Klairs Supple Preparation Facial Toner review + 4 ways to use it
Written By Jenny Wu on
There’s a good reason why Klairs is one of the most-mentioned brands on my blog: their products are great, if not awesome.
I’ve actually mentioned the Klairs Supple Preparation Facial Toner countless times before, but for some reason never got around to reviewing it, so when Wishtrend gave me the chance to try the reformulated version, I was all like “heck yes!“
Overview
What is it
A super hydrating and calming toner that helps balance the skin’s pH level and increase subsequent product absorption
How I use it
After I cleanse, between layers of my routine, as a lotion mask, or mixed with a facial oil. Keep reading for more details!
Best suited for
All skin types, especially dehydrated skin types looking for that extra moisture. Sensitive skin might prefer the Supple Preparation Unscented Toner instead.
Things to note
There are small amounts of essential oils, so be careful if you’re allergic. Otherwise this is free of alcohol, common acne triggers, and artificial fragrances.
Packaging
Dark plastic bottle, nothing special. It’s also easy to dispense just the right amount of product.
Scent
A faint rosemary scent, nothing overbearing.
Texture
Slightly thicker than water, but spreads easily and absorbs quickly.
Finish
Natural finish with no stickiness
Where to buy
$19.90 – $23 for 180ml on Wishtrend, Amazon, SokoGlam, YesStyle (5% off with code GEEKYPOSH)
Klairs Supple Preparation Facial Toner Ingredients
The toner is full of hydrating and skin-soothing ingredients like: hyaluronic acid, MSM, centella asiatica extract, licorice root extract, panthenol, and beta-glucan.
One that stands out is Lipidure, which is a moisturizing polymer that mimics the structure of phospholipid membrane and provides long-lasting moisturization (comparable if not better than hyaluronic acid), improves our moisture barrier, and reduces irritation. So like hyaluronic acid, but on steroids1.
Water, Butylene Glycol, Dimethyl Sulfone, Betaine, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Natto Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, Centella Asiatica Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Polyquaternium-51, Chlorphenesin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Carbomer, Panthenol, Arginine, Luffa Cylindrica Fruit/Leaf/Stem Extract, Beta-Glucan, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Lysine HCL, Proline, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Acetyl Methionine, Theanine, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Copper Tripeptide-1, Linalool, Limonene
I had tried the original Klairs Supple Preparation Toner way back, and while reformulation usually makes me cringe, this is a rare case of the brand actually making the product bigger (150ml to 180ml) and better.
The new formula is more hydrating, no longer sticky, absorbs faster, and contains less irritants. I experienced the improvements immediately on my first use, and found that this is one of the few products I can apply on my skin when it’s irritated.
How to use the Klairs Supple Preparation Facial Toner
This toner is interesting in that it’s thicker than typical watery toners and more hydrating, yet it’s still incredibly light and absorbs into the skin instantly. Its excellent formulation and texture actually makes it extremely versatile:
- Use it as a regular hydrating toner. Great for adding moisture back to your skin after cleansing. It can also be used to remove any residue on your skin and balance the pH level, but that shouldn’t be necessary if you double cleanse with low-pH cleansers.
- Adding extra hydration throughout your skincare routine. If you have a multi-step routine, you can layer this toner between steps for extra hydration, minimize stickiness from previous products, and help subsequent products absorb better. This is my favorite way of using the Klairs Supple Preparation Facial Toner.
- As a lotion mask for immediate hydration + calming effects. This provides similar results to the Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Mask and is great when your skin is feeling irritated. Learn more about lotion masking here.
- Mixing it with facial oil. Now that my skin is transitioning from combo-dry to combo-normal, facial oils can be a tad heavy. But mix a few drops with this toner and it’s perfection. Learn more about how you can use facial oils here.
With the exception of method #3, I dispense the toner in my palms directly and apply it to my skin. You can definitely apply this with a cotton pad, which will make the toner feel even lighter. No right or wrong answer here, you should pick a method that works best for your skin.
Usage experience & results
So what does this toner do exactly? Pretty much everything you can hope for in a hydrating toner. My skin feels more plump, hydrated, and much softer, plus it’s helped minimize redness in the long run.
As for negatives, the inclusion of essential oils is the biggest one. While I experienced no issues with them, they’re add no value to the formula either, which is why they probably came out with the unscented version.
However, after testing both, this original Klairs Supple Preparation Facial Toner feels significantly more hydrating. The ingredient list looks the same minus the EOs, but it’s possible they adjusted the % of the ingredients. So if you’re deciding between the two and don’t hate fragrance, go with this one.
It’s also not the cheapest hydrating toner, but when purchased on sale and given its efficacy, I still think it’s worth it!
