Danielle's Beauty Blog

It’s been just over a year since my last Toner collection update so I thought I would grab my current open bottles and do a quick rundown! This is quite exfoliating toner heavy only because in my last edition I was on Roaccutane so couldn’t use them and they have kind of built up! I definitely don’t use exfoliating products as much now as when I had acne but I still love having them in my collection as I tend to use them on my body too. 

 

First up, one that is no stranger to my blog, and I have gone through many bottles of – the Pixi Glow Tonic RRP £18. This is such a cult classic and also featured in my first toner post in 2017 as it’s usually always in my collection! It contains 5% glycolic acid as well as ginseng and aloe vera for hydration. As well as dissolving dead skin cells, it diminishes signs of sun damage, fine lines and scarring, smooths uneven texture and never dries my skin out. It’s popular for a reason and one of my favourite toners!

 

Sticking with glycolic acid the Good Molecules Glycolic Exfoliating Toner RRP $14* is another good one. This is a 3.5% glycolic concentration so even more gentle than the Glow Tonic and perfect if you have sensitive skin. My skin feels smooth and even with continued use and I love the Good Molecules nothing to hide ingredients list. This toner also contains galactomyces ferment which helps retain skin barrier function and moisture level as well as hyaluronic acid and aloe to help to hydrate and soothe skin. Read my full review here!

 

Moving away from glycolic now to the By Wishtrend Mandelic Acid 5% Skin Prep Water RRP £20.10. Mandelic acid has a larger molecular structure than glycolic so is even more gentle though similarly works to improve pigmentation and even skintone. This one also contains beta glucan – an anti-inflammatory, panthenol and centella asiatica to help regenerate and sodium hyaluronate for hydration. I personally think glycolic acid works better for my skin when it comes to pigmentation but this does a great job at smoothing and evening skin tone and was the only exfoliating toner I dared try when I was at the end of my Roaccutane course and needed a little exfoliation so I can attest to its gentleness on my skin as I had no issues (but proceed with caution if on Roaccutane)!

 

I probably should have kept the Sioris Feels So Fresh Toner RRP £17 out of this round up because it’s the only one I haven’t really managed to form an opinion on! It falls into the nice but boring category for me, I don’t have any issues with it, but it hasn’t stood out to me either. It contains Black Willow Extract to exfoliate, eliminate blackheads and control oil, Guava Leaf Extract (an antioxidant) and Broccoli Extract to soothe and calm skin. I bought this pre Roaccutane then didn’t use it when I was on the drug and now my skin type has changed, and these aren’t my skin concerns anymore so it’s difficult to review it! What I will say though is that it’s another one that feels gentle and doesn’t dry my skin out despite the sebum controlling properties, but I do have other toners I prefer.

 

Next, I have the CosRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner RRP £19.99 and this is my second bottle – I had it years ago and really enjoyed it. It contains willow bark water and apple fruit water to clear clogged pores and dead skin cells as well as glycolic acid and betaine salicylate. My skin is smoother with use and I love the spray bottle – I actually use this a lot on my body too, particularly on KP on the backs of my arms as well as my chest and back where I do still get the occasional spot and it works so well to smooth my skin and is super easy to distribute!

 

Another old favourite and I have been through a few bottles of the Dear Klairs Supple Preparation Facial Toner RRP £20.10* too! My skin loves this for how calming and hydrating it is. It’s a gel like texture and contains hyaluronic acid centella asiatica and amino acids so as well as feeling cooling and calming it helps add moisture and strengthen my skin. A simple but hydrating formula – my skin drinks it up and looks plumper after use! There are essential oils in this formula which don’t cause any sensitivity for me but Klairs also have an unscented version without them! Read more about this toner in my K Beauty favourites here!

 

Lastly, the Glow Recipe PHA + BHA Pore Tight Toner RRP £14. The Glow Recipe products I have tried in the past are really meh to me to be honest and it’s not a brand I get excited about over the latest releases. I have had minis of their watermelon sleep mask, blueberry cleanser and lip pop and I just don’t get the hype but I will say that this toner is the best out of the products I have tried! It contains hyaluronic acid to hydrate, PHA’s and BHA’s to smooth and decongest skin and my skin did feel smooth with use. I don’t like the sickly-sweet scent or the almost greasy consistency of this though and I think there are better options for better prices! 

