If you've spent any time in Korean skincare corners of TikTok or Reddit, you've almost certainly seen both of these bottles. Anua's Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner built its reputation on Houttuynia Cordata (heartleaf), a traditional East Asian plant extract prized for calming redness and irritation. Round Lab's 1025 Dokdo Toner takes a completely different approach, built around deep sea water sourced from 1,025 meters near Ulleungdo Island and marketed as Korea's best-selling toner for years running. We did not run our own side-by-side skin test — this is a roundup of verified Amazon owner data plus independent editorial reviews of each.
At a glance
| Anua Heartleaf 77 Soothing Toner | Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Toner | |
|---|---|---|
| Star ingredient | 77% Houttuynia Cordata (heartleaf) extract | Deep sea water (1,025m depth) + hyaluronic acid |
| Best known for | Calming redness, acne-prone/sensitive skin | Lightweight hydration, pH balancing, gentle exfoliation |
| Texture | Watery, runny, no discernible scent | Water-like, slightly more viscous, essentially scentless |
| Size / price | 8.45 fl oz, $19.69 (list $23.00) | 16.91 fl oz, $26.30 (list $34.00) |
| Amazon rating | 4.5/5 (14,872 ratings) | 4.6/5 (1,920 ratings) |
| Sold by | Anua (official) | ROUNDLAB OFFICIAL |
| Editorial score | Not formally scored (The Happy Sloths, 2024) | 4.5/5 after 4-week test (Mirai Skin, 2026) |
A note on the table: Round Lab's per-ounce price is actually lower once you account for the bottle size (16.91 fl oz vs Anua's 8.45 fl oz), even though the sticker price is higher. Mirai Skin, which reviewed the Dokdo Toner, is also a K-beauty specialty retailer that sells the product — we've noted that above rather than treating its score as fully independent, and weighed it alongside the separate Amazon owner data.
Anua Heartleaf 77 Soothing Toner: what reviewers and owners say
The Happy Sloths, an independent beauty blog reviewing products since 2013, described the formula as "super gentle and mild," noting it "feels lightly soothing, hydrating, and not at all irritating," and specifically called it out as a good pairing on retinol days for calming and prepping skin. Their overall take was measured rather than glowing: "nothing groundbreaking," but a "crowd-pleasing, everyday toner" worth repurchasing during a sale.
Amazon's 14,872 ratings average 4.5 out of 5. Amazon's own AI summary is notably more mixed than Round Lab's: customers find it "effective and moisturizing" with a brightening effect and redness-calming, but "opinions are mixed regarding its gentleness, with some finding it very gentle while others report burning sensations," and "customers disagree on the value for money, with some saying they get plenty of product for the price while others find it overpriced." Several detailed reviews from users with dry or acne-prone skin specifically noted it was "gentle and soothing, but not quite hydrating enough" on its own, requiring a follow-up moisturizer.
What reviewers liked
- Genuinely calming for redness and irritated skin (The Happy Sloths, Amazon)
- Lightweight, fast-absorbing, layers well under serums (The Happy Sloths)
- Large bottle lasts a long time relative to price (Amazon)
- Fragrance-free, well-tolerated by sensitive/reactive skin in most reports (Amazon)
What reviewers flagged
- Some reviewers report burning or irritation, despite the "gentle" reputation (Amazon)
- Not hydrating enough on its own for dry/acne-prone skin per several detailed reviews (Amazon)
- Mixed opinions on value for money (Amazon)
- Described by one independent reviewer as solid but "nothing groundbreaking" (The Happy Sloths)
Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Toner: what reviewers and owners say
Mirai Skin's four-week editorial test scored the Dokdo Toner 4.5 out of 5, calling it "about as close to perfect as they come" as a hydrating prep toner, while docking half a point for "basic packaging" and the fact that "it won't do much as a standalone product" beyond hydration. Their reviewer specifically noted a "glow factor" that increased by week three, and reported the toner helped other products in their routine "absorb better," including a vitamin C serum. Their listed cons: it won't provide dramatic visible results alone, and it's "not a treatment toner" for those wanting active ingredients.
