Prices and delivery update for your selected market.
Prices and delivery update for your selected market.
The MUNO journal · Build a simpler routine
You do not automatically need both a toner and an essence. They can occupy a similar place between cleansing and moisturising, so choose by the individual formula and the step you want to add, rather than collecting every product category.
If you use both: follow their labels. For the Anua Rice 70 Glow Milky Toner and COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence featured here, use the toner after cleansing, then the essence, then your moisturiser. Neither replaces daytime sun protection.
Skincare names can make a routine look more complicated than it needs to be. A bottle called an essence may be a light liquid, while a toner may have a milky finish. Treat the name as a starting point: the directions, ingredients and texture tell you more about how that particular product fits.
For a concrete comparison, Anua describes its Rice 70 Glow Milky Toner as a hydrating toner used after cleansing. COSRX positions its Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence as a hydrating essence and instructs users to apply it after cleansing and toning, before moisturiser. These are product-specific instructions, not a rule that every toner and essence must follow.
| Question | Anua Rice 70 Toner | COSRX Snail 96 Essence |
|---|---|---|
| Where does it fit? | After cleansing | After cleansing and toning |
| How is it applied? | Hands or a cotton pad, then gentle patting | A small amount, gently patted in |
| What follows? | The next step in your routine | Moisturiser |
| Does it replace SPF? | No | No |
Start by looking at what you already own. If you have a toner that you enjoy using, another bottle labelled “essence” is not automatically a missing essential. Decide what you would actually change about your present routine before buying an extra layer.
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends a simple foundation of cleansing, moisturising and sun protection in its budget skincare guidance. Our buying suggestion is to get those basics working for you first, then consider an optional hydrating step if you want one.
Consider a milky toner if you want that format after cleansing. Anua Rice 70 Glow Milky Toner is an option to explore. The brand allows application with fingertips or a cotton pad, morning or evening. You do not have to buy a separate tool to add it to your routine.
Consider an essence if that is the product you want to try. COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence is a leave-on step followed by moisturiser. It contains snail-derived filtrate, so it is not a vegan option. Read the ingredients and directions before choosing it; a popular name does not tell you whether a formula suits you personally.
There is no need to order the pair together. Choose one, use it as directed, and decide whether it earns a place on your shelf before adding another. The product cards below let you check the available options and current details.
This sequence is a practical starting point for these two products. If you also use a prescribed treatment or a product with specific timing instructions, follow that guidance instead of moving it around to fit a generic skincare chart.
Keep the routine manageable. Set out only what you plan to use, and avoid turning an optional step into a long checklist. You can enjoy K-beauty without following a ten-step routine every morning and evening.
You do not need to buy every category. Check the directions for your chosen essence and decide whether you want the extra step. If your current routine already feels comfortable and manageable, keeping it as it is remains an option.
No. Do not assume a toner exfoliates because it sits early in the routine. Check the formula and its instructions; a hydrating toner and an exfoliating product are not interchangeable purchases.
Starting with one makes it easier to keep track of what you have changed. The AAD advises testing a new skincare product on a small area before wider use; its testing guide explains a seven-to-ten-day approach. Stop using a product if it causes a reaction, and seek medical advice for persistent or severe irritation.
Pick the product whose format and directions fit the routine you will actually follow. If you cannot identify a reason to add another bottle yet, save the comparison and revisit it when you are ready to replace or change an existing step.
Sources and product guidance: Anua Rice 70 Glow Milky Toner; COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence; and the AAD guides linked above. Checked 7 October 2026. Follow the directions on your own packaging.
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