 

I got sent the new Charlotte Tilbury Glow Toner this week so I’m looking forward to getting that into rotation too but I’d love to know your thoughts on any of these if you have tried them or what your favourite toner is!

 

See the previous instalments in this series here:

Toners #1 ft. Pixi, Beauty RX and BioEssence

Toners #2 ft Good Molecules, Versed and Ren

Toners #3 ft I’m From, Pyunkang Yul, Klairs and Scientia

 

*denotes a PR sample that was sent to me.

All opinions are my own. Affiliate links used.

See my full disclosure here.

 

Danielle xx

 

If you want to keep up to date with my posts, don’t forget to follow me on

Bloglovin | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter

 

 

 

 

This is a post I have been meaning to do for the longest time now but then something else always comes up that I want to review or I don’t take my photos in time! I got there in the end though and today I want to talk about some of my favourite products I use to look after and strengthen my skin barrier which also work a treat if you have broken it too!

 

Your skin barrier can become damaged by a lot of things, for me it’s usually something like over exfoliation or dehydration and I experienced it right at the start of my course of Roaccutane too. It could also be due to things like sun exposure or too much tretinoin and you will be able to tell because your skin will probably feel rough and itchy and might look red or feel dry and sensitive too!

 

First things first, simplify your skincare routine and step away from actives like AHA’s, BHA’s and retinol. Cleanser wise, if I am removing makeup, I like something hydrating and balmy like the Emma Hardie Moringa cleansing balm. This feels so comforting and rich and never drags the skin, I use a soft, damp muslin or wash cloth to remove being careful not to tug my skin too much. For a second or morning cleanse I love the Cerave Hydrating Cleanser. This is a really simple gel formula containing ceramides and hyaluronic acid and my skin never feels dry or tight after use! See more about both cleansers in this dedicated post! 

 

For toner, the most gentle, hydrating formulas I have found tend to be K Beauty ones and you can’t go wrong with the Klairs Supple Preparation facial toner* (via Face the Future). It’s gel like, cooling and contains hyaluronic acid and centella asiatica so it nourishes and is anti-inflammatory too! Full review here! I love a spritz and the most gentle one I have thus far is the La Roche Posay Toleriane Ultra 8 – it’s specially formulated for sensitive skin and it works to soothe and repair skin's barrier and relieve uncomfortable itching, burning and redness. More on this here!

 

 

Hyaluronic acid is a staple in my routine even when my skin isn’t feeling in need of repair and the Vichy Mineral 89* is a great option. It’s a gel texture and I apply to damp skin and it feels immediately hydrated as it gets to work plumping my skin and the feeling lasts all day! Read more here! Serum wise, Dermalogica Smart Response Serum* has been a beautiful addition to my skincare routine and one I confess I stopped using recently so I could save some for winter as that's when my skin tends to play up more. It responds to your skins changing needs to hydrate, firm, brighten and soothe depending on what it feels you require. It contains glycerin and niacinamide and instantly calms skin while feeling hydrating enough that sometimes I don’t even feel the need for moisturiser after! More on this serum here!   

 

Earlier this year, I fell in love with NIOD’s Survival 0* - an antioxidant and reparative formulation that targets damage from pollution and blue light and Modulating Glucosides*, an emulsion specifically for sensitive, irritated skin that instantly helps destress it and repair the barrier. These supported my skin so well while I was on Roaccutane and I have a full review here! On the topic of serums, I also have to mention my long term favourite Copper Amino Isolate Serum*, now on its third formula update, it’s one of my most repurchased serums and is such a good all-rounder to keep skin looking and feeling healthy, even and radiant. I am obsessed and you can read more here! 

 

Moving onto moisturisers and I really don’t think you can beat Dr Jart Ceramidin Cream. It contains five ceramides and hyaluronic acid and the cream manages to be both lightweight (so perfect under makeup) as well as rich enough for overnight! My skin drinks this stuff up and I always go back to it! It’s hydrating, soothing and restoring! A must have! If I want a little something extra I’ll add an oil on top and my current favourite is the Scientia Dusk Elixir*. It’s a mix of 23 oils, antioxidants and fatty acids and works overnight to support skin repair and recovery while plumping and hydrating! More info here! It also goes without saying that SPF is an essential for daytime protection and the La Roche Posay Anthelios Age Correct SPF 50* (via Face the Future) is formulated for sensitive skin and also packed full of hyaluronic acid and niacinamide so while protecting it works to target pigmentation too! No white cast or pilling with this either – I am so impressed!

