Current Toners

Toners. They are one of those beauty skin care mysteries, where you are quite not sure if they actually worth adding into the skincare regime (can't you get the same effect with just splashing cold water over your face?). I have had bad experience with toners in the past, where the only one I used literally stripped my skin off after a few uses. So I was scared away from them for years. Last year, I did a bit of research and I realised that the product had lashings of alcohol in it so my poor, sensitive skin didn't stand a chance.

So I thought I'd give the murky world of toners another chance and seem to have accumulated a few now. Here's my thoughts on them.


Elemis Rehydrating Ginseng Toner

This was the first one I acquired after my disaster years ago - and only because it was given to me by a friend who didn't want it. The fool. Well, her junk, my treasure (that's how they say it don't they?). This stuff is great. It contains ginseng, quillaja wood and sweet berry flower* which is meant to rehydrate, and nourish the skin. Suited for mature and dehydrated skin. My skin is not yet classified at 'mature' just yet but it does get pretty dehydrated and I am at that stage where it is recommended to start taking extra care of it. It comes in a pump spray which I love using. I know there are articles about this subject, and a lot of bloggers have stressed, that, you should spray a toner onto a cotton pad, and sweep it across the face. But with this one, I love to spray it directly on my face. It just gives me a feeling of instant revitalisation. I let it sink in for a couple of seconds then place a thin tissue over my face to remove any excess moisture. Its an absolute treat to use. All natural ingredients (as natural as they can be I suppose), and my skin always feels pampered and supple after I use this. I tend to tone every other day and this has last me for AGES (nearly a year I'd say) and as you can see from the picture, a whole bunch of uses left.

You can get this toner at their timetospa website. But if you google name, you can find a ton of websites that go great elemis deals. You'll be sure to find a bargain.

Lush Tea Tree Water (£6.35 for 250ml)

This is my most recent purchase - a week ago to be exact. A short while ago, I started developing a whole range of spots across my neck, under my chin. I don't know why this has happened, as its not happening to the rest of my face. Anyway, I bought tee tree oil which I applied to the spots with a cotton pad. It seemed to help calm them down but then fresh new spots started developing in other areas of under my skin. Now, I managed to use up my tee tree oil within a couple of weeks and thought this is going to be a very expensive treatment for me. Then I remembered Lush did a toner with tee tree in it. So off I went to covent garden and picked one up. 

It says that its for oily skin, which mine really isn't, but it can get greasy as they day wears in. It also includes juniper berry and grapefruit waters to help refresh and gently tone with natural oils. This also comes in a spray bottle, but with this, I do apply with a cotton pad and sweep across my neck. This is because as it is watery, it is more diluted than the one I bought previously. So I use the pad to concentrate on the trouble areas. I gotta tell ya, although it has been a week, it has helped a huge bunch. Some of the blemishes have disappeared overnight without leaving scarring. I'm glad I got this.

Boots Traditional Skincare Glycerin and Rosewater (A couple of quid???)

I was attracted to it because:

a) Rosewater has always been my friend and gylcerin is always a good thing

b) Bloomin' cheap and very multi-purpose

Its in the Boots Traditional skincare line. I'm sure it costs under £3 but I couldn't find it on the website and am a bit worried that they have discontinued the line. This is great. Its not so much a toner as I don't think it clears away any make-up debris etc. But what it does do is nourish the skin and makes it supple, ideal for applying moisturiser afterwards. A definite gem that doesn't hurt the wallet. People with dry skin - get this.

* I did some research to see what skincare properties ginseng, quillaja wood and sweet berry flower have for the skin. What I found is this:

• Ginseng:  stress reducer, energizes those suffering from fatigue, and helps calm those prone to stress or nervousness.  It also has a reputation for improving mental clarity and memory, enhancing physical stamina, and bolstering the immune system. I can see how this can work by spraying it across the face, and hence the revitalising feeling when I use it.
• Quillaja: meant to be cleansing and water binding. This is was must make the product foamy when I shake it.
• sweet berry flower: just don't know what this is