Final Verdict
-
Packaging
7.5
-
Ingredients
9
-
Texture/Application
10
-
Performance
9
-
Price
8
I rarely repurchase products, but I will be repurchasing this toner for SURE. It's one of those hydrating staples that anyone with any skin type can really benefit from in their routine, especially if you find typical hydrating toners too heavy or sticky. There's a reason why this is one of the top ranked skincare product in Korea. I think I'm pretty strict when it comes to product reviews, but when products are da bomb dot com, you bet my ass I'll be fawning over it like a fangirl obsessed. And this my dears, is definitely a fangirling-worthy product.
Article Sources
To keep my content accurate and trustworthy, I rely on peer-reviewed studies, articles from reputable academic institutions, and quotes from certified healthcare professionals to back my claims.
“Lipidure®-PMB.” Ulprospector.com, 2012, www.ulprospector.com/en/na/PersonalCare/Detail/6873/524981/Lipidure-PMB.
Passionate about science-based skincare. Tested hundreds if not thousands of products since my 20's. Working regularly with brands like iHerb, Ulta, CurrentBody, and MedStar Health to share my knowledge and experience in all things beauty. Learn more.
Skin profile: 35+, dry/combination, focused on well-aging, hydration, and a healthy glow ✨
Comments & Questions
Shireen L. Platt
Ugh! I want to hate you, why do you do this to me?! LOL! I'm just browsing Althea and making notes on what to buy and now you pop this on me. I like Wishtrend but I find some of the prices are slightly higher than other site (what can I say, I'm a cheapass so every cent counts!) ????. Fine, fine, fine...I'll go check Wishtrend too. You, Anne and Mili are seriously some of the worst enablers! LOL!
Jenny Wu
Hahaha, this is exactly how I feel when I read your blog too! I agree with you that Wishtrend prices are on the higher end, so I always just purchase their kits when they have ones I'm interested in. They used to have 15% discount codes each month but I think they stopped giving those out, which is a real shame :/ You can also try eBay, prices are usually good there though shipping can be a &^*&^&^%.
Alicia Mackin
Oooo this sounds really good. Anything that would help with redness. Love your indepth review.
Allie of
www.allienyc.com
Jenny Wu
Thank you for reading Alicia, glad you liked the review!
Cat L.
Jenny, you sold me on this toner! I have seen the brand here and there on IG but wasn't familiar with any of their products. Reformulation has the same effect on me as well (ie makes me cringe) so I'm glad to hear that this brand took notice and actually worked to improve the formula. I've added the toner to my skincare list!
~ Cat L.
www.CatsDailyLiving.com
Jenny Wu
Yay Cat!! I hope this works just as well for you as it does for me, would love to hear your thoughts on it if you ever try it!
stylefrontier
would love to try Klairs!
xoxo
style frontier
Jenny Wu
They have some wonderful products!
Whitney
I haven't heard of this brand before and was looking around a new toner. I just bought a bottle of origins (my 3rd or 4th repurchase?) and was getting a bit bored. I wonder if it's available in Canada! I feel like toner is such an important step in my routine and am always looking for better ones!
Jenny Wu
Totally agree, toner is important for hydrating our skin and prepping it for subsequent products. I've heard good things about the Origin one, but after trying some of their products I may be allergic :/ For Klairs you can try Wishtrend which has free worldwide shipping (though they're on the pricier end) or eBay! :)
Elisa L.
klairs really is something, huh. i see a lot of beauty bloggers raving about this brand. i've never tried klairs so i wouldn't know. since you said this minimizes redness in the long run, it makes me even more curious! i'm currently using the naturie japan hatomugi skin conditioner as my toner and i also find that it minimizes the redness around my nose. (which is funny because it does contain alcohol in its ingredient list, only that it's like way down there in the list so i guess it's not as potent? i did use a toner with alcohol before and it broke me out terribly)
anyway, i've been loving the lotion mask trick lately! the only downside is i use so many cotton pads for it that i have to stock lots now. but still, thanks to you, i am now a convert to lotion masking!
Jenny Wu
I don't think I've ever heard a negative review about this toner, which is really impressive. I've been curious about the hatomugi skin conditioner as well because people claim it's an affordable dupe for the Albion skin conditioner, and while I knew it had alcohol, it's good to know that's way down the list! :)
So glad to hear you like lotion masking!! Have you tried using those thick fluffy cotton pads that you can peel into thinner pieces? Those work great for lotion masking :)
Marina Rosie
Thanks so much for sharing this wonderful product with us Jenny! I love K beauty and am also quite involved with Wishtrend; I'm currently in the middle of testing a few products for review and some of them are Klairs! If you swear by this, I'm going to have to pick it up; I'm a toner junkie. What can I say, they're just so refreshing and amazing for the skin! x
Lots of love
Marina Rosie xx
http://marinawriteslife.blogspot.fr/
Jenny Wu
You're so welcome Marina! Klairs really has some great products so I'm sure you'll have a great time trying out their stuff :D This toner, their sheet mask, and the blue calming cream are my favorites!
