Pyunkang Yul vs Thayers: Why My Dry Skin Still Feels Tight (A pH & Ingredient Analysis)

Finding the Best Toner for Oil-Deficient Dry Skin

My first impression of the Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner: the iconic blue bottle that promises deep hydration for dry skin

After cleansing, I usually use Sukin toner as a 'wipe-off' (toner padding) to tidy up my skin texture and remove any leftover makeup. For your information, Sukin toner is a watery type where most of the ingredients are purified water. As someone with dry skin, I felt a desperate need for a thicker, more elastic toner to apply right after that.

While searching through many options, I found the 'Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner'. It’s a long-selling item that has been around for nearly 10 years and has a very good reputation. I previously tried the famous 'Milk Toner' types, but they didn't really suit my skin. For more details, you can read my full [Thayers Milky Toner review here]. So, I decided to buy this one with high hopes for that 'essential' hydration.

Value for Money: 200ml for $15.50, is it cheaper if you look around?

The price is quite reasonable. There are many websites selling Korean cosmetics, so I bought the 200ml bottle for $15.50. However, while preparing this post, I noticed some other sites were selling it for as low as $10.35. Please keep in mind that this toner comes in both 100ml and 200ml sizes, so make sure you don't get confused when ordering. 

Although shipping costs can vary, comparing prices across different sites is a must! I highly recommend grabbing it at a sale price rather than the full retail price.

Ingredient Analysis: The power of 91% 'Milk Vetch Root Extract' instead of water

Unlike many toners that are water-based using purified water or green tea extract, Pyunkang Yul uses Milk Vetch Root Extract as the main ingredient, making up over 90% of the formula.

• Benefits of Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract (also known as Milkvetch Root): It is rich in saponins and flavonoids, just like ginseng. This helps with skin vitality, brightens the complexion, and strengthens the skin's foundation.

• 7 Minimalist Ingredients: It is a very simple combination with no fragrance, no artificial colours, and no alcohol. It only contains ingredients helpful for hydration and soothing, along with a thickener (Hydroxyethylcellulose) and a stabiliser (Disodium EDTA) to prevent the product from spoiling. Looking at EWG standards, there are no harmful ingredients found, so the formulation is very clean and gets a passing grade.

Honest User Review: Real elasticity for my skin, or just a thick texture?

First of all, the exterior design looks very cool and stylish with its blue bottle. I was worried there might be a herbal smell because of the root extract, but it is actually almost scentless. 

Compared to watery toners, the texture is definitely thicker, slippery, and elastic. It gave me the impression of being "better than water toners" and "quite clean." However, my actual experience as a person with dry skin was a bit different.

• Absorption vs Evaporation: Rather than feeling like it was deeply soaking into and wrapping around my skin, it felt more like my face became a bit sticky for a moment and then simply evaporated.

• The Limits of Hydration: Even when I layered it several times (like the '7-skin method'), I couldn't really feel the deep moisturising effect mentioned in the advertisements. I started to wonder if the slight stickiness left on my face was true hydration or just the natural texture of the Milk Vetch Root. My best solution was to quickly apply a highly moisturising lotion before the toner dried up.

Texture check: It flows easily like water when moving my hand, but it has a distinctly viscous and slippery consistency compared to plain water.

On application, the toner spreads smoothly with a slippery finish. However, instead of absorbing deeply, it seems to evaporate quickly, leaving my skin feeling slightly dry.

Extra Tip: pH Test & My Realisation

I personally tested this toner, and the result was a steady pH 6. For a toner, the 'sweet spot' is usually around 5.5 to quickly restore the skin's balance after cleansing. While pH 6 is still safe and slightly acidic, it is just a tiny bit higher than that "perfect" 5.5. 

For someone with oil-deficient dry skin like me, this tiny difference might be why the hydration felt a little subtle rather than being deeply locked in.

The PH test results for the Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner show a level of approximately PH 6 

A closer look at the pH strip confirms it's close to pH 6, slightly less acidic than the ideal pH 5.5 for a dry skin barrier.

Comparison with Thayers Milk Toner: Is pH really everything?

Before this, I tried the famous Thayers Milky Toner, which has a slightly more acidic pH of 5. It’s technically closer to our skin's natural balance, but honestly? I still got that same "evaporating" feeling with both. After looking at the ingredients like Glycerin and Snow Mushroom, I realised why. 

Just like Pyunkang Yul, Thayers uses certain ingredients to make the texture feel "milky" and slippery. It feels great at first, but for really dry skin, it just doesn't stay. 

I’ve learnt the hard way that if a toner doesn't have a bit of oil or something to "lock" the moisture in, it doesn't matter if the pH is 5 or 6 – the hydration just vanishes, and my skin feels tight again in no time.

Conclusion: A bit short of being called a true 'Essence'

In conclusion, it felt a little lacking compared to the 'Essence Toner' name I was expecting.

• Official Guide: It is listed as suitable for all skin types.

• Recommended Target: Personally, I think it might be more suitable for sensitive or oily skin looking for a clean finish, rather than 'oil-deficient' dry skin that desperately needs nutrition and moisture deep inside. (Of course, skincare is always 'your mileage may vary,' so everyone's experience is different!)

If you are a dry skin type like me looking for an extremely hydrating texture, I recommend not using this alone but instead moving quickly to your lotion or cream stage after layering it. 

Alternatively, if you have a carrier oil, try adding just one tiny drop to the toner. It can significantly boost the moisture-locking effect. However, be careful not to overdo it—adding too much oil can make the texture feel heavy, greasy, or suffocating on your skin. Just one small drop is enough for that perfect balance.

I tried mixing Jojoba oil for extra nourishment. Caution: I accidentally added two big drops, and it felt too heavy. For oil-deficient dry skin, just one tiny drop is the perfect sweet spot for a better moisture lock.

*This review is based on my personal experience, and results may vary for others. Please take it as a friendly reference.