Where to purchase: Available on Yesstyle: HERE – Discount Code: CVQFZA
Also Available on Stylevana: HERE – Discount Code: INF10REGIME
Price: £15.80
Volume: 150ml
Made in: South Korea
What is it?: A Hydrating + Exfoliating Toner containing 3% Glycolic Acid and 25% Green Plum Water (also meant to be exfoliating).
Brand Description: This toner gently removes dead skin cells off the uppermost layer of the skin. The Microbubbles in this are supposed to help with dead skin removal. Other Ingredients added such as Rice Bran Water is meant to brighten the skin and Portulaca oleracea (Soothing + Anti-Inflammatory) + Honey extract (hydrate). So overall improving the texture and brightness of the skin.
Supposedly Good for: All Skin Types + Those who want ”brighter” looking skin.
What I think: I wouldn’t actually recommend to sensitive skins unless you can tolerate a bit of stinging upon application. I do think oily skins could use this as well as dry skins as it’s not too thick. But I think those in hot and humid weather may not appreciate that sort of mild film-forming feeling this provides.
Vegan?: No (Honey Extract)
Cruelty Free?: Yes
Packaging: Plastic Bottle with a foaming mechanism Pump. (Does come with a plastic cap so you can travel with this).
Directions: ”Pump 1-2 pumps onto a cotton pad and gently sweep across the face. Pat gently to help absorption.”
How I use it: I used this in the PM after cleansing. I made sure not to use any other exfoliating acids while using this product). I tried to use this with a cotton pad but it was so annoying to do because this is a foam. It was hard to dissolve the product into the cotton pad (had to keep repeatedly tap it) and then I actually had to apply MORE product to try and saturate the pad well enough so it wouldn’t scratch and tug my skin. So I think I wasted more product that way.
I also tried to apply this like foam straight onto the face which worked a bit better. This is because you can hold the foam and then apply it onto your face, then begin patting to the face to dissolve the foam. But it just seemed a bit gimmicky applying this as a foam (to me).
I then found the best way to apply this (for me) which was unscrewing the bottle and pouring the toner onto a cotton pad and swiping the face.
Key Ingredients: Portulaca Oleracea Extract (antioxidant + soothing). Ginseng Root Extract (Antioxidant). Sugarcane _ Honey Extract + Fructose + Glucose (Humectants + Moisturisers). Glycolic Acid is the Key exfoliant in here (3% in here) which is a nice low amount and SHOULDN’T aggrevate the skin (but…this did sting a bit for me). I have seen some other reviews saying that you get used to this sensation, but I didn’t.
Full Ingredients: Water, Prunus Mume Fruit Water, Glycolic Acid, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Sugarcane Extract, Rice Brand Water, Honey Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Glycerin, Propanediol, Tromethamine, Sodium PCA, Glucose, C12-14 Pareth-12, Butylene Glycol, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Phytate, Tocopherol, Ethyl Hexanediol
NOTE: The Incidecoder have a full ingredient breakdown HERE
Swatch:
As you can see from the swatch – this comes out as a foam and once tapping/rubbing the product, it does start to dissolve and become a liquid.
Texture:
It takes a second once pumping onto the skin for the bubbles to then dissolve.
It’s a light, frothy foam ball.
Once you start touching / manipulating the product, you can hear the bubbles dissolving. It becomes a liquid pretty quickly.
As you can see, the bubbles do start to dissolve. You can hear them dissolving if you put your ear close. As the foam becomes a liquid, all you need to do is tap in the product. Bu tI will say that, as you can see from the finish – there is a bit of a shine to the skin. It’s hard to explin but this product does form a sort of thin layer on the skin which I did not find very pleasant. It’s that same sort of tightening feeling you get when you apply a single-molecule Hyaluronic Acid serum. That feeling does change once a moisturiser is applied on top and the product definitely becomes more tolerable.
This does seem to sting a little bit upon application (so be weary if you have any open cuts or active pimples on the skin). And also to me, it felt like this product sort of formed a film a bit on the skin for me (a light one, nothing disruptive i.e. you can still layer products on top). But it just didn’t feel that comfortable.
Finish Comparison
Fragrance?: No added fragrance or essential oils. This has a mild scent of vinegar.
Good Under Makeup?: It’s fine under makeup.
How long have I been using this?: I used this for 3-4 weeks every other day until I discontinued.
The Effect?: Overall this seemed to aggravate my skin a little bit (slight stinging sensation) every time I put it on, and it just felt a little sticky (feels like this forms a sort of layer) on the skin (I think it needs to be in order to foam up nicely). I eventually had to stop using this as I didn’t like using this as a foam format or as a liquid format. It didn’t really hydrate or moisturise the skin too much either so I was using it for that gentle 3% AHA exfoliation (I prefer low % exfoliating acids), but even this didn’t sit too well on my skin. Of course as this contains AHA, this was beginning to provide me with a more refined/brightened texture after a few weeks of usage (I didn’t expect immediate results as this has a lower AHA %).
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What I like:
- I like that they used 3% AHA (i.e. to do gentle daily exfoliation…even if it didn’t work for me ultimately) as the aim is to be able to use something like this daily
- No fragrance or Essential Oils
- Big Bottle (makes sense as you could end up wasting a lot of product in foam format)
What I don’t like:
- Don’t like the Foam format (ended up being messy and annoying to use)
- I didn’t like the finish (kind of feels like a thin film forming on top of the skin)
- Difficult to use on a pad if using as a foam (finnicky)
- Tended to aggravate my skin rather than soothe it (even with a low 3% AHA amount)
Overall Rating and Conclusion: 2.9/5 – Although this started of a fun experience, I ended up discontinuing this product. Overall it kind of stung/irritated my skin a bit and my skin didn’t get used to it. Also although I ended up using this product as a liquid (without foaming it), the texture overall wasn’t very pleasant (almost sticky). I don’t like foaming toners and I don’t think I will be trying anymore after this. They don’t work with the way I like using my toners (i.e. liquid and with a cotton pad, with preferably very lightweight, non-sticky textures.
Would I repurchase?: No I would not.
Dupe?: The Geek and Gorgeous Cheer Up Exfoliating Liquid is a product I started using as a replacement of this product. Although it contains Mandelic Acid (A gentler AHA) and 1% Salicylic Acid (not in this product) – I would recommend it as a gentle, non-sticky exfoliating toner which hasn’t stung me yet.
My Skin Type: I am acne prone and have slightly dehydrated combo skin. My skin is usually tight where the cheeks and eye area is and the outer parts of my face. My T zone is oily. My skin isn’t a fan of thick/heavy formulas so I opt for lightweight formulas to prevent it from clogging up. My skin doesn’t like essential oils either and I try to avoid fragrance when I can.
Disclaimer: I am a skincare enthusiast and not a skin expert. I am not qualified to give out dermatological advice. This type of advice should only be given by a medical practitioner. Upon trying / using any of the reviewed products on the blog, please follow the manufacturer’s instructions and warnings and please seek medical advice if needed.
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My Skincare Regime 