LindaLibraLoca
May I ask a question? It is probably an obvious one for you, but for someone trying to learn more about asian beauty, the description reminds me of that of an essence. Which point dont I get? Or is this an in between product?
Anyhow, I added it to my to buy list on Pinterest and will see when I get around to trying it.
Linda, Libra, Loca: Beauty, Baby and Backpacking
Jenny Wu
I wondered the same thing for the longest time, and after trying all these different "toners" and "essences" the lines are very blurred. A lot of toners now contain a bunch of beneficial ingredients, similar to essences, and many essences have that light watery texture similar to toners.
I categorize this one as a toner because it does have the pH balancing function, but it can definitely work as an essence due to its great ingredients as well. Hope this makes sense!
Lavanya
K Beauty is not as popular in Uk as it is in the US, and as a result, it's so hard to find such niche brands. I have a huge bucket list of the K Beauty brands I want to buy and I'm hoping Sokoglam start international shipping soon.
Jenny Wu
Oh I had no idea, I hope more Kbeauty retailers expand their presence to the U.K.! Wishtrend, Althea, I think eBay have free worldwide shipping so you might want to check those out!
Denise
Oh this sounds so nice! I have a toner I use but I am not sure it has been getting the job done as much anymore. I love that this one is light and not too heavy, which would be perfect for me.
Denise | Fashion Love Letters
Jenny Wu
If you're looking for a toner that really hydrates and soothes your skin, this one won't disappoint! :)
Samantha
Whenever I hear about Klairs, it's always their BB cream or vitamin C serum but you've seriously got me hooked on buying this toner. And since the ones I've been looking at are more around $40 *cries internally* I'm REALLY tempted to get this!
Sam | My Beauty Cloud
Jenny Wu
Oh my, which toners were you looking at? I'm super curious now, haha.
I did like the KLAIRS bb cream as well, but the one shade fits all can be a pain when I tan :/ Th vitamin c serum was ok but feels oily on the skin.
Asha
I'm such a skincare freak so I will definitely be checking Klairs out since I've not heard of them.
Asha
http://www.ageofyouth.co.uk
Jenny Wu
Hope you enjoy the toner as much as I do if you end up getting it. Thanks for reading!
Heather Noire
This is such a great post! I love the different ways you can use this :) Great photos as well xx http://www.bauchlefashion.com/2017/04/dear-couture-mothers-day-advice.html
Jenny Wu
Thank you Heather! I love experimenting with skincare products and discovering new ways to use them :)
Mai
Nice post Beautiful! Thanks for sharing xx
OHIAMIHT | By Thi-Mai
Jenny Wu
Thanks for reading Mai!
Liv
Thanks for reviewing! This toner sounds like a little gem! I didn't know you can even mix it with face oil. That's such an interesting way to use it. I remember when I used to go without moisturizing after cleansing in my teenage years then adding moisturizer, but I think I'm now at an age when I don't produce as much oil and really need a toner after cleansing! I use a package from Nature Republic and it's light and not chemically like some of the toners my mom used to get me. I really don't want a toner that's so heavy that it clogs up my skin, like the rice solution from The Face Shop. (Seeing a pattern here with my brands right? Hehe.) There's no Nature Republic in San Francisco (I think) so I do want to look into a new toner. I also don't repurchase a lot of products either because it's not economical or because it's unavailable.
Jenny Wu
Oh which toner from Nature Republic do you use? Most of their products are readily available online, unless it's from a line they've retired. The Klairs one does have a bit of viscosity to it, though it's not heavy at all. If your skin is on the drier side I think you might like the extra hydration this one provides :)
Sofia
This sounds sooo good and such a good value!! And so good that there is no stickiness!!
xx Sofia | SOFIAADOT
Jenny Wu
It really is, the non-stickiness factor was a win for me too!
Face to Curls
This sounds wonderful and I love that it's so hydrating. I love K beauty, so many are so amazing on my skin! I love the different ways you can use this, very versatile. xo
Ann-Marie | http://facetocurls.com
Jenny Wu
I really appreciate the variety Korean brands provide as well, you can always find something that suits your skin type :) The different ways of using this toner can probably be applied to other toners as well if you want to give it a try!
