Review: Axis-y Aqua Boosting Essence Toner + Ampoule

Hello all! – I have previously reviewed The K-beauty brand Axis-y’s Sunblock (Review HERE), Cleansing Foam (Review HERE) and Duo Cream (Review HERE). I liked those products, so I decided to give some more of their unscented products a go and try the Axis-y Aqua Boosting Essence Toner and the Advanced Aqua Boosting Ampoule! These are from the same line, where their main feature is that both contain 10 types (multiple forms) of Hyaluronic Acid. Therefore, this line focuses on hydration, reaching deeply into the skin and nourishing it from within, thereby plumping up the skin.

Note: Axis-y is available at Yesstyle: LINK / Stylevana: LINK / Amazon: LINK

Axis-y – Aqua Boosting Essence Toner

Available at: Stylevana: LINK

Price: £~8.59 / $10.69

Volume: 150ml

Vegan: Yes

Cruelty-Free: Yes

Fragrance + EO Free?: Yes

Malesezzia Suitable?: No

What is it + What does it do?: Packed with 10 kinds of Hyaluronic acid to intensely hydrate and fortify the skin’s barrier. This viscous toner also contains Cica and Green Tea Extract to soothe the skin.
How to use: Pour a decent amount onto a cotton pad and wipe the face and neck along the skin’s texture.

Packaging: Plastic Bottle with a screw-on cap. Also has a plastic tab to prevent over-pouring (see below). It can collect product and become slightly messy.

Key Ingredients: Cica, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Madecassoside, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer (Hydrating + Antioxidants) / Lactobionic acid (A PHA – Gently Exfoliating) / Glycerin, Arginine, Squalane, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolysed Hyaluronic Acid, Polyquaternium-51, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate (Moisturising / Hydrating) / Beta-Glucan, Panthenol, Allantoin (Soothing).

Full Ingredients: Water, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dimethyl Sulfone, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Glycerin, Carbomer, Arginine, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Xanthan Gum, Allantoin, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Polyquaternium-51, Beta-Glucan, Panthenol, Squalane, Caprylyl Glycol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Tocopherol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Lactobionic Acid, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Artemisia Capillaris Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Madecassoside, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hyaluronate, Sodium Phytate, Ethylhexylglycerin

Texture: This slides down the hand (lightweight). It is hydrating but is still thicker than water. When it dries down, it does become remotely sticky (forms a slight layer on top of the skin, but not as much as the ampoule which is thicker). See swatch video below.

Hopefully you can see how hydrating this product looks and how easy it is to smooth along the skin.

Scent: This is fragrance + EO Free and does not have a scent

Does this sting/irritate if the skin is sensitised?: Yes

Suitable for which skin type?: Normal, Combination + Oily

Texture Swatch:

Pros:

• Hydrating (Plumps up the skin)
• Fragrance + EO Free
• Cruelty-Free
• Thicker than water (so adds some more hydration)
• Didn’t sting / irritate or ruin my skin

Cons:

• Slightly Sticky / Tacky once dried down
• Can ball up (If you rub the face or add oil-based products on top)

Overall + My Experience: This has been a hydrating essence toner to use, I don’t have an issue with its effectiveness (This did not irritate my skin and did soothe it) it’s just that I find it a little too sticky for my personal liking. When it sets, if I apply anything slightly oily on top, this will ball up. And I find that my face sticks slightly to my pillow which isn’t very comfortable. There are more, less-sticky essence toners which are also very hydrating (You can see my Skincare Favourites HERE).

Dupe?: The Dear,Klairs – Supple Preparation Toner (Swatches + Review HERE) is a similar dupe in terms of texture (both quite thick). It can ball up, however.

Available at: Yesstyle: LINK / Stylevana: LINK

• The HaruHaru Wonder – Vegan Black Rice Toner (Swatches + Review HERE) is also viscous but without the stickiness (I prefer this texture and thickness).

Available at: Yesstyle: LINK / Stylevana: LINK

• The Vegreen – Nature Mucin Toner is Vegan and Cruelty-free, Fragrance + EO Free. It has a very similar, thick texture (but does also have a slight potential to ball up like the Axis-y).

