If you want hydration alongside help with oiliness and uneven-looking skin tone, I would choose the No.1 Pantothenic B5 Active Soothing Serum first. The No.1 Calming Herb Toner makes more sense when you want an extra watery layer before your moisturiser. You can use them together, but you do not need the pair to make either product useful.
The matching number makes them look like a ready-made routine. Numbuzin is a Korean skincare brand that uses numbers across its ranges, though a toner and serum sharing No.1 can still have different formulas. If the labels are confusing, our Numbuzin numbering guide explains the wider range.
The difference at a glance
| Detail | No.1 Calming Herb Toner | No.1 Pantothenic B5 Serum |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Watery toner | Lightweight serum |
| Main role | An optional layer of hydration | Hydration plus niacinamide for oiliness and uneven tone |
| Formula highlights | Glycerin, betaine, panthenol and botanical extracts | Niacinamide, panthenol, pantothenic acid and hydrating ingredients |
| Routine position | After cleansing, before serum or moisturiser | After cleansing or toner, before moisturiser |
The key difference is the serum's niacinamide. Hydration and botanical ingredients overlap, so buying both does not give you two completely separate sets of benefits.
What the B5 serum adds
Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3. In skincare, it helps support the skin's moisture barrier and can improve the appearance of uneven pigmentation. It can also help with oiliness, making it relevant when your skin feels dehydrated but still looks shiny.
Olive Young lists this serum with 4% niacinamide. If you want hydration plus care for leftover dark marks or an uneven-looking complexion, that gives the serum a clearer purpose than adding another basic hydrating product.
The B5 part has a different job. Panthenol is a B5-related ingredient used to support hydration and help reduce moisture loss. The serum also contains pantothenic acid, vitamin B5 itself. Together with glycerin and other moisturising ingredients, they give the formula a hydration focus alongside its niacinamide.
This is why I would consider the serum for oily or combination skin that also wants help with uneven tone. Numbuzin describes it as lightweight, which fits that brief. The appeal is getting hydration and a useful additional ingredient in one step, rather than choosing a bottle only because it says B5.
What the Calming Herb Toner adds
The toner gives you a watery hydration step. Glycerin helps attract and hold water in the skin, while betaine and panthenol also support the formula's moisturising role. If you like a light layer between cleansing and cream, this is the more straightforward option.
Its botanical blend includes heartleaf, centella and liquorice root. These are ingredients you will often encounter in skincare marketed for calming, and that is how Numbuzin positions this toner. I would choose it for that light hydration step rather than targeted care for dark marks or persistent breakouts. It does not contain niacinamide.
That distinction also matters if niacinamide has disagreed with your skin before. You can choose this toner for an extra hydration step without adding another niacinamide product. A botanical formula can still irritate individual skin, so “calming” should not be read as a promise that everyone will tolerate it.
They have more in common than the labels suggest
The toner contains panthenol too. The serum also contains heartleaf, centella and liquorice root. Separating them into “herbs for soothing” and “B5 for moisture” misses that overlap.
This changes how I would spend the money. If your main aim is adding hydration, start with one product and see whether it fills that gap. The serum already supplies moisturising ingredients, so the toner is an optional addition if you enjoy layering or want another watery step.
If your skin stays tight or flaky despite several hydrating products, I would look at your moisturiser before adding this pair. A suitable cream can help reduce moisture escaping from the skin. More watery layers alone may leave that part of a dry-skin routine unfinished.
Choose around the routine you already have
- You want hydration and your skin is oily with uneven tone: the serum is my first choice. Its niacinamide gives it the more focused role in this comparison.
- You already use a niacinamide serum you like: there is less reason to add the B5 serum for that same ingredient. The toner is worth considering only if you still want a watery hydration step.
- Your main concern is dryness: prioritise a moisturiser that keeps your skin comfortable. Either product can be an extra layer, but buying both would not be my first fix.
- Your current routine already covers these needs: skip both. A matching range is convenient to browse, but a new step should earn its place.
How to use one or both
If you use both, apply them in this order: cleanse, toner, serum, moisturiser, then sunscreen in the morning. Gently spread or pat on the toner, follow with the serum, and finish with your moisturiser. There is no reason to add a long waiting period between these two hydrating steps.
With the serum alone, go from cleansing to serum and moisturiser. With the toner alone, go from cleansing to toner and moisturiser. You can keep either routine short; the serum does not need this particular toner underneath it.
Introduce one new product at a time so you can judge whether the extra step is useful and comfortable. If persistent acne is the reason you are shopping, treat these as supporting skincare rather than a replacement for acne treatment.
The products in this comparison
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- Numbuzin No.1 Calming Herb Toner 300ml Refill Set on Olive Young Global
- Numbuzin No.1 Pantothenic B5 Active Soothing Serum 50ml on Olive Young Global
My choice would be the serum when oiliness or uneven tone gives niacinamide a clear job to do. I would choose the toner when an extra watery layer is what the routine is missing. Using both is reasonable if you enjoy that combination, but the matching No.1 labels are not a reason to double the purchase.