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Etude House Soon Jung pH 5.5 Relief Toner for sensitive skin

Superior

  • SuperiorNormal Skin Fit
  • SuperiorEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

One of the best toners for sensitive skin.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with sensitive skin: redness, stinging, and reactions to new products. 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 and goals of reducing redness and irritation, as panthenol and madecassoside provide optimal hydration and potent anti-inflammatory benefits. Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract further enhances these soothing effects, making it ideal for calming sensitive skin.
  • The formula's high concentrations of glycerin and panthenol ensure excellent hydration, while camellia sinensis leaf extract offers antioxidant protection.
  • The product is safe for your sensitive skin, containing no harsh ingredients and featuring panthenol and madecassoside to soothe and protect.

How to apply

  • Use your hydrating toner in both your AM and PM routines. Start 3 times per week and move to daily use if your skin feels good.
  • Apply your hydrating toner right after cleansing and before putting on your moisturizer or SPF.
  • Gently press 2-3 drops of the hydrating toner into your skin and let it absorb for a minute before the next step.
  • For sensitive skin, apply the hydrating toner on dry skin to keep it calm and comfortable.
  • Always do a patch test before your first use and avoid the sensitive eye area.

People Say

★4.7Overall rating based on 2.1k+ reviews

This toner is widely celebrated for its ability to instantly calm redness and soothe sensitive, reactive, and acne-prone skin, owing to its minimal, fragrance-free formula. Its water-like consistency is ideal for layering and suits oily skin types, though individuals with very dry skin might need multiple applications or a richer moisturizer to achieve adequate hydration. This summary is based on a very large amount of data and should be definitely taken into account.

Highlights

  • Gentle & non-irritating Mostly Mentioned
    • “never bother my sensitive skin”
    • “no sting, no drama”
    • “doesn't sting or burn”
    • “great for my allergies”
  • Soothing & calming Mostly Mentioned
    • “calms down any irritation”
    • “instantly soothes and hydrates”
    • “relieve my sensitive area”
    • “reduces redness and bumps”
  • Hydrating (layerable) Often Mentioned
    • “layers beautifully”
    • “skin feels plump”
    • “hydrates without making it greasy”
    • “perfect for 7 skin method”
  • Lightweight & fast absorbing Often Mentioned
    • “absorbs into my skin really fast”
    • “never feels oily”
    • “light as water”
    • “no heavy feeling”
  • Not moisturizing enough Sometimes Noted
    • “not noticeably moisturizing on its own”
    • “didn't see much difference”
    • “need 2-3 layers”
    • “too light for winter”
  • Minor breakouts/texture Rarely Noted
    • “woke up with some pimples”
    • “gave me texture”
    • “got closed comedones”
    • “caused bumps”
  • Packaging issues Rarely Noted
    • “bottle top is a bit fragile”
    • “package broke the first time”
    • “cap cracked”
  • Too watery/thin Rarely Noted
    • “texture is just pure water”
    • “seems not to do much”
    • “runs through fingers”
    • “too thin”

Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, oliveyoung.com, sokoglam.com, skinsort.com, yesstyle.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes Etude House Soon Jung Relief Toner one of the best fits for sensitive skin?

This toner is one of the best fits for sensitive skin because panthenol and madecassoside provide optimal hydration and potent anti-inflammatory benefits to calm irritation and reduce redness. It features high concentrations of glycerin and panthenol to keep skin soft and hydrated, alongside green tea extract for antioxidant protection. Furthermore, it is completely free of harsh ingredients, making it exceptionally safe and gentle for easily irritated skin.

American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025

Which ingredients make this toner a good fit for sensitive skin?

Panthenol, madecassoside, and glycerin make this toner a great fit by deeply hydrating dry areas and calming redness. Scutellaria baicalensis root extract and green tea extract add extra soothing and protective benefits.

American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025

What does Madecassoside do for sensitive skin?

Madecassoside helps calm sensitive skin by reducing irritation and supporting skin barrier repair. It also has soothing properties that may decrease redness and discomfort.

Molecules, 2023Planta Medica, 2010

What does Panthenol do for sensitive skin?

