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Sulwhasoo Essential Balancing Water for skin with dark spots

Superior

  • SuperiorNormal Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

One of the best toners for skin with dark spots.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dark spots: hyperpigmentation, sun spots, and uneven skin tone. 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 normal skin is provided by glycerin and sodium hyaluronate for humectant action and beta-glucan for barrier repair, while honey and licorice root extract offer moderate benefits for pigmentation.
  • The formula's alcohol content and fragrance are generally well-tolerated by normal skin, contributing to a pleasant user experience.
  • This product is safe for your skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components.

How to apply

  • Use your hydrating toner AM and PM every day to boost glow. Always pair with SPF in the morning to protect against dark spots.
  • Apply your hydrating toner after cleansing and before moisturizer or SPF. This step preps your normal skin to better absorb the next products.
  • Gently press 2-3 drops of the hydrating toner into your skin with your hands. Avoid rubbing to keep your face calm and happy.
  • Apply the hydrating toner on slightly damp skin to lock in extra moisture. This helps your normal skin stay plump and hydrated all day.
  • Always avoid the direct eye area when applying. Do a quick patch test before your very first use to be safe.

People Say

★4.7Overall rating based on 1.0k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, this toner is highly praised for its deep hydration and luxurious, non-sticky texture, effectively creating a plump and dewy complexion. It is particularly beneficial for dry and dehydrated skin, offering a soothing effect and a pleasant herbal scent that many enjoy. Some users find the fragrance to be strong, and the price point is considered high, though its effectiveness is frequently noted.

Highlights

  • Deep hydration Mostly Mentioned
    • “saved my moisture barrier”
    • “plump and hydrated”
    • “drinks it up”
    • “sinks in quickly”
  • Luxurious texture Mostly Mentioned
    • “gel-like consistency”
    • “not sticky”
    • “absorbs immediately”
    • “silky feel”
  • Soothing effect Often Mentioned
    • “calms redness”
    • “soothing and relaxing”
    • “relieves tightness”
    • “comforts irritated skin”
  • High price point Often Mentioned
    • “very expensive”
    • “investment piece”
    • “pricy for a toner”
    • “wait for sales”
  • Herbal scent Sometimes Noted
    • “spa-like smell”
    • “relaxing hanbang scent”
    • “smells expensive”
    • “therapeutic aroma”
  • Radiant finish Sometimes Noted
    • “glass skin effect”
    • “healthy glow”
    • “dewy complexion”
    • “brightens dullness”
  • Strong fragrance Sometimes Noted
    • “smell is overpowering”
    • “strong herbal scent”
    • “too perfumed”
    • “smells like ginseng”
  • Heavy packaging Rarely Noted
    • “heavy glass bottle”
    • “hard to travel with”
    • “fear of dropping”
    • “difficult to dispense”
  • Potential irritants Rarely Noted
    • “contains alcohol”
    • “caused breakouts”
    • “stung sensitive skin”

Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, influenster.com, beautylish.com, yesstyle.com, reddit.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes Sulwhasoo Essential Balancing Water one of the best fits for skin with dark spots?

This toner is one of the best fits because glycerin and sodium hyaluronate keep normal skin hydrated while beta-glucan repairs the barrier, and honey and licorice root extract help fade dark spots.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021

Which ingredients make this toner a good fit for skin with dark spots?

Licorice root extract and honey make this toner a good fit because they offer moderate benefits for dark spots. At the same time, glycerin and sodium hyaluronate keep your skin soft and smooth, while beta-glucan helps repair your skin barrier.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What does Hyaluronic Acid do for skin with dark spots?

Hyaluronic acid is unlikely to directly fade dark spots, but it helps keep dry and uneven skin plump and deeply hydrated. To effectively target dark spots, this type of skin needs brightening ingredients like vitamin C or niacinamide alongside your hydrator.

What does Honey do for skin with dark spots?

Honey is unlikely to directly fade dark spots, though it helps soothe and heal irritated areas while keeping dry skin soft. A product of this type needs ingredients like vitamin C or rice-derived components to effectively brighten skin and improve dark spots.

Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 2014

Where does this toner go in a skincare routine for skin with dark spots?

This toner goes right after cleansing in both your morning and evening skincare routines to help hydrate normal skin.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Can I use this toner with retinol, and in what order?

Yes, you can use this hydrating toner with retinol by applying the toner first to damp skin and following with your retinol treatment once it absorbs. This helps keep your skin hydrated and comfortable while using stronger ingredients.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

How often should I use this toner?