Esnath
I love how you made this so easy to read Jenny, The fact the it come in at 180mls and at an affordable price sells this tanner to me. Thanks for sharing.
Jenny Wu
Glad to hear that Esnath! This is definitely bigger than your typical toner size, one of the many improvements Klairs made when they reformulated :)
Stephanie | thefantasia.com
I was absolutely sold after I read the ingredients and then I saw your high rating for this... I am so sold! I really like that there is a value set option because I would give those a try in a heartbeat!
Jenny Wu
The value set was how I discovered the Klairs brand, and if you're looking for simple quality products that hydrate + soothe your skin, I think you'll really enjoy it :D
Laura
This is one of my all time favorite toners as well :)
Laura
Pink Frenzy
Jenny Wu
I'm not surprised! :D
Tara
I've not used this toner myself, but I've seen this around quite a bit! I am currently using the
HADA LABO Goku-jyun Clear Lotion as a toner, and it's been working out well for me. My face feels so much more hydrated compared the other toners I've been using. I'll definitely consider Klairs in the future, though!
Jenny Wu
The Hada Labo toners are ones I've been really wanting to try, it's much cheaper and many people seem to rave about it! :D
Laura
I really love the klairs, but I'm wanting a cheaper dupe. Is the hada labo like klairs?
Jenny Wu
Hi Laura, unfortunately I haven't tried Hada Labo so I can't compare. However I have read that people with sensitive or inflamed skin can feel a stinging sensation when using hada labo, but I've never had that issue with Klairs. Again I haven't used hada labo so I can't say for sure if they're comparable or not.
Batsheva
Its so versatile! That's what I love about Korean beauty products in general--that and how cheap they are. Also that a lot of them actually work. I have yet to include a toner in my cleansing regime, as I still have to get used to double cleansing. Also, I'm lazy. But when the time is right, I will deffo invest in one. Maybe a cheaper one to start with, but I'll be keeping this one in mind for when I really want to invest. Because you weren't kidding, all the related post suggestions that popped up on your blog feature a Klaires product ;)
http://cynicalduchess.com
Jenny Wu
Haha, yeah, I bought the Klairs value set and I pretty much loved everything in there :P I do agree with you on Korean beauty products - there are so many options available you can easily find something that suits your skin type and budget!
Emily
This sounds like a really lovely toner! I haven't been using a toner recently, as I am just giving it a break for a bit. But I would definitely purchase this one! Sounds like it really produces great results. When I first saw your hand photos I was like DANNNG! Haha. Then I read the caption under. ;p
-Emily www.coatandcoffee.com
Jenny Wu
Haha, sorry for the misleading photo, I was shocked when I saw it myself, especially since I took it just a few seconds after the second photo! While you won't get ridiculous brightening effects at least it'll really hydrate your skin!
Claire
Have you tried the hada labo gokuyen lotion? I heard it was good as well
Jenny Wu
I tried it once years (like...8-9 years) ago and haven't had a chance to retry it since it reformulated. I might give it a try sometime in the future :)
Crystal
My skin is clear and smooth since I've been on a Korean skin care routine. The only problem is that even thought it's smooth and soft it bright light such as in the restroom or in the sun it looks like i have small bumps on my face, mainly my forehead. Some say its white heads or closed comedones but whenever i try to pop it nothing really comes out. I'm currently using the Cosrx aha power liquid and vitamin c serum but it doesn't seem to fix my problem. Any idea on what it is? My skin is still smooth and if i wear foundation you cant see it. Also can you give me some products to help it? It's mostly on my temples and forehead, not the center of my face
Jenny Wu
Sorry, my first guess would be closed comedones as well, but I think it's best to let a dermatologist or esthetician answer that for you. The Cosrx AHA power liquid will take time before you notice results, and you can also try adding their BHA liquid to your routine and rotating between the two. I'm not sure if vitamin c will help much in this case.
Heather Noire
These are such great tips! I never tried this before but I loved your review :)
http://www.bauchlefashion.com/2017/05/the-foxiest-interview-ever.html
Jenny Wu
So glad to hear that Heather, thank you for reading! :D
Naya
Your reviews are always so precise and on point, Jenny! I will try to look where I can get it here in Dubai, it sounds amazing! Love a good toner :)
Naya // www.partyparrotblog.com
Jenny Wu
Thank you Naya for the kind comment, appreciate it! Definitely recommend trying it out if you can find it in Dubai :)
Luchessa
This is definitely a great review. What I haven't tried doing yet, is mixing the toner with a face oil. Very interesting idea I have to say and I might do that when the colder season arrives here in Germany. Now I'm curious to test Klair's unscented toner as well to see if it's worth the hype or if I can easily stay with the original version.
xo, Lu.