Panthenol helps calm sensitive skin by reducing redness and irritation while improving hydration and repairing the skin barrier. It is unlikely to cause negative reactions and supports healing for dry or reactive skin.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002

Where does this toner go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?

This soothing toner goes right after cleansing in both your morning and evening skincare routines. It helps keep skin calm and hydrated by delivering soothing ingredients like panthenol and madecassoside directly to sensitive skin.

American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025

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

You can use this toner with retinol by applying it right after cleansing to calm and hydrate your skin before putting on your retinol. Using a barrier-enhancing moisturizer or soothing product with ingredients like panthenol helps reduce irritation and makes it easier for your skin to get used to retinol.

Cutis, 2006American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002

How often should I use this toner?

You can use this toner twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine. Its panthenol and madecassoside help keep sensitive skin calm and well-hydrated.

American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025

Can this toner clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?

This toner is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on sensitive skin. Reviewers rarely mention breakouts or texture issues, and the formula contains gentle, soothing ingredients that help calm the skin.

Is this toner fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.

    American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
  • A panthenol-enriched mask significantly decreased erythema and hyperpigmentation, increased sebum and stratum corneum moisture, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to a saline dressing in 60 subjects undergoing facial laser treatment.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
  • A new topical panthenol-containing emollient significantly improved transepidermal water loss reduction, stratum corneum hydration, and intercellular lipid lamellae length compared with control in healthy subjects without negatively impacting bacterial viability.

    The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
  • Cosmetic formulations containing 5% Centella asiatica extract showed the best efficacy in improving skin moisture and decreasing transepidermal water loss, while also exhibiting antiinflammatory properties in 25 volunteers compared to baseline measurements.

    Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016
  • Topical application of 0.05% w/w ECa 233 gel reduced erythema index by 0.03 U and improved early crusting and general wound appearance compared to placebo in thirty individuals undergoing facial laser resurfacing.

    Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2020
  • 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
  • Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019
  • Topical dexpanthenol formulated in lipophilic vehicles improved stratum corneum hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in humans.

    Arzneimittel-Forschung, 2000
  • Hyaluronic acid, hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol, and isotonic saline nasal sprays all significantly improved dry nose symptoms over four weeks in 240 patients, with hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol providing superior nasal moisturisation compared to the other two.

    Auris, Nasus, Larynx, 2020
  • A combination serum containing galactomyces ferment filtrate, dexpanthenol, and Centella asiatica effectively treated post-acne hyperpigmentation in subjects with colored skin by significantly increasing lightness scores in Fitzpatrick skin type V and reducing the melanin index in Fitzpatrick skin type IV compared to placebo.

    Skinmed, 2021
  • The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020
  • Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001
  • Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012
  • Topical green tea extract significantly improved clinical symptoms, tear breakup times, and meibomian gland health compared to standard treatment in patients with dry eye and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction.

    Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, 2017
  • Topical low-dose green tea extract reduces UVB-induced p53 expression and apoptosis in human skin keratinocytes compared to placebo.

    Experimental Dermatology, 2009
  • An anti-acne hydrogel containing Aloe barbadensis, Garcinia mangostana, and Camellia sinensis extracts showed superior antiacne and antiblotch activities compared to 1% clindamycin gel in sixty subjects with mild-moderate acne.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019
  • Motor baicalin encapsulated in bio-vesicles enhanced water solubility, stability, transdermal penetration, antioxidant activity, and clinical skin antiaging efficacy compared to liposome baicalin and baicalin raw material.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
  • A nighttime topical antioxidant containing resveratrol, baicalin, and vitamin E significantly improved fine lines, wrinkles, firmness, elasticity, laxity, hyperpigmentation, radiance, roughness, and dermal thickness in subjects with mild to moderately photodamaged skin over 12 weeks.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2014
  • Glycyrrhizin micellar nanocarriers significantly improved topical penetration and follicular accumulation of baicalin in porcine skin, enhanced human dermal papilla cell proliferation, and promoted hair recovery through Wnt/β-catenin pathway activation and upregulation of VEGF, α-MSH, and IL-10.

    International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2022

Ingredients

Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Betaine, Panthenol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglycerin-3, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium Edta, Carbomer, Madecassoside, Butylene Glycol, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Tocopherol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

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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Prices checked 6 Nov 2026

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