Available at: Stylevana: LINK

• However, my favourite Hydrating Toner / Essence is the Hada Labo Gokyujun Premium Lotion (Swatches + Review HERE)

Available at: Yesstyle: HERE / Stylevana: HERE

Hyaluronic Acid – which is best? (Includes the Hada Labo Premium Lotion)

Axis-y – Advanced Aqua Boosting Ampoule

Available at: Skinsider: LINK / Superdrug: LINK

Price: £~19.50 /$24.29

Volume: 30ml

Fragrance + Essential Oil-free?: Yes

Vegan?: Yes

Malesezzia Suitable?: No

What is it + What does it do?: A Moisturising/Hydrating Ampoule containing 10 types of Hyaluronic acid to hydrate and lock in moisture into the skin, to create a silky and smooth finish. This contains Cica to soothe the skin as well as P(HD) to help balance excess-sebum production in the skin.

Directions + How I use it: Apply on a clean face, after the toner.

Packaging: Glass bottle with a dropper. This also has a mechanism inside to prevent clumping at the top of the bottle. The dropper is ok, but I find it quite difficult to dispel a lot of product out and have to keep dipping back in (as the liquid quite thick).

Key Ingredients: Purslane Extract, Cica + Madecassoside + Asiaticoside + Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer (All Hydrating and Antioxidants) / Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate + Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydolysed Sodium Hyaluronate (Hydrating) / Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Liquorice, Ulmus Extract (Hydrating / Moisturising).

Full Ingredients: Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, PVP, Glycerin,Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Glucoside, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Flower Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract,Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Tocopherol, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid,Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer,Potassium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyacetophenone,Ethylhexylglycerin

Texture:

This is thicker than the toner, I would classify it as a gel serum (See Swatch Video below).

Video Swatch:

Scent: This is fragrance + EO Free and does not have a scent

Does this sting/irritate if the skin is sensitised?: Yes

Suitable for: Normal, Combination + Oily Skin Types

Pros:

• Fragrance + EO Free
• Cruelty-Free
• Hydrating
• Didn’t sting / irritate or ruin my skin

Cons:

• Tendency to ball up (but not as much as the toner)
• Tacky once dried down (face sticks to the pillow)

Overall Effect + Experience: This, like the toner, has been hydrating and did not worsen or irritate my skin. I enjoyed smoothing this onto the skin and feeling hydrated, however, I did not enjoy the stickiness once this dried down, and the slight tackiness too. This especially becomes obvious if you use both the toner and the ampoule within the same routine.

Dupes: The COSRX – Triple Hyaluronic Acid Moisture Ampoule is very similar in texture and finish (slightly less sticky).

Available at: Yesstyle: LINK / Stylevana: LINK / Adore Beauty: LINK / Look Fantastic: LINK

• The COSRX – Cica Serum (Swatches + Review HERE) – is less sticky and contains Cica and Hyaluronic acid (See Review video below as well).

Available at: Yesstyle: LINK / Stylevana: LINK

COSRX – Cica Line: Swatches + Review:

• The Vegreen Fragrance-Free Cica Serum – Is almost just as thick, it contains Cica and is hydrating (and vegan).

Available at: Stylevana: LINK

However, my favourite hydrating serum/ampoule is the Niod – Multi-Molecular Hyaluronic Complex (Swatches + Review HERE).

Available at: Deciem: LINK / Skin Store: LINK / Selfridges: LINK / Look Fantastic: LINK

Conclusion

Overall, I have used both products down the completion. They have both been hydrating, both plump up the skin, both did not sting or irritate my skin (unless the skin was already irritated from shaving or retinol use etc). I appreciate that both products are unscented, contain multiple forms of hyaluronic acid and contain cica.

The ampoule is thicker than the toner, and I found that the ampoule was stickier than the toner, however the toner had more chance of balling up. Furthermore, using both products in one routine made my face feel very sticky and you could feel that layer form on top of the skin. I tried to apply cream on top to ease/reduce that stickiness, but it didn’t do much. So I would not use both of these products in one routine, and would prefer to mix and match them and incorporate them with other products.

My favourite product out of these two is probably the toner (but only slightly) as it seems to be less sticky (still has that tendency to ball up.

Overall, I have found these two items to be fine to use, but I would not repurchase. I have preferred other Axis-y products (I have reviewed HERE) better. I think the dupes I have suggested above are slightly better in terms of wearability. Such as the Niod Multi Molecular Hyaluronic Acid Complex (Swatches + Review HERE) or the Hada Labo Gokyujun Premium Lotion (Swatches + Review HERE).

You can also check out my skincare favourite HERE.

Note: You can check out my other Axis-y Skincare Reviews HERE

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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