 

Lastly, I want to mention a couple of extras I have in my routine for as and when I need them. The I’m From Mugwort Essence and mask are firm favourites and were lifesavers again when I was on Roaccutane! Mugwort is full of antioxidants, vitamin and minerals and ideal for irritated skin! They are both so calming and hydrating and I can’t recommend them enough - read more here! And, I can’t forget lips - Lanolips for me has been a constant recently and the 101 ointment is amazing, especially for overnight hydration! 

 

As you can see - I could talk about my favourite products for targeting sensitised skin all day! I would love to know what your go to products are if you have damaged your skin barrier?

 

*denotes a PR sample that was sent to me.

All opinions are my own. Affiliate links used.

See my full disclosure here.

 

 

Danielle xx

 

If you want to keep up to date with my posts, don’t forget to follow me on

Bloglovin | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter

 

 

 

 

 

I am so close to finishing most of these toners I thought it was high time I did another roundup! Now, I do currently have more than these four toners in my collection but I am still taking Roaccutane so these are all I have been using for the last 5 and a half months as they are all gentle and hydrating so perfect for my drier than normal, sensitive skin! 

 

Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner RRP £16 for200ml

One of my favourite beauty discoveries of 2020, this is my second bottle as I love it so much!

It contains just seven ingredients (milk vetch root extract being the main one), and is instantly cooling and soothing. It’s thicker than a normal toner, feels very gel like and is so gentle and hydrating. Like I said, it is perfect for my currently sensitive and dry skin and my face just drinks this up! I apply with a cotton pad like I would a toner but you can also apply by patting in with your hands like you would an essence. Previously, I had the 100ml and but I upgraded to the 200ml as I love it so much! Full review here!

 

I’m From Rice Toner RRP £26 for 150ml

Continuing with the K Beauty theme, this is a milky, hydrating toner that contains rice extract to brighten the skin as well as one of my favourite skincare ingredients, niacinamide! I love using this in the morning as it feels calming and balancing as well as brightening and doesn’t dry my skin out so it feels well prepped for my next skincare steps and makeup. Overall, my skin looks more even and this also featured in this Five Things I’m Loving post here!

 

Dear Klairs Supple Preparation Facial Toner RRP £20.10 for 180ml

Like the Pyunkang Yul, this is another gel like toner perfect for dehydrated skin. It is formulated with hyaluronic acid as well as centella Asiatica and amino acids so as well as being hydrating, it is cooling and anti-inflammatory. Like the name suggests, it preps skin well for my next skincare steps leaving it plump and calmed. I would say I prefer the Pyunkang Yul just very slightly over this though the two are very similar! I seemed to gravitate towards the essence toner more when I started Roaccutane as it felt slightly more hydrating to me but this one is still a great shout too!

 

Scientia Peach and Glow Hydra Skin Tonic* RRP £24 for 100ml

With my skin being too sensitive for any products containing glycolic acid, salicylic acid and retinol at the minute, I was happy to see this toner contains Tranexamic acid and Bakuchiol, two much gentler alternatives to help with pigmentation and fine lines! It also targets dullness and the ingredients list has Matrixyl 3000 and Glycerin in there too resulting in hydrated and brighter skin. Since using this toner, I have found my skin tone looks more even although I haven’t seen a dramatic difference in my pigmentation but there is some improvement for sure! My skin does look much brighter though and I think this has been helping combat fine lines. It leaves my skin feeling soft and well prepped and though you can use by patting into skin I still prefer to use a reusable cotton pad to apply! Full review of Scientia Skincare here!

So, that’s the current toners I have on rotation! If you would like to see instalments one and two you can! And if you want to see my full toner collection it's right here! I have about a week of accutane left then I will be adding them back into my routine as my skin gets less sensitive! Let me know your favourite toners! 

 

*denotes a PR sample that was sent to me. All opinions are my own. See my full disclosure here.

 

Danielle xx

 

If you want to keep up to date with my posts, don’t forget to follow me on

Bloglovin | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter