🇸🇬Singapore

Sulwhasoo Essential Balancing Water for sensitive skin

Superior

  • SuperiorNormal Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • 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 effective for redness and irritation goals, as honey and glycerin provide excellent hydration while licorice root extract and purslane extract offer soothing and anti-inflammatory benefits.
  • Beta-glucan further supports barrier repair, enhancing overall skin comfort and resilience.
  • The product is safe for your sensitive skin, containing no harsh ingredients and featuring soothing components like honey and licorice root extract.

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 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 sensitive skin?

Sulwhasoo Essential Balancing Water is an exceptionally good fit for sensitive skin because honey and glycerin provide deep hydration while licorice root extract and purslane extract help calm redness and irritation. Beta-glucan further supports barrier repair, making the skin more comfortable and resilient. The formula is very safe for sensitive skin as it contains no harsh ingredients.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

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

This toner is an especially good fit for sensitive skin because honey and glycerin provide deep hydration while licorice root extract and purslane extract help calm redness and irritation. Additionally, beta-glucan supports barrier repair to enhance overall skin comfort and resilience.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What does Hyaluronic Acid do for sensitive skin?

Hyaluronic acid helps calm and hydrate sensitive skin while supporting the skin barrier to keep it soft and comfortable. Clinical studies show it improves surface moisture and reduces dryness, roughness, and redness without irritation.

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2018

What does Honey do for sensitive skin?

Honey helps calm sensitive skin by reducing irritation and keeping the area moist so it stays soft and smooth. It is unlikely to cause trouble and may help protect against germs while supporting gentle healing.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2013International Journal of Dermatology, 2024

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

This soothing toner goes in your morning and evening routine right after cleansing. It helps calm redness and irritation while keeping sensitive skin comfortable and well hydrated.

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

You can use this toner alongside retinol by applying the toner first to hydrate and soothe your skin before putting on your retinol. Using a gentle, hydrating layer helps keep your skin calm and reduces dryness while you use retinol.

Cutis, 2006

How often should I use this toner?

You can use this toner daily in both your morning and evening routines. It is very gentle and safe for sensitive skin, helping to calm redness and keep your face comfortable.

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

This toner is unlikely to clog pores, cause breakouts, or lead to purging on sensitive skin. It features soothing ingredients like honey and licorice root extract that help calm redness and irritation without harsh components.

Experimental Dermatology, 2015

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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Topical application of Glycyrrhiza glabra and Sophora japonica flavonoid-rich fractions individually and in combination significantly increased the wound healing rate and reduced oxidative stress compared to wound and Nolaver-treated groups.

    Molecules, 2023
  • 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.

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Prices checked 5 Nov 2026

The Lovi Fit is the same in every country; only the stores and prices differ, and the ones here are for Singapore.

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