You can use this hydrating toner daily in your morning routine after cleansing and before your moisturizer. It is well-suited for your skin because it brings together ingredients that boost hydration and help repair the skin barrier while offering moderate benefits for dark spots.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021

Can this toner clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for skin with dark spots?

This toner is unlikely to clog pores, cause breakouts, or lead to purging on skin with dark spots. It has a very low risk of potential irritants and relies on soothing components that are generally well-tolerated.

Is this toner fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It contains fragrance (parfum, limonene, and linalool) and drying alcohol (alcohol).

What the research says

  • A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
  • Skin care regimens containing beta-glucan improved hemoglobin index, skin hydration, and transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in 20 patients undergoing fractional laser therapy.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021
  • Benzyl Alcohol, Benzoic Acid, and Sodium Benzoate can be used safely in cosmetic formulations at concentrations up to 5%, and Benzyl Alcohol is safe up to 10% in hair dyes, despite causing nonimmunologic contact reactions.

    International Journal of Toxicology, 2001
  • Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011
  • Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.

    Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022
  • Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.

    BMC Oral Health, 2019
  • Honey-based dressings reduced mean healing duration, length of hospital stay, and VAS pain scores compared with povidone iodine-based dressings in 1236 participants.

    Journal of Wound Care, 2021
  • Topical honey application improved the mean duration of attacks and pain, occurrence of crusting, and healing time compared to acyclovir cream in 16 adult patients with recurrent labial and genital herpes lesions.

    Medical Science Monitor, 2004
  • Combining 755 nm alexandrite laser with topical licorice gel significantly reduces terminal hair counts compared to alexandrite laser with placebo in women with idiopathic hirsutism.

    Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2015
  • Licochalcone A activated Nrf2 signaling, elevated cytoprotective enzymes, increased the reduced-to-oxidized glutathione ratio, and decreased reactive oxygen species in human fibroblasts and neutrophils, while a LicA-rich licorice extract lowered UVA-induced oxidative processes in vivo.

    Experimental Dermatology, 2015
  • Bioactive glycyrrhizic acid and oxymatrine ionic liquid self-assembled nanomicelles significantly promoted the transdermal permeation, subcutaneous retention, and anti-photoaging efficacy of palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 in cellular and animal models compared to unformulated peptide.

    Advanced Science, 2025
  • A combination of five-colored plants (mung bean, white truffle, black truffle, chrysanthemum, and Lycium barbarum) at 0.5% concentration improved fibroblast wound healing by 59.89%, reduced cellular senescence markers by 76.32%, and increased epidermal thickness and collagen levels in an ex vivo skin model compared to a negative control.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2025
  • Topical administration of phenolic-containing Lycium barbarum extract decreased ROS levels and matrix metalloproteinase expression while increasing antioxidant defenses, skin collagen content, and barrier proteins, leading to an improvement of UV-induced skin erythema, thickness, and wrinkles in mice.

    Photochemistry and Photobiology, 2022
  • Lycium barbarum polysaccharide pretreatment effectively protects HaCaT cells and mouse skin from blue-light-induced oxidative damage, apoptosis, and mitochondrial dysfunction by reducing elevated cellular autophagy and mitophagy levels.

    Photochemistry and Photobiology, 2024
  • Topical green tea and green tea plus lotus multiple emulsions reduced casual sebum secretions compared to placebo in healthy adults, with the combined treatment producing significantly greater reductions than green tea alone over a 60-day period.

    Hippokratia, 2013
  • Combined topical application of lotus and green tea improved facial skin surface parameters including roughness, scaliness, smoothness, and wrinkling in healthy Asian men compared to single treatments and placebo.

    Rejuvenation Research, 2013
  • Cosmetics containing lotus-derived callus extract showed a significant skin-whitening effect in 21 volunteers.

    Plants, 2023

Ingredients

Water, Alcohol, Betaine, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Glycerin, Peg Ppg-17 6 Copolymer, Glycereth-26, Phenoxyethanol, Peg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Bis-Peg-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Honey, Miel, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Cross-Polymer, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Polygonatum Officinale Root Extract Rhizome, Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Lilium Candidum Bulb Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Parfum, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Potassium Hydroxide, Disodium Edta, Limonene, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Licorice Root Extract, Natto Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Linalool, Propanediol, Bht, Acetic Acid, Tocopherol, Beta-Glucan

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.

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.