If you spend any time in K-beauty communities, you’ve seen these two toners recommended constantly. The Anua Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner is the go-to for calming redness and irritation. The Im From Rice Toner is the cult favorite for brightening dull skin and adding glow. They’re both wildly popular, similarly priced, and serve as the foundation step in millions of routines.
They are built differently. Anua is based on 77% heartleaf (Houttuynia cordata) extract. Im From is made with ground Yeoju rice and 77.78% Goami rice extract, according to the Mirai Skin listing. This comparison uses published product information and research on the main ingredients. We have not run a wear test.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Anua Heartleaf Toner | Im From Rice Toner |
|---|---|---|
| Key Ingredient | 77% heartleaf (houttuynia cordata) | 77.78% rice extract |
| Primary Benefit | Calming, redness reduction | Brightening, glow |
| Texture | Thin, watery | Slightly milky, light viscosity |
| Best For | Sensitive, redness-prone, acne-prone | Dull, uneven, dry-to-normal skin |
| pH | ~5.5 | ~5.0 |
| Size | 250ml | 150ml |
| Price Range | $18–$23 | $18–$22 |
| Fragrance | Subtle herbal (natural) | Subtle rice water (natural) |
Anua Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner
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See the full Anua range at Mirai.
Texture. Thin, watery, almost indistinguishable from water when poured. It absorbs instantly — there’s no residue, no tackiness, no waiting. It feels like you put nothing on, which is exactly the point.
**Key ingredients. 77% heartleaf extract (houttuynia cordata extract), with panthenol and madecassoside.
**What the formula is designed to do. Heartleaf extract is the main ingredient. A lab study of Houttuynia cordata essential oil reported antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity (Sci Rep 2025, Houttuynia cordata in vitro study). Those are lab results, not trials on faces. Anua markets the toner for redness-prone and sensitive skin. We can’t promise it reduces redness or breakouts for you.
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Anua’s lineup extends the heartleaf philosophy further. The Anua Heartleaf Cleansing Oil makes a gentle, non-stripping first cleanse that pairs naturally with this toner.
Im From Rice Toner
[Shop I’m from Rice Toner →](https://www.mirai-skin.com/products/im-from-rice-toner-150ml)
Texture. Slightly milky with a touch of viscosity. When you shake the bottle, you can see the rice particles suspended in the liquid. It’s thicker than the Anua but still light — somewhere between a traditional toner and a lightweight essence.
Key ingredients. 77.78% rice extract from Yeoju, Korea, naturally rich in niacinamide, amino acids, minerals, and vitamin B. Rice bran extract provides additional antioxidant and brightening activity.
**What the formula is designed to do. Im From markets the toner for dull, irritated or ageing skin, and says it exfoliates and hydrates, according to the Mirai Skin listing. Brightening from a rice toner is gradual and modest.
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Head-to-Head by Category
Calming and Redness
**Anua is built around heartleaf, which is marketed for redness-prone skin.
Im From has mild soothing properties from the rice extract, but it’s not designed to target redness. It won’t aggravate sensitive skin, but it won’t actively fix it either.
Winner. Anua, decisively.
Brightening and Glow
**Im From is the brightening pick on paper, because the brand positions it for dullness. Neither toner is a dark-spot treatment.
Anua doesn’t do much for brightness. It keeps skin calm and healthy, which can indirectly improve tone, but there’s no targeted brightening mechanism.
Winner. Im From, clearly.
Hydration
Both toners hydrate, but differently.
Anua provides lightweight, fast-absorbing hydration that’s best as a prep layer. It doesn’t feel like it adds much moisture on its own, but it primes the skin to absorb everything that follows more efficiently.
Im From delivers more noticeable standalone hydration thanks to the amino acids and minerals in the rice extract. It feels like a proper hydrating step, not just prep.
Winner. Im From for hydration depth. Anua for lightweight prep.
Texture and Layering
Anua is the better layering toner. Its watery texture disappears instantly and never interferes with subsequent products. You can apply multiple layers (the “7-skin method”) without any buildup.
Im From layers well but isn’t quite as invisible. Its slight milkiness means you feel it more as you stack products. Still perfectly functional, just less ghost-like than Anua.
Winner. Anua.
Value
**Anua comes in a 250ml bottle, which lasts longer than a 150ml bottle at the same use rate.
**Im From comes in 150ml. Check current prices on both listings before comparing cost per ml.
Winner. Anua.
Who Should Buy Which
Choose Anua Heartleaf Toner if:
- Your skin is sensitive, reactive, or redness-prone
- You’re dealing with acne or post-exfoliation irritation
- You want an invisible prep toner that layers seamlessly
- You prefer a watery, no-residue texture
- Value and volume matter to you
Choose Im From Rice Toner if:
- Your main concern is dullness, uneven tone, or dark spots
- You want visible brightening and glow
- You have dry-to-normal skin that benefits from extra hydration
- You’re building a brightening-focused routine
- You prefer a slightly richer toner that feels like a hydration step
Can you use both? Absolutely. Apply the Anua first to calm and prep, then follow with the Im From to brighten and hydrate. This layered approach works especially well for people with sensitive skin that also needs brightening — a common combination that’s tough to solve with a single product.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Anua Heartleaf Toner good for acne?
Anua markets it for acne-prone skin. It is not an acne treatment.
Does Im From Rice Toner contain niacinamide?
Im From does not list niacinamide as an added ingredient on its Mirai Skin listing. If you want niacinamide, layer a dedicated serum over the toner.
Can I use these toners with retinol?
Both can be used on retinol nights. Apply the toner first.
Do these toners expire quickly after opening?
Both have a 12-month PAO (period after opening). The Anua’s larger 250ml bottle takes longer to finish, so keep it sealed when not in use and store it away from direct sunlight and heat. The Im From 150ml is typically finished well within the 12-month window.
Are these toners pH-balanced?
Yes. The Anua sits at approximately 5.5 and the Im From at approximately 5.0. Both are within the skin’s natural pH range (4.5–5.5), meaning they won’t disrupt your acid mantle or cause irritation. For more on why toner pH matters, see our toner ranking guide.
If you’re considering layering an Anua niacinamide serum after your Anua toner, our Anua Peach Niacinamide vs The Ordinary comparison will help you decide whether the K-beauty formula or The Ordinary’s budget staple is the right call for your pores and skin tone.
