all clean green foam: it was very gentle on my skin, b
G
u/ggoldeennn
·
Essence- my skin drinks this stuff! My other favorite toner! (Best to get when on sale on Olive Young) Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner- really good hydrating toner! Really nice for sensitive skin (not FA safe though)
S
u/Silent-Bid519
·
& sensitive skin). Here are my fav products so far: • Etude Soon Jung Whip Cleanser • Avene Thermalwater • Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner (literally the best toner!! It‘s hydrating and calmimg at the same time) • Pyunkang Yul Ato Cream Blue Label • Skin1004 Hyla Cica Spf (blue) You s
B
u/bibblefrombarbiee
·
r/AsianBeauty
Bonus - made my skin WORSE (aka Swamp water?): Pyunkang Yul essence toner
S
u/Silent-Bid519
·
r/AsianBeauty
I live for the pyunkang yul essence toner. I have dry skin and idk I could swim in this essence.
N
u/natashastri
·
r/AsianBeauty
pyunkang yul essence toner--not 4+ maybe 100+ repurchase 😅 it's hydrating enough for my oily skin
Show all 48 mentions ↓
"pyunkang yul essence toner (very lightweight, non sticky)"
View thread →
"I also love using this together with the Pyunkang yul Essence Toner to soothe down flare-ups."
View thread →
"purchased 3 bottles now, hope they never change the ingredients"
View thread →
"KIN1004’s intensive centella ampoule (love), Vanicream, Taz, Vanicream. I added pyunkang yul essence toner & it’s not a winner, I’ve used it twice daily for 10 days now and I’m ready"
View thread →
"Pyunkang Yul Essence toner is amazing for my skin. I also have quite sensitive combination skin and if any"
View thread →
"one, I am already on my second bottle. It is very similar in texture to that of Pyunkang Yul essence toner, but VERY hydrating and absorbs very quickly with no stickiness. Stickiness is"
View thread →
"I love the Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner! It feels really soothing on my skin. I did notice it's not very hydrating, so"
View thread →
"ng: Hada Labo's Gokujyon Premium Lotion, Anua Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner, and Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner are pretty good for calming redness and barrier repair. If you wanna add more g"
View thread →
"one as an HA lotion. It works well in conjunction with my hydrating toners.
Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner
I use this one when my skin is sensitive. It helps my skin recover. I like t"
View thread →
"All Korean sunscreens, pyunkang yul essence toner, and the entire skin1004 probio-cica line"
View thread →
"d my skin looks better than when i was spending more
cerave hydrating cleanser pyunkang yul essence toner neutrogena hydro boost sun bum spf 50 cerave moisturizing cream at night
the P"
View thread →
"little bit, thanks to this subreddit.
I now do 7 skins morning and night with Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner
And finish on top of my Shea butter with Madeca Cream time reverse.
I exfoli"
View thread →
"casionally thanks to mask wearing, but I don’t usually deal with much acne.
**Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner**
I like this toner, but I find it to be the least hydrating of the bunch. The"
View thread →
"entella Waterfit
• ABib sunstick
• round lab birch juice sunscreen
Toners:
•Pyunkang Yul essence Toner (ver hydrating)
• I’m From Rice milk toner
•Skin1004 Madagascar Centella toner"
View thread →
"and actually prefer it over the kose one since i do find that it removes make-up even better. 3/5 MRP 2020: pyunkang yul essence toner: i got a really bad allergic reaction from it and i had to stop using it. 1/5 WNRP…"
View thread →
"wonder Black rice hyaluronic toner alcohol free (new). * Some by mi AHA BHA PHA 30 days miracle toner. * Pyunkang yul toner essence. * Skin1004 Centella Ampoule. * Innisfree Super Green Tea Ceramide Milk. * VT Reedle …"
View thread →
"1. Skin 1004 Oil cleanser 2. Cosrx gentle foam cleanser 3. Medicube zero pore pads (Tues/Thurs/Sat) 4. Pyunkang Yul PKY toner 5. Medicube TXA 15% 6. Mediheal ampoule Sheet mask (Sat & Wed) 8. Boj eye cream 9. Enaskin …"
View thread →
"but I just posted my whole routine in the thread if you're interested. Tldr goodal vitamin c serum and pyunkang yul pky essence toner for arbutin and moisture but I implore you to read my other post and see if any of …"
View thread →
"Essence- my skin drinks this stuff! My other favorite toner! (Best to get when on sale on Olive Young) Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner- really good hydrating toner! Really nice for sensitive skin (not FA safe though)"
View thread →
"skincare focuses on oily or combo skin. For extremely dry and sensitive skin, Skin1004 Centella Ampoule and Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner are great calming and hydrating options. You can also try Etude SoonJung 2x Barrie…"
View thread →
"& sensitive skin). Here are my fav products so far: • Etude Soon Jung Whip Cleanser • Avene Thermalwater • Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner (literally the best toner!! It‘s hydrating and calmimg at the same time) • Pyunkang…"
View thread →
