Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner for oily skin
Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract
1,2-Hexanediol
Butylene Glycol
Bis-Peg-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Superior
- SuperiorOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
One of the best toners for oily skin.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Excellent suitability for your oily skin is provided by Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract, which offers anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits to help manage oily shine, complemented by Arginine to balance your skin's pH.
- The formulation delivers excellent hydration, ensuring your skin remains moisturized without exacerbating oiliness.
- This product is safe for your skin, as it contains soothing ingredients and avoids harsh or prohibited substances.
How to apply
- Use your hydrating toner in your AM and PM routine every day to keep skin fresh.
- Apply this product after cleansing and before your moisturizer or SPF.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the hydrating toner into your skin and let it absorb.
- Apply the hydrating toner on slightly damp skin to help it absorb better.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your very first use.
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 20.0k+ reviewsThis toner is highly regarded for its ability to deeply hydrate and plump sensitive and dehydrated skin, with most users reporting a glowing complexion and reduced redness. A very large amount of data suggests this product is a cult favorite. Some users with very dry skin found it insufficient on its own, and a small number experienced breakouts or a sticky finish.
Highlights
Deeply hydrating Mostly Mentioned
- “Saved my dehydrated barrier”
- “leaves skin plump and glowing”
- “perfect for 7-skin method”
Fast-absorbing texture Often Mentioned
- “Viscous but sinks in fast”
- “not sticky at all”
- “feels like a serum but lighter”
Soothing and calming Often Mentioned
- “stopped the itching”
- “no stinging on raw skin”
Minimalist and fragrance-free Sometimes Noted
- “No fragrance is a huge plus”
- “simple ingredients list”
Insufficient hydration Sometimes Noted
- “Did nothing for me”
- “skin felt tight after drying”
- “not moisturizing enough alone”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “Gave me tiny bumps”
- “broke me out in cysts”
- “clogged my pores”
Heating sensation Rarely Noted
- “Face felt hot”
- “turned my skin red”
- “warm sensation upon applying”
Sticky finish Rarely Noted
- “Left a sticky film”
- “felt tacky on my face”
- “took too long to dry down”
Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, yesstyle.com, amazon.com, reddit.com, soco.id, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner one of the best fits for oily skin?
This toner is a superior fit for your oily skin because Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract offers anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits to help manage oily shine, while Arginine balances your skin pH. The formulation also delivers excellent hydration, ensuring your skin remains moisturized without feeling heavy or greasy.
Which ingredients make this toner a good fit for oily skin?
Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract provides anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits to help manage oily shine, while Arginine helps balance your skin's pH. Together with the other ingredients, they deliver deep hydration so your skin stays moisturized without feeling heavy or greasy.
What does Astragalus Root Extract do for oily skin?
Astragalus Root Extract helps calm oily skin by reducing inflammation and balancing skin processes. Its antioxidant properties protect the skin while supporting a clear, even complexion.
What does Water do for oily skin?
Where does this toner go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This hydrating toner fits in the morning routine right after cleansing and before moisturizing, and it also appears in your weekly routine. It helps manage oily shine and keeps your skin moisturized without adding extra oil.
Can I use it with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this toner with retinol by applying the toner first to hydrate your skin, followed by your retinol treatment. Using a gentle, hydrating product helps keep your skin calm and is unlikely to cause irritation while using strong treatments.
How often should I use it?
You can use this hydrating toner daily in your morning and weekly routines as recommended for your oily skin. It delivers balanced moisture without making your skin oily, and its soothing ingredients help keep your skin calm and safe.
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily skin, as it features soothing ingredients that keep skin balanced and avoids heavy, pore-clogging oils. Reviewers rarely mention breakouts, and the formula is designed to deliver lightweight hydration without adding excess shine.
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A Tris/Arg-formulated cleanser significantly decreased noninflammatory and inflammatory acne and pore size with keratotic plugs compared to an AEC/AC cleanser in male Thai subjects with mild to moderate acne over 4 weeks.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Applying a lotion containing probiotic ferment lysate VHProbi® Mix R for 30 days significantly decreased transepidermal water loss and skin redness while significantly increasing skin moisturization compared to baseline in participants with sensitive skin.
Scientific Reports, 2023A topical cream containing 10% Bifidobacterium longum lysate significantly decreased skin sensitivity and increased skin resistance against physical and chemical aggression in female volunteers with reactive skin compared to a control cream.
Experimental Dermatology, 2010A preservative system containing 1,2-hexanediol and caprylyl glycol showed no delayed Type IV dermal sensitivity reactions in 200 subjects when tested as a 15% mixture in carbomer gel and in a cosmetic formulation.
Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology, 2009Sensory skin irritation potential of 1,2-alkanediols increased with alkane chain length, whereas 1,2-hexanediol showed the lowest objective skin irritation potential compared to both shorter and longer chain lengths, and percutaneous absorption negatively correlated with alkane chain length.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2011Astragaloside IV promoted keratinocyte migration, stimulated wound closure, improved skin strength, and exhibited anti-scar effects by decreasing collagen I/III and TGF-beta1 secretion in vitro and in vivo compared to blank controls.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2012Astragaloside IV-loaded solid lipid nanoparticle-enriched hydrogel topically delivered sustainable drug release, enhanced keratinocyte migration and proliferation, and strengthened wound healing while inhibiting scar formation in a rat full-skin excision model compared to controls.
International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2013The combination of astragalus extract and mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes promoted wound healing and reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines while increasing anti-inflammatory cytokines in a murine skin wound model.
Regenerative Medicine, 2022A red ginseng hydrogel formulation with 1,2-hexanediol promoted selective growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis and decreased Cutibacterium acnes in 20 female subjects.
Journal of Ginseng Research, 2022Topical application of a novel gel containing 18% potassium complex, 10% dimethylisosorbide, and 72% aqueous hydroxyethyl cellulose provides rapid pain relief and inhibits chronic inflammation in patients with TMJ disorders, muscles of mastication, and myofascial pain usually within 5 minutes.
The Journal of Oral Implantology, 2007Fabricated dissolving microneedles composed of sodium hyaluronate, hydroxyethyl cellulose, and gamma-polyglutamic acid exhibited structural integrity, sufficient mechanical strength for skin penetration, in vivo dissolution within 1 hour, and no erythema or edema with rapid pinhole disappearance in mice.
Drug Delivery and Translational Research, 2026Hydroxyethyl cellulose as a structural modifier in surfactant-free cosmetic serums limited moisture loss to approximately 5% after 30 minutes and improved structural uniformity compared to HEC-free formulations.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2026
Ingredients
Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Bis-Peg-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Carbomer, Arginine
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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