Both of these toners are built around a calming plant extract, both come in a watery bottle, and both are routinely recommended for sensitive or blemish-prone skin. That makes them easy to mix up, but their formulas aim at different jobs, and choosing the wrong one is a common reason a "soothing toner" disappoints.
Quick answer: Anua Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner is a calming, hydrating toner built on 77% heartleaf extract, while SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Toning Toner combines 84% centella extract with PHA, a mild exfoliant, and niacinamide. Choose Anua when skin is irritated or breakout-prone and needs calming, and SKIN1004 when skin is stable and you want gentle smoothing. Many people use both at different times.
Who this comparison is for
This is for shoppers choosing between these two widely sold toners for oily, combination, sensitive, or blemish-prone skin. It is a formula-based comparison using published ingredient lists and brand descriptions, not a laboratory test, and it does not promise any result. Formulas and versions change, and SKIN1004 sells several different toners, so check the packaging of the exact product you receive. If you have a diagnosed skin condition, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have plant allergies, check the ingredient list with a qualified clinician first.
What Anua Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner offers
This toner's published ingredient list begins with houttuynia cordata (heartleaf) extract at 77%, followed by water, 1,2-hexanediol, glycerin, betaine, and panthenol, with additional plant extracts including centella asiatica, sugarcane, purslane, vitex, and chamomile. Retailers describe it as alcohol-free and fragrance-free, with a mildly acidic pH around 5.5. A review by the DermFND database describes it as a simple formula, noting that people looking for active ingredients such as niacinamide or acids will not find them as headline ingredients here. Retailers also credit the sugarcane extract with gentle exfoliation, so it is not purely a hydration-only formula. Anua also sells a newer "Heartleaf 77 + Hyaluron" variant with a different ingredient list, so check which one you are buying.
What SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Toning Toner offers
This toner is formulated around 84% centella asiatica extract, with ingredients including niacinamide, gluconolactone (a PHA, or polyhydroxy acid, which is a mild exfoliant), adenosine, betaine, dipotassium glycyrrhizate, and hyaluronic acid. Retailers describe it as a gentle, daily exfoliating toner for sensitive skin, and some list it as an evening step after cleansing, so check the pack for directions. Dr. Jane Yoo, a board-certified dermatologist, describes this toner in her 2026 list as combining centella with gentle exfoliating support. Cleveland Clinic notes that centella asiatica has been studied for anti-inflammatory and skin-barrier benefits, though the research is still developing.
Side-by-side comparison
| Factor | Anua Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner | SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Toning Toner |
|---|---|---|
| Main idea | Calming and hydrating | Calming plus mild exfoliation |
| Headline ingredient | 77% houttuynia cordata (heartleaf) extract | 84% centella asiatica extract |
| Notable extras | Panthenol, betaine, glycerin, sugarcane, purslane, chamomile | PHA (gluconolactone), niacinamide, adenosine, hyaluronic acid |
| Exfoliation | Mild at most, via sugarcane extract according to retailers | Mild, via PHA |
| Best suited for | Oily or blemish-prone skin that is irritated or reactive | Sensitive or combination skin that is stable and wants smoother texture and tone |
| Typical use | Morning and evening, once your patch test passes | Start once daily or less, often in the evening, and build up |
| Check first | Plant extracts, including chamomile, if you have plant allergies | Stinging if skin is dry or damaged, since it exfoliates |
Which one fits your skin
- Choose Anua if: your skin is red, flushed, or irritated by heat, sweat, or breakouts, and you want the gentlest possible toner step.
- Choose SKIN1004 if: your skin feels calm, but looks dull or slightly rough, and you want a mild, introductory exfoliating step without a stronger acid.
- Use both if: your skin tolerates them, with Anua as a morning calming step and SKIN1004 a few evenings a week. Start with one at a time rather than layering both together.
- Use neither if: your skin is cracked, burning, or inflamed. Pause exfoliating products and focus on moisturizer until it settles.
Neither toner is a primary acne treatment. For active breakouts, ingredients with stronger evidence, such as salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, or adapalene, remain the first-line options, and a toner works alongside them.
Bangladesh climate context
A Dhaka dermatologist has noted that monsoon humidity increases oil production and breakouts, which makes a calming, non-heavy toner like Anua's easy to fit into the wettest months. Once skin is stable, a mild exfoliating toner like SKIN1004's can help with dullness. In winter, when skin is drier and the barrier is more fragile, an exfoliating toner may sting, so follow it with a cream or pause it and use only the calming one. In every season, use sunscreen daily, because exfoliating ingredients can make skin more sensitive to the sun.
How to introduce either toner
- Patch-test on a small area for at least a day or two, and longer if your skin is very reactive, since some reactions are delayed.
- Apply after cleansing, either with a clean cotton pad or by patting with clean hands.
- For SKIN1004, begin once daily or less, and watch for stinging, redness, or dryness before increasing.
- Follow with a moisturizer, and sunscreen in the morning.
- Add one new product at a time, and give any toner a few weeks before judging it.
Mistakes to avoid
- Assuming "soothing" means "risk-free". Plant extracts can trigger reactions in some people, so patch-test.
- Treating a toner as an acne treatment. It supports the routine, and it does not replace proven acne ingredients.
- Layering several exfoliating products with SKIN1004. Combine it with acids or retinoids only gradually.
- Skipping moisturizer and sunscreen. A toner is one step, not a complete routine.
- Buying on price alone. Counterfeits are a documented problem in Bangladesh, so check the seller, batch code, and expiry date.
Frequently asked questions
Which toner is better for oily, acne-prone skin?
Anua is usually the gentler starting point for oily, blemish-prone skin that is irritated. SKIN1004 suits oily or combination skin that is calm and tolerates mild exfoliation.
Does the SKIN1004 toner exfoliate?
Yes, mildly. It contains PHA, a gentle exfoliant, and it is marketed as a daily-use exfoliating toner for sensitive skin, though you should still introduce it gradually.
Does Anua's toner contain exfoliating acids?
Its listed ingredients do not highlight a named acid, but retailers credit the sugarcane extract with gentle exfoliation, so it is not purely a hydration-only formula.
Can I use both toners together?
Many people do, usually Anua in the morning and SKIN1004 a few evenings a week. Introduce them separately first so you can tell which one your skin likes.
Are they fragrance-free?
Retailers describe both as fragrance-free, but formulas change, so read the ingredient list on the packaging you receive, especially if your skin is reactive.
Is either toner safe during pregnancy?
We cannot say a product is safe for pregnancy. Check the full ingredient list with a qualified clinician before starting any new product.
Choosing between them
If your skin needs calming, start with Anua's Heartleaf toner. If your skin is steady and you want mild smoothing, SKIN1004's Centella Toning Toner is the better match. Browse Skincare Mart and check each product page for the exact version, ingredient list, and batch and expiry details before you order.