"on the dryer side and need a moisturizer you might like PY's nutrition cream or EH's 2x barrier cream. Pyunkang Yul's essence toner is for all skin types and helped me a lot with my dehydration, is great for layering,…"
View thread →
"dryness relief during the day as well. Here is a sample of how my routine looks: * Toner (something like Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner), let it soak in 30 seconds (can apply multiple layers if my skin is really dry, sinc…"
View thread →
"skin and i layer a lot of skincare at nights My fave nigh skincare is sk-ii Fte, tirtir milk toner, pyunkang yul black tea toner & serum, numbuzin no 3 essence, pyunkang yul nutrition cream, desr klairs midnight cream…"
View thread →
"up the Numbuzin skin softening serum, this will be my first time trying the brand! I also refilled my pyunkang yul essence toner. I had wanted to get the I'm from ginseng serum as well, but the serum was open when I g…"
View thread →
"I suggest layering toners before your moisturizer. Something like pyunkang yul essence toner, then Laneige cream skin, then your moisturizer. And at night a thin occlusive topper like experiment jelly to reduce TEWL. …"
View thread →
"What works for me is an intensive AM routine that consists of the following: Cosrx propolis toner Pyunkang Yul essence toner Haruharu wonder barrier essence Skin 1004 probio cica ampoule Zeroid soothing lotion Cosrx A…"
View thread →
"CosRx propolis (I've been using this one since 2021) Pyunkang Yul the essence toner I'm from Rice Toner Roundlab Dokdo toner Naturie Hatomugi Skin Conditioner Skin 1004 ProBio Cica toner Make P:rem Safe Me Relif Toner…"
View thread →
"bottle, but toners don't spray well if they aren't made for it, except for very watery ones. I tried the pyunkang yul essence toner and it didn't work well. So I just use the cup hand method. I greatly prefer a spray,…"
View thread →
"it’s working well for me! Mixsoon bifida toner Etude ph 5.5 relief toner Scinic simple calming toner Pyunkang yul essence toner Mixsoon glacier water ha serum You can just choose one and layer it multiple times or cho…"
View thread →
"it’s not just you. If you want something simple and hydrating, you can look into round lab dokdo toner or pyunkang yul essence toner, both are pretty minimal and less likely to clog. Also isntree hyaluronic acid toner…"
View thread →
"That Pyunkang Yul toner is so good. The entire brand is underrated since they don’t do PR and recruit social media influencers like other brands do"
View thread →
"Ooo the Pyunkang Yul toner! I almost ordered that! This makes me want to go check Marshall’s. 👀"
View thread →
"for a reason - beta-glucan in a decent amount, ferments, that aspergillus stuff, it's got it all! The pyunkang yul essence toner is the absolute safest bet for inflamed skin days though, I find."
View thread →
"Then there's pyunkang yul essence toner, Isntree green tea, I'm from mugwort essence."
View thread →
"skin care to nourish and replenish the barrier. For instance, if my skin is getting dry, at night I'll use Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner, then hado labo premium lotion, then an antioxidant serum, then a moisturizer like …"
View thread →
"Pyunkang Yul Black tea infusion toner! Repurchased multiple times and my skin has really brightened and looks smooth. Great for nourishment and anti aging and brightening but it’s very gentle and great for sensitive s…"
View thread →
"moisture is nicer than the Torriden, BOJ and the blue one. Out of those three I liked the blue premium. The Pyunkang Yul essence toner is really hydrating and probably my favorite out of the ones listed. Missha is ano…"
View thread →
"I second the Pyunkang toner and also the Naturie - both lightweight but so hydrating. Blue premium is more lightweight than the gold- I found it a bit too thick for my liking (sorry too lazy to type out the full names)"
View thread →
"I love the Pyunkang Yul calming deep moisture and essence toner. I use both of those and already have backups of both for when I run out. Not a toner, but I also love the Pyunkang Yul moisture serum and calming mask p…"
View thread →
Threads tracked
The conversations we're watching.
●
r/AsianBeauty
Name One Product That Works Miracles For You And
●
r/AsianBeauty
What Are Some Of The Products Youve Purchased 4
●
r/SkincareAddictionUK
Kbeauty In The Uk And A Thankyou Just For
●
r/KoreanBeauty
What K Beauty Product Do You Actually Repurchase
●
r/KoreanBeauty
Is There A Popular Kbeauty Product That Just Did
●
r/KoreanBeauty
Night Skincare Routine That Actually Brightened
●
r/AsianBeautyAdvice
r/AsianBeautyAdvice
●
r/KoreanBeauty
Looking For My Next Hydrating Serum To Buy Need
Read also
Reddit deep-dives that mention this product.
Adjacent
Often mentioned in the same threads.
02
Aestura
Aestura atobarrier
Korean derma-brand barrier cream for dry skin and retinoid recovery nights.
★ · on Amazon
Buy on Amazon
See price
03
Beauty of Joseon
Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics SPF50+
Lightweight Korean sunscreen that feels like nothing on skin—no white cast, applies clear in seconds.
★ · 462 Amazon reviews
Buy on Amazon
See price
