Acwell Licorice pH Balancing Cleansing Toner Dupes & Cheaper Alternatives
From 18 Reddit threads · Updated September 30, 2026
Licorice toner for fading red pimple marks; soothed fresh skin for many. The catch: can wreck a barrier fast if your skin is already stressed. Here's what Redditors reach for instead.
The short answer
Best Cheaper AlternativeLayerable watery hydration · $8.59 · 500 ml vs $26.10 for the original
Best for Redness / IrritationHydration for days, not splashy water · $19.99 · 201.1 ml
#1
Best Overall Alternative
The why
One minus
Can feel sticky, thick, or greasy
Good forDry Skin, Sensitive Skin
Both recommended for Hyperpigmentation; discussed alongside Acwell Licorice pH Balancing Cleansing Toner in 5 threads.
“AND I see a noticeable difference in my acne scars by the next time I go to do my skincare routine.”
— Reddit, r/AsianBeauty
The original, at a glance
- Why people love it
- Licorice-heavy formula for red marks and dullness
- Price
- $26.10 · 300 ml · $0.09/ml
#2
Best Cheaper Alternative
- Size: 500 ml
- Price per ml: $0.02/ml (original $0.09/ml)
The why
A straight-up watery toner with glycerin, coix seed extract, and dipotassium glycyrrhizinate. It shines on dehydrated, oily, or tret-ravaged skin when you layer it; very dry or eczema-prone faces often want more.
One minus
Can feel like you’re just putting on water
Good forSensitive Skin
Both recommended for Redness / Irritation.
“the Torriden and Hatomugi ones are also really good options”
— Reddit, r/AsianBeauty
#3
Best for Redness / Irritation
- Size: 201.1 ml
- Price per ml: $0.10/ml (original $0.09/ml)
The why
A simple, no-nonsense hydrating toner with Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract and a viscous, cushiony feel. It suits dehydrated, sensitive, or tret-wrecked skin that wants more slip than water. Can break out some acne-prone folks.
One minus
Can trigger breakouts or whiteheads
Both recommended for Redness / Irritation.
“This is the only toner that didn't aggravate my eczema.”
— Reddit, r/koreanskincare
#4
Best for Hyperpigmentation
Shirojyun Premium Whitening Lotion
Hada Labo·Toner
See alternativesTranexamic acid plus vitamin C targets dark marks
The why
A watery toner with tranexamic acid, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, and multiple hyaluronic-acid forms targets uneven tone while adding short-term hydration. It fits dull, dehydrated skin better than stubborn acne-prone skin, which may develop bumps or irritation.
One minus
Can trigger tiny bumps, breakouts, or irritation
Good forDry Skin, Sensitive Skin
Both recommended for Hyperpigmentation.
“there’s one Japanese serum from Hada Labo called ‘whitening lotion’ which has had the biggest impact on my hyperpigmentation in a single product of anything I’ve tried.”
— Reddit, r/SkincareAddiction
Other alternatives worth a look
Research-backed glycolic acid acne improvement · 685 mentions
Body AcneKeratosis Pilaris
Lightweight, easily absorbed hydration step · 372 mentions
Under MakeupSkin Barrier
Protease enzyme exfoliation — gentler than acids · 144 mentions
Texture / PoresAcne
Watery-milky hydration that sinks in fast · 141 mentions
DullnessHyperpigmentation
Watery, layerable hydration; four to six passes work · 94 mentions
Redness / IrritationSkin Barrier
Hydrating milky layer for tretinoin dryness · 201 mentions
Under MakeupBrightening
Browse more
Reddit's best toners by concern, skin type or ingredient list
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