Amazon's 1,920 ratings average 4.6 out of 5 — the higher of the two, though on a much smaller review base than Anua's. Amazon's summary says customers find it "effective and gentle, noting it immediately calms redness and acne breakouts while being suitable for sensitive skin," and highlights its "hydrating properties, water-like consistency, and quick absorption." Multiple reviewers, including ones with eczema, rosacea, and seborrheic-adjacent sensitivity, specifically called out that it did not trigger flare-ups. A recurring theme in the reviews: several owners decant it into a spray bottle since the watery consistency makes cotton-pad application wasteful.
What reviewers liked
- Scored 4.5/5 after a dedicated 4-week test, called "close to perfect" as a prep toner (Mirai Skin)
- Universally well-tolerated across skin types, including reactive skin (Amazon)
- Helps other products in a routine absorb better (Mirai Skin)
- Fragrance-free, gentle exfoliation, calms redness and acne per owners (Amazon)
What reviewers flagged
- Won't provide dramatic results as a standalone product (Mirai Skin)
- Basic flip-cap packaging can leak in travel bags (Mirai Skin)
- Not a treatment toner — no exfoliating or active-ingredient punch (Mirai Skin)
- Smaller Amazon review base than Anua's, so the 4.6 average carries less statistical weight
Head-to-head: which should you buy
If redness and irritation are your specific, primary concern, Anua's heartleaf concentration is the more purpose-built formula, and both the independent review and Amazon data back its calming effect. But if you want a genuinely universal, low-risk toner that works as a foundation for the rest of your routine — and you're not chasing a specific active ingredient — the data leans toward Round Lab: a higher Amazon average, a more decisive 4.5/5 from a dedicated multi-week test, and reviewer language that skews toward "close to perfect" rather than Anua's "crowd-pleasing but nothing groundbreaking." The catch is sample size: Anua's rating is backed by nearly 8x more Amazon reviews, which makes it the safer statistical bet even with its more mixed feedback.
Before you buy: what to check
Anua sells the Heartleaf toner in both 8.45 fl oz and 16.9 fl oz sizes at different per-ounce prices, plus a "Toner Pads" version with the same active — confirm you're buying the liquid toner if that's specifically what you want. Round Lab's own product line includes the Dokdo Toner alongside a separate Pine Calming Cica Toner and Birch Juice line with different key ingredients and lower Amazon review volume — double check the listing says "1025 Dokdo Toner" specifically. Both brands are sold directly by the official brand storefront on Amazon in the listings linked here, which reduces (though never fully eliminates) the risk of counterfeit stock that can affect popular K-beauty items.
Our take, based on the roundup
Neither toner is a bad choice — both are gentle, fragrance-free, and well-reviewed by real owners. If we had to pick one blind, Round Lab's Dokdo Toner has the edge on the numbers: a higher Amazon average, a decisive 4.5/5 from a dedicated multi-week editorial test, and more consistently enthusiastic language across sources. Anua's Heartleaf 77 remains the more targeted pick specifically for redness and irritation, and its far larger review base (nearly 15,000 ratings) means its 4.5 average is a more statistically reliable signal, even if individual reviews are more mixed. If your skin is drier or you want a treatment-adjacent toner, look further regardless — both of these are positioned as gentle, hydrating basics rather than active-ingredient powerhouses.
Sources
- Amazon customer reviews — Anua Heartleaf 77 Soothing Toner, 14,872 verified ratings, 4.5/5 average
- Amazon customer reviews — Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Toner, 1,920 verified ratings, 4.6/5 average
- The Happy Sloths — Anua Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner review, independent beauty blog, 2024
- Mirai Skin — Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Toner review, 4-week editorial test, 4.5/5, 2026
Keeping this comparison current
Both brands regularly expand their toner lineups and adjust pricing, and Amazon review counts and averages shift over time. We revisit comparisons like this periodically rather than treating them as a one-time snapshot, and will update this page if either listing's formula, pricing, or availability changes materially.