The Difference Between Toner, Essence & Serum: Do You Really Need All Three?
If you’ve ever looked at a Korean skincare routine and wondered…
“Why do I need a toner, an essence and a serum? Aren’t they basically all the same thing?”
You’re definitely not alone.
This is probably one of the questions I’m asked most often, and it’s easy to see why.
At first glance, they all look like bottles of liquid that go on after cleansing.
But each one has a completely different job.
Once you understand what each step does, building your skincare routine becomes so much easier.
Let’s break it down.
First Things First…
Think of your skincare routine like building a house.
Every step has a purpose.
You wouldn’t paint the walls before laying the foundation.
Skincare works much the same way.
Each product prepares your skin for the next one.
Can you skip some steps?
Absolutely.
But just like a house, the stronger the foundation, the better everything built on top of it performs.
Every layer has a purpose, and every step helps the next one work even better.
What Is a Toner?
A toner is the first leave-on step after cleansing.
Its job isn’t to strip your skin like many old-school toners used to.
Modern Korean toners are designed to prepare your skin for everything that follows.
Depending on the product, a toner can:
• Hydrate
• Soothe
• Strengthen your skin barrier
• Gently exfoliate
• Reduce redness
• Balance oil production
• Brighten uneven skin tone
One thing many people don’t realise is that not all toners are created equal.
Some are lightweight and intensely hydrating.
Others contain ingredients like ceramides, probiotics or panthenol to strengthen your skin barrier.
Some focus on pigmentation with ingredients like niacinamide or tranexamic acid (TXA).
Others gently exfoliate using ingredients like AHA, BHA or PHA to smooth texture and refine pores.
Choosing the right toner isn’t about buying any toner.
It’s about choosing one that suits your skin’s needs.
Think of your toner as preparing your skin.
It’s the first drink of water after cleansing.
Do I Need a Toner?
Do you absolutely need one?
No.
Would I recommend one?
Almost always.
Cleansing can temporarily leave your skin feeling a little depleted.
A good toner begins replacing hydration immediately while preparing your skin to get the most out of everything that follows.
If you’re investing in your skincare, I think a toner is one of the easiest ways to elevate your routine.
Toner or Toner Pads?
This is another question I get asked all the time.
The truth is, there isn’t one that’s “better” than the other.
They’re simply different ways of delivering toner.
A liquid toner is perfect for pressing hydration into the skin after cleansing.
Toner pads are pre-soaked with toner and are incredibly convenient. Depending on the product, they can hydrate, calm redness, gently exfoliate or target concerns like clogged pores and uneven texture.
Can you use both?
Absolutely.
If they’re doing different jobs.
For example, you might use a hydrating toner every morning and an exfoliating toner pad two or three evenings a week.
The key isn’t using more products.
It’s making sure every product has a purpose.
What Is an Essence?
An essence sits between your toner and your serum.
If toner prepares the skin…
An essence floods it with hydration.
Essences are lightweight, watery products packed with hydrating and skin-conditioning ingredients that help create the healthy, bouncy glow Korean skincare is famous for.
Think of an essence as giving your skin another layer of hydration before moving on to your treatment products.
A little confession…
If I had to choose just one “extra” skincare step that I could never give up…
It would be my essence.
Out of everything in my routine, it’s probably my favourite product.
For me, it’s one of the biggest contributors to that hydrated, healthy glow.
Do I Need an Essence?
No.
But if you’re chasing healthy, glowing skin…
I honestly think it’s worth adding.
You don’t need an essence to have a great routine.
But if you’re working towards that glass skin look, every layer of hydration counts.
What Is a Serum?
This is where skincare becomes personal.
Serums are treatment products.
Rather than simply hydrating or preparing the skin, they’re designed to target specific skin concerns.
That might be:
• Pigmentation
• Fine lines and wrinkles
• Loss of firmness
• Acne
• Redness
• Dehydration
• Barrier repair
• Dull skin
• Uneven texture
This is where you start building a routine around your skin rather than following someone else’s.
There are so many incredible ingredients available today that many people actually use more than one serum to target different concerns.
The key is knowing why you’re using each one.
(We’ll dive into layering serums in another Meadow Journal article.)
So… What’s the Difference?
TONER
“I’ve just cleansed.”
Let’s prepare the skin.
↓
ESSENCE
“My skin is ready.”
Let’s add another layer of hydration.
↓
SERUM
“Now let’s target my actual skin concerns.”
Can I Skip One?
Absolutely.
A simple routine of:
↓
↓
↓
can still be incredibly effective.
But if you’re really investing in your skin…
Why wouldn’t you build the strongest foundation possible?
Every layer has a purpose.
Every step supports the next.
Good skincare isn’t about using the most products.
It’s about using the right products for your skin.
🌸 My Current Routine Favourites
One of the questions I’m asked most often is:
“What do you actually use?”
One of the things I love most about Korean skincare is that it isn’t about following the exact same routine every single day.
I like to adjust my routine depending on what my skin needs at the time.
Here are the products I reach for again and again.
The Toners I Use Most
🩵 SKIN1004 Probio-Cica Essence Toner
This is my go-to whenever my skin barrier needs some extra love. If my skin feels stressed, sensitised or just needs support, this is usually the toner I reach for.
🤍 Anua Rice 70 Glow Milky Toner
When I’m after soft, hydrated, healthy-looking skin, I absolutely love this one. It leaves my skin feeling nourished and beautifully comfortable.
These are one of my favourite ways to keep my pores clear and my skin smooth. I don’t use them every day, but they’re a regular part of my routine.
🫧 COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid
Although it isn’t technically a toner or a serum, it’s one of my favourite leave-on exfoliating treatments for keeping pores clear and skin smooth. I use it occasionally rather than daily, depending on what my skin needs.
The Essence I Couldn’t Live Without
🤎 Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Probiotics Barrier Essence
If I could only keep one essence…
This would be it.
It’s the one product I genuinely never want to be without.
My Favourite Serums
This is where my routine changes the most.
I don’t use the same serum every day because different ingredients target different concerns.
Instead, I choose my serum based on what my skin needs at the time.
Some of the serums you’ll regularly find in my routine are:
💧 Frankly PDRN Bounce Ball Serum – when my skin needs hydration and that healthy, bouncy glow.
💙 Medicube Hyaluronic Multi Peptide Serum – for hydration and peptides.
🤎 SKIN1004 Probio-Cica Intensive Ampoule – whenever my skin barrier needs extra support.
✨ Beauty of Joseon Revive Serum – for nourishment and a healthy glow.
🌿 VT Cosmetics Lifting Serum – when I’m focusing on firmer-looking skin.
🍊 Medicube AGE-R Vita C Serum – my go-to when I’m targeting pigmentation and boosting radiance.
🤍 SKIN1004 Tone Brightening Capsule Ampoule – another favourite when I’m working on evening out my skin tone.
💜 SKIN1004 Retinol 0.2 Boosting Shot Ampoule – my evening retinoid treatment when I’m focusing on smoother skin texture, fine lines and long-term skin renewal.
🩵 SKIN1004 Matrixyl 10 Boosting Shot Ampoule – one of my favourite peptide treatments for preventative anti-ageing.
💦 SKIN1004 Hyalu-Cica Blue Serum – whenever my skin simply needs hydration.
I definitely don’t use all of these in one routine!
I rotate them depending on what my skin is asking for that day.
That’s one of the things I love most about Korean skincare.
It’s less about following rigid rules…
And more about learning to listen to your skin.
My Favourite Way to Think About It
Toner prepares.
Essence hydrates.
Serum treats.
Three different jobs.
Three different reasons for existing.
Once you understand that…
Korean skincare suddenly becomes a whole lot less confusing.
Nicole’s Tip 🌸
One of the biggest mistakes I see is people buying products because they’re trending.
Instead, ask yourself:
“What is my skin actually trying to tell me?”
If your skin feels tight…
Focus on hydration.
If your skin barrier feels damaged…
Choose calming, barrier-supporting ingredients.
If pigmentation is your biggest concern…
Look for ingredients like niacinamide, tranexamic acid (TXA) and vitamin C.
If you’re worried about ageing…
Reach for peptides, PDRN or retinoids.
Let your skin choose your routine.
Not social media.
I hope this helped make the different steps feel a little less overwhelming.
Remember, you don’t need the biggest routine.
You simply need the right routine for your skin.
And if you’re ever unsure where to start, feel free to get in touch.
I’d love to help you build a routine that works for you.
Nicole 🌸
Founder, Meadow Skincare