10 Best Tried and True Japanese Toners in 2023 (Beauty Expert-Reviewed)

FANCL's Enrich+ Lotion was renewed in September 2021 with niacinamide, an active ingredient that has been proven to reduce wrinkles.

In addition to active ingredients, the product contains ingredients that are suitable for anti-aging care, such as Oenothera biennis extract and sweet pea flower extract. It’s also packed with moisturizing ingredients such as ectoin, which is a long-lasting moisturizing ingredient. 

In the moisturizing ability test, our testers saw over a two-fold increase in moisture levels, showing how extremely moisturizing this toner is.

The liquid itself felt soft and thick, and spread comfortably and blended well with the skin. It wasn't sticky or had any notable scent, making it convenient to use in any situation. The only negative we felt was that the mouth of the bottle felt a little too small, making it difficult to dispense the toner.

Still, this is the best toner for those who want to take thorough care of their dry skin.

Kosé’s Cosme Decorte's anti-aging line, Lift Dimension, focuses on improving skin elasticity and firmness. The Replenish Firm Lotion ER uses a unique solution to deliver beauty ingredients to the stratum corneum.

With an increase in the skin's moisture level by about 81.9% on average, we found this toner to be incredibly moisturizing and felt that it makes the skin moist and soft, as well as adds some glow. The product also contains adenosine, which gives elasticity, as well as moisturizing ingredients like amino acids, and Alcaligenes polysaccharides.

It has a soft and elegant texture, as well as a refined floral scent. The bottle is also shaped to fit comfortably in your hand, making it easy to use. This is a Japanese toner to consider if you’re not just looking for effectiveness, but also want a high-quality product overall.

Shiseido’s Aqua Label Aqua Lotion was released in the fall of 2021 and contains amino acids derived from fermentation.

One of its appeals is its high moisturizing ability which proves to be effective even during the driest of seasons. Our testers saw a significant increase in skin moisture levels of 90%. The combination of ingredients such as glycerin and trehalose makes it effective in maintaining moisture, indicating that it has superb ingredients for dry skin as well.

This toner can be applied with ease thanks to its light and fresh texture. While it takes a moment to set in, we felt that this was offset by its excellent moisturizing abilities. With hardly any scent, it won’t fight against other cosmetics. We also appreciated how easy the bottle was to open and close.

Etvos’ Ultimoist Lotion targets those who are at the age where they start to have concerns with changes to their skin.

While the product itself emphasizes that it features ceramides, we felt that what really deserves praise is its high concentration of amino acids, which are highly moisturizing. Seeing that some of our testers saw their moisture levels more than double in our moisturizing ability test, we felt that this product is one of the most moisturizing Japanese toners out there. Moreover, thanks to its niacinamides, it also is effective in providing anti-aging care.

Once the slightly thick liquid blends into the skin, we found that the skin felt soft and moist to the touch. However, the toner does take slightly longer than others to get absorbed into the skin, so it's probably best to use this when you have time. Finally, we liked its subtle lavender scent.

The biggest strength of ONE by Kosé The Water Mate Moisturizing Lotion is its complex blend of hyaluronic acid and ceramides, which Kosé refers to as the Moist Performer.

The toner blends in smoothly as it moisturizes the skin. After two hours, our testers’ skin moisture levels had doubled in comparison to before application. Its simple yet effective ingredients of Gynostemma pentaphyllum leaf extract and Coptis Japonica root extract are known to have moisturizing and conditioning properties, which will help with addressing concerns regarding dryness. 

While it has a light texture, it also feels hydrating, making it useful in all seasons. However, it does have a high concentration of ethanol, as indicated by its sharp scent. If you have sensitive skin, be sure to monitor your skin's condition closely if you choose to use this toner. Finally, we liked the unique angular bottle, which was easy to open and close, provided the size fits in your hand.

Kanebo On Skin Essence F has a simple but effective formula, which is great for those with sensitive skin. This toner has the most basic of ingredients, which makes it usable for just about any skin type. 

In our moisturizing ability test, we found that our tester saw an average increase of 78.6% in two hours after application, making it incredibly moisturizing. 

Texture-wise, it feels moderately moist and applies smoothly, Additionally, while the oil in the product tends to linger on the surface of the skin, it doesn't feel sticky.

Finally, the toner has a faint, gentle, and calming floral scent, but the container is quite heavy, making it difficult to carry around.

POLA’s B.A line features anti-aging products that help improve your skin’s elasticity. In particular, their toner is arguably the face of this lineup.

Considering the amount of ethanol in this product, which helps the skin absorb the toner, it appears that POLA formulated this toner with emphasis on delivering beautifying ingredients to the stratum corneum. We also found that this toner was incredibly moisturizing, with all our testers seeing on average an 80% increase in moisture levels. Our testers were also pleased with the faint glow that it provides, too.

Our testers were also fond of the elegant floral fragrance, with some commenting that they’d look forward to using it daily. The smooth texture is comfortable and pleasant, and it was easy to use the appropriate amount thanks to the pump.

The toner has plenty of amino acids, a natural moisturizing ingredient, as well as polyquaternium-5, yet another moisturizing ingredient, ensuring that you’ll skin will be healthy and hydrated. In our moisturizing ability test, our testers’ saw an increase in moisture levels by 70% on average, proving that it is thoroughly hydrating.

While it contains lavender flower water that adds a nice refreshing touch, we were slightly off-put by how much of it was used. If you have delicate skin, you may want to use this with caution. Finally, we found this toner to be slightly sticky, so we recommend neatly patting it into your skin.

Minon Amino Moist Moisture Charge Lotion II is formulated with a heavy emphasis on being gentle on the skin while still being moisturizing.

In our moisturizing ability test, our testers saw an increase in moisture levels by 75.3% on average, Moreover, in terms of ingredients, this toner earned high marks for having highly effective moisturizing ingredients such as amino acids, pseudo-ceramides as well as other ingredients that are gentle on the skin.

This toner has an incredibly thick texture, commenting that it was hard to believe that it's a toner at all. While it does give off a slight scent of its ingredients, it will likely be unnoticed after applying a milk or cream afterward. We also found the dispenser to be convenient to use, allowing us to use the appropriate amount at a time.

Hada Labo Gokujun Premium Extra Rich Hyaluronic Acid contains hyaluronic acid fermented by lactic acid bacteria as a moisturizing ingredient. This toner features a combination of seven types of hyaluronic acid, which is the most the brand has ever featured in a product.

This product features a great balance of moisturizing and beautifying ingredients. It also contains the ingredient hydroxyethyl urea, an ingredient that can help retain moisture for long periods of time, meaning this product is great for those that feel like their skin dries out later in the day. This was proven as well in our test, with our testers seeing an average increase in moisture by 60.5%.

While the scent wasn't particularly strong, it does have a thick and somewhat slimy consistency. Because of this consistency, it requires time to blend in, so it's probably best to avoid using it when you're in a hurry.