Dermatologists call salicylic acid a gold standard active ingredient for acne, thanks to its ability to exfoliate and help fade acne scars.The rub? It can also leave skin red and irritated. This clarifying toner sources its salicylic acid from willow bark extract, believed to be a more gentle skin smoother, then pairs it with gentle glycolic and lactic acids to further exfoliate sans irritation. Factor in skin soothing aloe and microbiome-boosting probiotics and you have a toner that helps balance acneic skin — without any harsh or drying qualities.
Like every product in the new Fenty Skin range, this toner is meant to do double duty: balance and brighten like a toner and fade dark spots like a serum. Pressing this liquid-gel into our combination skin immediately helped minimize shine, but it also left the drier patches of our skin feeling a bit tight. With that in mind, this vegan formula may work best for oily skin types.
With 72.6 percent black bee propolis extract and 10 percent honey extract (among other antioxidants, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory ingredients), this soothing toner is a tall drink of water for dry skin. It's also a dream to use: In addition to giving our skin bounce, it absorbs quickly without a sticky residue.
Purists will love the herbaceous scent of this plant-based toner as much as what it does for the skin because unlike traditional plant-based toners, this one isn't an astringent. Instead, it's made with botanicals geared to hydrate (thanks to calendula) and balance oil production and bacteria (courtesy of fermented wasabi extract and unprocessed honeysuckle extract).
What's more, the 100 percent natural, spray-on formula is heavy in antioxidants, vitamins (sourced from organic cantaloupe) and adaptogens (found in organic green tea, eleuthero root, organic rhodiola and red clover).
How much can you really expect from a toner? If it's this formulation, the answer is everything: Not only does this pink juice deliver both-sides-of-the-coin benefits of hydration and exfoliation, it smells fresh watermelon juice. Thanks to the use of polyhydroxy acids — a gentle ingredient that triggers cell turnover like glycolic acid does, but research shows to be less irritating — our skin looked noticeably brighter after use. Meanwhile, hyaluronic acid, cactus water, cucumber and watermelon extract provided a plumping effect rarely achieved with resurfacing products.
